BIO: SAMUEL BOWERS, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 807-808 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ SAMUEL BOWERS, a successful and enterprising farmer of Mifflin township, Cumberland county, who has, by his energy, thrift and good common sense, won for himself a comfortable competence, comes of good German stock. His grandfather, Andrew Bowers, and three brothers came from Germany, the three brothers penetrating farther into the great West, where little was afterward known of them or their families. Andrew Bowers settled in Lancaster county, Pa. He was a weaver by trade, and also followed farming. His marriage occurred after his emigration to America, and he died in the county of his adoption, leaving three sons: Henry, who died in Lancaster county; Jacob, who died in Mifflin township, Cumberland county; and David, father of Samuel. David Bowers was born in Lancaster county, where he remained until after he had acquired some education in the common schools. He then went to Dauphin county, where he learned the trade of weaver, but like his father, he combined work at his trade with farming. After his marriage he came to Cumberland county, and locatingin Mifflin township, bought 120 acres of land, which he farmed for a number of years. His death, however, occurred in Dauphin county, in 1884. He married Nancy Stout, daughter of a well-to-do farmer of Dauphin county. She died in 1874, in Mifflin township, and was buried at Center. The remains of the husband and father rest in Dauphin county. In politics he was a Democrat, but never took any especial interest in political matters. He was a member of the Dunkard Church. To David Bowers and wife were born the following children: John, who married Nancy Landis; David, who died at the age of thirteen, and is buried at Center; Mary, living in Newton township; Catherine, who married John Henry, a weaver in Newville; Annie, who married William Hoover, and lives in Newton township; Lydia and Sarah, twins, of whom Lydia died and Sarah married Jacob Landis and is living in Dickinson township; and Samuel, who completes the family. Samuel Bowers was born in Mifflin township in 1849. He received the benefits of the common schools until old enough to assist on the home farm. Under the careful and watchful instructions of his father he early became familiar with the many duties that fall to the lot of the general farmer's son, and before he was old enough to vote he was capable of taking entire charge of a farm, and carrying it on to success. After his marriage he first located in Hopewell township, and after three years spent on the Hahn farm, and one year on the Coover farm in Newton township, he returned to Mifflin township, and purchased a farm of seventy-two acres, which he cultivated for six years, when he had an advantageous offer for the farm and accepted it. Not finding any land for sale that met with his ideas he rented farms for three years, and then pur- 808 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. chased a tract of 102 acres in Mifflin, which he sold at the end of three years to purchase the one upon which he has resided since 1887 - a place formerly owned by his father-in-law, who erected all the buildings. This farm consists of 160 acres of rich land, to which Mr. Bowers has given every possible attention. That he takes great pride in his farm is but natural. When he left his father and began life for himself at the time of his marriage, his assets consisted of his own energy and determination and one hundred dollars cash. All that he has he has acquired with the cheerful assistance of a faithful wife, who has ever seconded his efforts to win ease and comfort for their declining years. They are now ranked among the most substantial farming people of the county, and in their struggle for a competence, they have maintained such a high reputation for honesty and uprightness of purpose that they have never in any way forfeited the good opinion of the best people of the county. On Feb. 23, 1871, Mr. Bowers was married to Elizabeth Geese, daughter of John and Susan (Berstline) Geese, formerly of Perry county, but later of Mifflin township, Cumberland county, where our subject now resides. Mr. Geese died at the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away aged sixty-five years, and both rest in the cemetery at Zion's Church in Hopewell township. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are the parents of the following children: Clarence, who married Alice Boldorser, and is engaged in farming in Newton township; Frank, who married Effie Wisthler, and died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a widow and two children, Earl and Elizabeth; John, who married Bertha Myers, has five children, Ruth, Mary, Clair, Samuel and John, and is engaged in farming near Shippensburg; Samuel Emerson, who married Emma Snyder, has a son, Samuel Ervin, and lives in West Pennsboro township; Cora, who married John Clippinger, a farmer near Newville, and has one daughter, Elizabeth Agnes; James, who married Ella Clippinger, and is engaged in farming near Newville; and Harry and Mabel Grace, at home. Mr. Bowers is a Democrat in politics. His religious connection is with the Reformed Church. No man in the township is more deserving of the high esteem of his fellow citizens than is this plain, straight-forward, honest self-made man - a good citizen, a loyal friend, a kind neighbor, and an affectionate husband and father.