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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits are such as to entitle him to representation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this sketch. He is a native-born resident of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both natives of the Big Bend State, where they were united in marriage. They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. He was a prominent man and was a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs. Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was married to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he soon cleared twenty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres under cultivation. He is one of the thoroughgoing, enterprising citizens, and a man of good, sound judgment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (deceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton H., George R., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also a member of the Sunday-school board. During an average season Mr. Bowden’s farm will yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Pope County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pope County, Arkansas family biographies here: Pope County, Arkansas

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