BOWER, John W - History of Gentry & Worth Counties, Missouri ***** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and 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 presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the files submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ***** file submitted by: Kathy Gaines submitter's note: This biography closely resembles the information on the family of John Wesley Boner, this is possilby the same family. Source: History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri Publication Info: National Historical Company, St Joseph, MO, 1882 Gentry County, Cooper Township p369 JOHN W BOWER retired, Stanberry, was born in the state of Ohio, on September 12, 1817, and when one year old he was taken by his parents, John and Sarah (Cannon) Bower, to Jennings County, Indiana. He grew to manhood in that state, and learned the trade of cabinet making. August 12, 1838, he was married to Miss Mary Chambers, a native of Jefferson County, Indiana, born in December 1822. She was reared in Jennings County of that state. In the spring of 1846 Mr. B. came to Gentry County, Mis- souri, and purchased a track of wild land. Since then he has been one of the most prominent men in the county. He was at one time actively engaged in mechandizing, but of late years has retired from active business life. He is a large land owner. During the years 1849, 1852 and 1856 he made trips to California, devoting his time to mining and the live stock business. In 1852 and 1856 he as accompanied by his family. In the late war he took an acrive part, being a stauch Union man. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Bower is composed of: Sarah, William M., George C., Mary, Orie, Ann, Frank, and Calvin A. Three are deceased: Helen, Virginia and Lula. They are both members of the Christian Church.