My Genealogy Hound

Edward Bates Bowles, a practicing physician of Vienna, Maries County, was born in Jefferson County, Mo., in 1842, and is a son of Anderson and Elizabeth (Van Dover) Bowles. Anderson Bowles was born in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1812. His father was Caleb Bowles, who was a native of Hanover County, Va., and removed to the State of Missouri in 1811, locating near St. Louis, and at the time of his death was serving as judge of the county court of St. Louis County. After his marriage Anderson Bowles resided in Jefferson County, Mo., until 1854, representing that county in the State Legislature four times. He is now living in St. Louis County on his father-in-law’s old homestead. Mrs. Elizabeth Bowles was a daughter of John Van Dover. She died in 1883, at the age of sixty-eight years. Eight children were born to Anderson and Elizabeth Bowles, five of whom are now living, viz.: Mary E., wife of John B. Lewis, of St. Louis County; Emma, who married Rufus A. Lewis, also of St. Louis County; Samuel A., a physician of Westphalia, Osage Co., Mo., and Joseph W., a farmer of St. Louis County, and Edward B. The latter was reared and grew to manhood on the farm, making his home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he commenced the study of medicine under his uncle, W. H. Bowles, at Lane’s Prairie, Maries County. After studying about three years, in 1864 he entered the St. Louis Medical College and took a full course, graduating in the spring of 1866. He began the practice of his chosen profession on Jake’s Prairie, Crawford Co., Mo., where he was actively engaged about five years, at the expiration of that time removing to Westphalia. He located in Vienna in 1875, and has ever since devoted his entire attention to healing the sick in Maries County. In March, 1867, Dr. Bowles married Mollie E. Patton, a native of Franklin County, Mo., and a daughter of Dr. Nelson Patton. Three children blessed this union, viz.: William M., Anderson P. and Addison V. January 2, 1870. Mrs. Bowles was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree as she was riding home from church one night on horseback. In June, 1876, Dr. Bowles married Emma Sterriger, who was born in Franklin County, Mo., and died in the fall of 1877. The Doctor next married, in 1881, Martha L. Hyer, of Dent County, Mo., and a daughter of Dr. John Hyer. They have two children, John Hyer and James Joseph. Dr. Bowles is a stanch Democrat politically, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the most prominent physicians of Maries County, and is a man highly esteemed for his integrity. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.