My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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.

* * * *

William H. Bowles, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Marion County in 1845, the ninth of twelve children of Jesse and Judith (Schofield) Bowles, the former born in 1805, in Bourbon County, Ky., and the latter in 1808, in the same State. The father was left with only a mother when he was but a child, and was reared in Marion County, where he spent the most of his life, excepting one year in Randolph County. He was a farmer and stone mason, and died in 1860. The mother survived him twenty-three years, and both were members of the Christian Church from their youth. William H. received a fair education, and was married in 1866 to Elizabeth E., the daughter of Frederick and Martha Benedict, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky, born in 1845. Their children are Sarah A., Minnie, Martha J., Lillie, Mary E., Addie and Ella. Our subject was a tenant farmer until about 1874, when he bought eighty acres of his present estate. His home now embraces 200 acres of finely cultivated land, near Steffenville, where he is engaged in farming and stock dealing. His first vote was for Greeley, and he has clung ever since to Democracy. He is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Baptist.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.