My Genealogy Hound

Andrew Jackson Bowman, DeVall’s Bluff, Ark. Mr. Bowman, one of the pioneers of Roc Roe Township, purchased his farm in that township, in 1874, and settled where he now resides the following year. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1828, was the second in a family of ten children born to Peter and Susan (La Motte) Bowman, and received his education in the subscription school of Putnam County, Ohio. He assisted on his father’s farm until twenty years of age, when he was married in the last-named county, in 1848, to Miss Rue Ann Burrel, a native of Putnam County, Ohio. After that he was engaged in farming, and thus continued in that county until 1856, when he settled in McLean County, near Lexington, and was quite extensively engaged in his former pursuit. In 1858 he moved to Piatt County, Ill., remained there until 1866, and then moved to Champaign County, of the same State, where he remained until March, 1875. He then came to Prairie County, Ark., bought 1,500 acres of raw land, which he cultivated and added to until at one time he owned 2,000 acres. He now has 680 acres with 320 acres under fence, and sixty under cultivation. He has paid considerable attention to fruit culture, has about forty acres in orchard, 2,000 apple trees and 1,000 peach trees, and all varieties of small fruit. He is a successful horticulturist, and has one of the finest orchards in Eastern Arkansas. He has over 100 varieties of apple trees, and a number of transcendent crab trees. On his farm he raises cotton, corn, rye, wheat and oats, and his farm is well adapted to the raising of stock. Mr. Bowman lost his excellent wife in Piatt County, Ill., in April, 1859. To their union were born three living children: Elias (residing in Ohio), Wesley (married and resides near his father) and Elmer (resides in Cloud County, Kas., married and engaged in farming). Mr. Bowman was married the second time in Piatt County, Ill., in 1859, to Mrs. Mary Ann Plotner (nee Foust), a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and the fruits of this union were two living children: Letitia Ranceline and Arthur (at home). Mr. Bowman was married in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1874, to Mrs. Harriet J. (Zeller) Long (widow of Mr. Long), a native of Putnam County, Ohio, and the daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Henderson) Zeller. Mr. Zeller was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and his wife in Pittsburgh, Penn. The father came to this country when single, and was married in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He was a wagon and carriage manufacturer. His death occurred in Ohio, in 1852, and the mother died in Putnam County, in 1872, surviving him about twenty years. Mr. Bowman is active in politics, and his vote is cast with the Democratic party. He was magistrate while living in Champaign County, Ill., takes an active interest in educational affairs, and is a member of the school board. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His grandparents were natives of Germany, and his father was a miller by trade. The latter went to Ohio when a young man, was married there, and there made his home for many years. Later in life he engaged in farming in Putnam County, Ohio, and there passed the closing scenes of his life, his death occurring in 1872. His wife survived him two years. Of their family the following are now living: Andrew Jackson (the subject of this sketch), Pauline (now Mrs. Cartwright, of Putnam County, Ohio), Martin (married, and is a farmer in Putnam County), Mary (now Mrs. Todd, of Putnam County), Peter (married, and resides also in Putnam County) and John (who is married and resides in the above mentioned county.