David BOWERS ⁴

  Research Notes:

David Bowers is the person, more than any other, whose life intertwined with his parents and his siblings and thereby helped flesh out the family of Andrew Bowers, Sr.: he appeared in a Grainger County, Tennessee tax list next to Andrew Bower, presumably his father since his brother Andrew appears elsewhere on the tax lists; he named his first son Campbell, suggesting his mother was a Campbell; he filed a power of attorney in Grainger County in connection with the Estate of John Bowers, in which he identifies himself as one of the brothers of John; his brother Andrew's son, Jacob, appears to have moved to Shelby County, Indiana, where David then lived, sometime after his father died, and married into the Talbert family, a family associated with David's family; Henry's son, Oliver, appears to have also married a Talbert in Shelby County, Indiana; he raised Henry's son, Henry Jefferson, after Henry died and cared for another son, James K., until he was adopted by a neighbor; and his son, Jacob, moved to Missouri, where he first lived with and later next door to an older Jacob, presumably David's brother Jacob, who also appeared on the tax lists of Grainger County. Also, although no proof exists other than the fact he named his first son David, I believe my great-grandfather, John Bowers, probably also lived with David for a time after the death of his father, Andrew, in Grainger County, Tennessee. David obviously had a big heart.

Those interested in learning more about David and his descendants should contact A. J., whose husband is a descendant, at bowerfamilyresearcher@gmail.com.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Tax List: 1826-1830, Grainger County, Tennessee. ¹⁰

1826 Capt. Wm Sharp Co. (an enumeration list): #45 David Bower (right next to #46 Andrew Bower, possibly his father)

1826 Capt. Sharp's Company: David Bower, 1 free poll

1827 Capt. Sharp's Company: David Bower, 1 white poll

1828 Capt. Monroe's Company: David Bower, 1 white poll

1829 Capt. Monroes Company: David Bower, 1 white poll

1830 Capt. Walter's Company: David Bowers, 100 acres, 1 white poll

2. Census: 1830, Grainger County, Tennessee. ¹¹

David Bowers: 10001-10001

3. Deed: 1835, Shelby County, Indiana. ¹²

Land Patent for 80 acres issued 5 Oct 1835 to David Bower of Union Co., IN. Located in Shelby Co., IN at E1/2NE of Sec. 25, Twp 14-N, Range 7-E, based on 2nd PM Meridian.

4. Census: 1850, Shelby County, Indiana. ⁵

David Bowers, 44, M, VA
Nancy Bowers, 37, F, MD, can't read or write
Campbell Bowers, 23, M, School Teacher, TN
Charity Bowers, 19, F, TN
Jacob Bowers, 17, M, IN, attended school
Louisa Bowers, 8, F, IN, attended school
Emily Bowers, 4, F, IN
Susannah Bowers, 2, F, IN
Drusilla Hedley, 16, F, IN
Matilda Hedley, 13, F, IN, attended school
Saphrona Hedley, 11, F, IN, attended school
Eliza Hedley, 8, F, IN, attended school

5. Estate Administration: 1856, Grainger County, Tennessee. ¹³

By an instrument dated 23 Aug 1856, David Bower of Shelby Co., IN constituted Thomas Bower of Grainger Co., TN as his lawful attorney to act on his behalf in connection with the estate of John Bowers, Dec'd. He identifies himself as "one of the Brothers and heirs at Law of John Bower."

6. Census: 1860, Shelby County, Indiana. ⁶

David Bowers, 55, M, W, Farmer, 6600/1200, VA
Anna Bowers, 47, F, W, MD
Louisa Bowers, 19, F, W, IN, attended school
Jefferson Bowers, 17, M, W, Farm Laborer, IN, attended school
Emily Bowers, 14, F, W, IN, attended school
Susan Bowers, 12, F, W, IN, attended school
John Bowers, 9, M, W, IN, attended school
Peter S. Bowers, 7, M, W, IN, attended school
Albert S. Bowers, 4, M, W, IN

[Jefferson Bowers was Henry Jefferson Bowers, son of David's brother Henry, whom David raised after his brother's death. James K. Bowers, another of Henry's sons, was adopted by a neighbor.]

7. Estate Administration: 1869-1871, Shelby County, Indiana. ¹⁴

The following heirs were distributed shares of David's estate:
Anna Bowers, widow
Jacob Bowers (sometimes referred to with a suffix, which could be either Sr. or Jr.)
Peter and Louisa (Bowers) Bates
Emily (Bowers) and William Norvell
Susannah Bower
John V. Bowers (sometimes referred to as Jno. V Bowers)
Peter S. Bowers
Albert S. Bowers

It would thus appear that Campbell, Charity and Jefferson Bowers predeceased their father and left no surviving issue. As to the suffix added to Jacob's name, if it was Jr. it may have been a carryover from the records of Marion County, Missouri, where he was known as Jr. to distinguish him from his Uncle Jacob, but if it was Sr. it may have been used to distinguish him from David's nephew, Jacob, who was younger and who also lived in Shelby County, Indiana.

David married Elizabeth DENNIS on 11 Oct 1825 in Grainger County, Tennessee.^{1 9} (Elizabeth DENNIS was born in 1806,⁹ died in 1844 in Shelby County, Indiana ⁹ and was buried in Blue River Cemetery, Shelby County, Indiana ⁹.)

  Marriage Notes:

David Bower and Elizabeth Dennis were married on 11 Oct 1825 by Thomas Brown, J.P. Bondsman per bond dated 8 Oct 1825 was William T. Carden. ¹

David next married Anna MYER on 21 Apr 1844 in Shelby County, Indiana.³ (Anna MYER was born on 11 Feb 1813 in Maryland or Pennsylvania,^{5 6 9 15 16} died on 14 Apr 1884 in Shelby County, Indiana ^{9 16} and was buried in Blue River Cemetery, Shelby County, Indiana ⁹.)