Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Bower, Henry March 11, 1825 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com November 13, 2009, 5:58 pm

Source: Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois
Author: Unknown

HENRY BOWER, of Carthage, who is now 
practically living a retired life, is a native of 
the Keystone State, his birth having oc- 
curred in Carlisle, Pa., on the 11th of March, 
1825. His father, Daniel Bower, was also a na- 
tive of Cumberland County. He was a farmer 
by occupation, and married Martha Bishop, a na- 
tive of York County. Their last years were spent 
in Cumberland County, and when death came 
they were laid to rest in Carlisle Cemetery. 

Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and 
youth in his parents' home, and ere he attained 
his majority he served an apprenticeship of three 
years and a-half to the blacksmith's trade, which 
he followed for a time. At length he determined 
to seek a home in the West, and in 1855 started 
for Kansas, but located instead in Hancock Coun- 
ty, Ill. In the spring of 1857, he came to Carth- 
age, and, meeting old friends, decided to remain in 
this place. He secured the position of Jailer, in 
which capacity he served for three years. In 
1865, he opened a blacksmith shop near the pres- 
ent site of the city water works, and continued 
to work at his trade until 1878. He did a good 
business and accumulated a comfortable compe- 
tence. Part of his capital he invested in a one 
hundred acre farm situated a mile and a-half west 
of Carthage, on the Keokuk road. He rents his 
land, which is under a high state of cultivation 
and well improved, and therefore yields to him a 
good income. 

Mr. Bower was married ere leaving the State of 
his nativity. On the 22d of March, 1849, in Mt. 
Rock, Pa., he was joined in wedlock with Miss 
Rachel Melinda Davidson, who has been his 
faithful companion and helpmeet along life's 
journey for forty-five years. To them were born 
the following children: John Davidson, who died 
at the age of twenty-three; Lillie, who died at the 
age of nineteen; William W., who is engaged in 
the poultry business; Matthew B., who died at 
the age of seven ; and Addie, who passed away at 
the age of one year. All died of typhoid fever in 
1871. 

In his political views, Mr. Bower is a Republi- 
can. He has long supported that party by his 
ballot, but has never been an office-seeker. His 
wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and both are highly respected citizens, who well 
deserve representation in this volume. 

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