John L. Bowlus

As printed in 1908

JOHN L. BOWLUS,* postmaster of Bowlusville and proprietor of the largest general store in the town, is a leading citizen of this section of Clark County. He was born in Moorefield Township, Clark County, Ohio, September 9, 1858, and is a son of Samuel H. and Lucinda (Michael) Bowlus.

The Bowlus family came to Ohio from Maryland. Samuel H. Bowlus was born near Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and was married in that neighborhood, nnd when he came to Clark County in 1853, he already had a family of seven children. He settled on what is now known as the Rupsum farm, on which his son John L. was subsequently born, and engaged in farming that property until 1805. He then built a grain warehouse on the F,rie Railroad, at the point now known as Bowlusville, giving the name to the place. He was a man of great business enterprise and in addition to dealing in grain and later in coal, he started a general store. His son, John

L., succeeded to all his interests. Samuel H. Bowlus invested largely in land and as his judgment was good, his various purchases were intelligently made and he became a man of large fortune. He died November 26, 1897.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

John L. Bowlus was reared in Moorefield Township, where he attended the district schools. Before he had reached his majority he entered into the mercantile business which his father had established and in the same year, 1878, he was appointed postmaster, an office he has continuously filled until the present time, with the exception of some ten months during the administration of President Hayes. Mr. Bowlus conducts a large business and he is well and favorably known over a large territory, enjoying the high regard of his fellow-citizens as public official, business man and as private citizen.

Mr. Bowlus was married (first) in May, 1893, to Emily Dunlap. who died May 25, 1904. She was a daughter of George R.

and Columbia (Jennings) Dunlap, and was born and reared near Urbana. Mr. Dunlap was born at Lexington, Kentucky, He assists Mr. Bowlus in the store. The three children born to the above marriage were: Anna Dunlap, Gwendolyn M. and Edward Jennings, the last mentioned of whom died in 1898, at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Bowlus was married (secondly) in May, 1905, to Mrs. Adeline Laughrey.

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.