David Bower

As printed in 1902

DAVID BOWER.

Many of the first settlers of Ohio came from the state of Xew York. The distance was not great to northern Ohio and could be made very often by boat from Buffalo to Cleveland or elsewhere, and then the journey into the interior was a much easier matter. The most of these settlers had previously come to Xew York from the Xew England states, had carried there for a while, and later had continued their journey westward to find a still cheaper home. This gave to Ohio an excellent class of people, many of whom, together with their parents, had been born and bred in this country, and took great interest in its institutions and its welfare. It thus came to pass that, in the course of time, the northern part of this state was settled mostly by native Americans, the most of whom were of English or of Scotch-Irish descent. Among the settlers who came from the Empire state and located in this vicinity was the subject of this memoir. He was born in Cayuga county, X. Y., on the 19th of March. 1821, and is the son of David and Susana (Kepner) Bower, the former of whom was a native of Mifflin county. Penn. To these parents were born a family of eight children, of whom six were sons and two daughters. David and his brother. Michael, are the only ones now living. In 1829 the father of subject moved to Livingston county, X. Y.. where he remained until 1835, when he came by team with his family to Wyandot county and located in Marseilles township, then in Marion county. There the father bought a tract of land, containing two hundred and forty acres, upon which was the usual log cabin of the pioneer and a small clearing. He went to work and was soon in comfortable circumstances. After a long and useful life he died in 1860 at the age of seventy-four year-. His wife also died the same year and at the same age. Both were exemplary people, excellent neighbors and good citizens. When the subject of this notice was fourteen years of age he was brought to Wyandot county and put to work on his father's farm. There was the timber to clear off, the stumps to uproot, the brush to burn, and the crops to sow and reap. Work was waiting on every corner of the place and the lad was required to do as much of it as he could without many questions asked. In the winters he attended the subscription schools in this neighborhood, and from that primitive source came the greater portion of his education. Later in life by reading he very greatly supplemented the education received in his youth. He remained on his father's farm until he had attained the age of twenty-four years, when he married Miss Susana Stayner and by her had twelve children, of whom ten are yet living, as follows: William, deceased; Sobiah; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, the wife of John Fink; Francis A.; Maria, the wife of J. W. Young; Thomas F.; Stephen A.; David M.; Jacob M. and George. Immediatelv succeeding his marriage the subject rented a farm for one year in this county, but then remit ed to Marion county and again rented, continuing to occupy that place for the space of six years. During this time he managed by hard work and good management to save a considerable sum of money. He then returned to this county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in Mifflin township, where Mrs. Chineworth now resides, of which tract about seventy acres were prairie. On this farm he erected a cabin of two rooms and in this rude domicile placed his family. The present farm was formerly owned by a singular character denominated “Lumpy,” who conducted a country hotel at an early day. Mr. Bower bought two hundred and forty acres and located on the same in 1860. Here lie has continued to reside down to the present time, except for three months. He 1 las gradually added to his holdings until lie now owns in addition another farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres and another one of eighty acres, in all four hundred and fifty-seven acres. Notwithstanding his advanced age. he is still well-preserved and still engaged in cultivating the

, soil and in rearing stock, principally sheep.

His life has been a busy one, filled with hard work, but it has not been without its bright scenes. Amid his labors lie has found time to read his newspaper and keep himself informed on the happenings in the county, 1 state and nation. He is a Democrat and; takes a keen interest in the success ot his part. He is a member of the Christian ! Union church and he merits and receives the respect of all who know him.

As printed in Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.