Caldwell County MO Archives History .....COMMENTARY ON THE BOWMAN CEMETERY, NORTH OF HAMILTON 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 4, 2008, 12:52 pm

COMMENTARY ON THE BOWMAN CEMETERY, NORTH OF HAMILTON
	Narrator:  F.L. Bowman, 68, Hamilton

     The late F.L. Bowman was a grandson of the donor of the land of this 
graveyard.  It contains several early settlers' graves and its use dates back 
to the 60s.  Vincent Bowman, the donor, had a farm just within the Caldwell 
county limits, which accounts for so many Daviess county people who lie there.
     The first burial, naturally, was a Bowman, Cecelia Bowman (1848-1867) 
daughter of W. and S.A. Bowman.  The earliest birthdate is that of Vincent 
himself 1793-1872.  His first wife had died before they came here.  His second 
wife lies there in an unmarked grave, dying after he did.  Her dates are 
Martha Ong Bowman 1810-1886 and lying by her is a sister Sarah Ann Ong Wood 
1818-1887.  They died within a few days of each other, one at the end of a 
year, the other at the beginning of next year.  (Facts given by Eva Glasener, 
granddaughter of Mrs. Bowman.)
     Another early family in Daviess and Caldwell counties is the Borden 
family.  Franklin Borden (1835-1893) and wife Ellen were settlers in 1867 in 
Caldwell county then moved over into Daviess before 1870.  They were parents 
of George Borden of Hamilton.  They have a young son Lemon there, a daughter 
Mrs. Della Looney (unmarked) and another daughter, Mrs. Mike McCrary, who 
committed suicide through illness.  There are also infants graves of the 
family.
     Distelli is a name unknown now in Caldwell county.  There are three 
Distelli graves.  Alfred Distelli was a Swiss colonist to Minnesota who came 
down to Caldwell Co. Mo. in the rush of 1869.  He had a farm of 160 acres in 
1878 and was happy.  His wife and two children died very close together.  They 
are buried in the Bowman cemetery.  There were about 8 children left!  A 
romance by letter sprang up between him and a young widow in Switzerland who 
crossed the ocean and they were married here in Hamilton.  Soon afterwards, he 
sold his land, some at $10 an acre and took family back to Minnesota where he 
came from.
     This is the burial place of the pioneer Neals.  There is William 1817-
1889, and Margaret his wife who came into Daviess county in the 60s.  His son 
Thomas Neal and wife lie there.  Thomas was a saloon keeper in Hamilton for 
many years while Mrs. Neal had one of the most beautiful flower gardens in 
town.  They lived in a small house, site of the fine Thomas Watson home.
     The pioneer Sergeants, David and wife Caroline are there, of Daviess 
county.  Their daughter, Minnie, married Jack Neal, son of Thomas Neal.  The 
Neals are represented in Hamilton by several descendants.  In the Neal lots, 
is the stone for the five children of Snyder Neal who were burnt to death Nov. 
21, 1896 while their parents were absent from home at a neighbors.
     This grave yard is still in active use and is in excellent condition.  It 
is a matter of pride to the district.
     Interview  1933. 


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/caldwell/history/other/commenta170gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb