In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1843, Shenandoah County
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908)
HARVEY BOWERS, one of the leading farmers of German Township, where he owns seventy acres which lie on the old Troy road, about five and one-quarter miles northwest of Springfield, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, August 4, 1843, and he is a son of Reuben and Mary (Hollar) Bowers.
The grandfather, Philip Bowers, came from Virginia to Ohio in 1830, settling on a farm north of Lawrenceville, on which he died in 1889. The parents of Mr. Bowers, however, never came to Ohio, the mother passing away in Virginia, on ('christmas day, 1860. The father remained in the old home, where he died in
Harvey Bowers was reared in Virginia and before he came to Ohio, in 1869, had learned the carpenter trade and this he followed for some eight or ten years at Springfield, after locating in Clark County. He was one of the organizers and original stockholders in the Springfield Planing Mill and Iumber Company. He continued to be interested in this enterprise for a number of years and also followed contracting at Springfield. He then bought a farm, which he subsequently sold, lived several years on a rented farm of four hundred acres, in Champaign County, but on January 14, 1904, he returned to the farm he had acquired in German Township, on which he has carried on general farming, having been retired from carpenter work and contracting since 1B91. He has a fine property which he manager with great success.
Mr. Bowers was married (first) to Theresa Stevenson, who died without issue. He was married (second) in 1888, to Mrs. Anna A. (Stevenson) Cook, a widow, whose son, J. Walter Cook, still rents the large farm in Champaign County, which Mr. Bowers formerly conducted. Mrs. Bowers is a. daughter of James Stevenson and a sister to Mr. Bowers' first wife. To this union three children have been born, namely: H. Alfred Homer, Ethel Hazel and Robert Lee. The Ave daughters of Mrs. Bowers' former marriage are: Minnie, who married Seymore Edward Calhoun, residing at Beatty; Emma, a bright young lady, who is cashier of the Arcade Hotel, at Springfield; Elffie, who married J. Wilbur Folk; Armie, who married Frank Keton; and Ada, who married Edgar Reynolds.
In politics, Mr. Bowers is a Democrat and on that ticket he served four years as a trustee of German Township. He is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles and both he and his step-son, J. Walter Cook, belong to the Junior Order of American jMechanics. Mr. Bowers is considered one of the representative men in his community.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.