C. L. Bowden Biography ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Jacquelyn Bonds Email: jbonds@cswnet.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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, 1891 C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits are such as to entitle him to representation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this sketch. He is a native born resident of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of the Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both natives of the Big Bend State, where they were united in marriage. They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. He was a prominent man and a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children, eight are now living. Mrs. Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was married to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of James and Denia (Matthews) Ashmore, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he has cleared twenty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres under cultivation. He is one of the most thoroughgoing, enterprizing citizens, and a man of good, sound judgment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (deceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton R., George R., Virgil R., and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also a member of the Sunday school board. During an average season, Mr. Bowden's farm will yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre.