Allen Florenton Bowden -- Teacher and Preacher ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: John Casall Email: casalljohnw@email.msn.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes of Life By Allen Florenton Bowden I was born near Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Nov. 17, 1859, and moved with my parents near Russellville, Ark. Just before the Civil War, and lived there until just after the war. During the Civil War, mother and I lived on Crow Mountain in Ark. No one lived in sight. While father was in the war, mother ran the spinning wheel at night and sang "How Happy Are They Who Their Savior Obey" and I Would Not Live Always", etc. We then moved back to Tenn., and lived there until 1870, and moved back to Ark. I was small, but finally got in a class at school with young men. I went to my first school in Tenn. Before moving back to Ark. After moving back to Ark., I attended school at Bowden's Chapel for two years, and went to Dover College, where Rev. Roland Dogget, nephew of Bishop Dogget, was president. This was a Methodist College. Rev. G. A. Jones took his place for two years, then Rev. J. A. Peebles took his place. I then went to Russellville College, where my old teacher G. A. Jones was president. They were all great teachers and preachers. I was licensed to preach at Davis Chapel. In 1880, on the Dover Circuit: Rev. J. T. Smith P. E. and Rev. W. H. Mathemy P.G. I was ordained Deacon by Bishop Hargrove at Morilton, Ark. in 1885. I taught school several years and preached in Ark., but moved to Brownwood, Texas in 1890. I was ordained Elder at Ft. Worth by Bishop Wilson in 1894. I was supply pastor on the Brownwood Circuit for two years and taught school in Ark. and Texas for 19 years. I preached as local preacher every Sunday and often Sunday night for 25 years. I thought I would join the annual conference years after I was licensed, but several good men advised me that I was doing as much good teaching and preaching as a local preacher as I would to join the traveling connection. They doubtless were honest, but I may have made a mistake but hope God will overrule it all for good. (I think he is talking about the Southern Methodist Conference. I know he received no retirement, which he would have received through the conference) I have made many mistakes and done wrong many times unintentionally, but never did a thing I am ashamed for my family to know. It has been my aim from childhood to get others to do right and to serve God. My mother often told me to be a good boy and try to get others to be good. My father also taught me to keep good company or none, but to treat the erring ones kindly. I did my first preaching near Galley Rock on the bank of the Ark. river. There were a few good people there, but gamblers, horseracers, thieves, and drunkards seemed to be the majority. They had a race track near the church. They had a horse race while I was preaching, but I had the largest crowd. I treated them kindly, and they quit horseracing there and many of them came to church. My next preaching place was on the Buck Mountain North Ark. where they had never been any preaching. Some well-to-do farmers lived there but they had no church nor school house. Old Mr. Ozment had a large dwelling and told me to preach in his house. So the people filled the house and the porches and we had good meetings. I never expected any pay, but some gave me things to eat. One day someone gave me a large sack of apples and a turkey gobbler. Going down the steep rough mountain, the gobbler with its feet tied together, floundered out of the sack. With the help of others we chased him several hundred yards over rough places and caught him and bound him well. We took him to his home in the valley where he lived a few days and went where all good fat turkeys go. After conference appointments for 1881, there was Morlton charge to be supplied. Dr. Peebles, Pres. of Dover College and T. J. Tailor P.C. at Dover gave me written recommendations to Bro. Robert P. E. of Morlton district asking him to give me the Morlton Circuit. I went to Quitman horseback to see him. About 50 miles away, I came near getting drowned in Point Remove River, but my good horsed carried me safely over the river. I got to Dr. Jamison's at Quitman where Jimmy Gibson was boarding and attending Ditman College. He and I were licensed to preach the same day. We went to supper and Bro. Roberts got to talking about preachers in a general way. He said he had his opinion about young preachers carrying recommendations in their pockets. He didn't know I had something in my pockets. I never did tell him that I had them, but I did not need to for he had already employed a preacher before I got there. Bro. Roberts was a good plain Penn. Dutchman and went to Heaven long ago.