BIO: PETER MOWERS, 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/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 470-471
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    PETER MOWERS, an honored veteran of the Civil war, and in the days of peace
  a successful farmer, now retired from active work, is a musician of no mean
  ability and he has taken a great interest in organizing quartettes, and in
  composing music. He is a fine singer, and his voice has often been heard in
  church and in institutes. As an instructor of the divine art he has had few
  superiors in his community. Mr. Mowers was born in Southampton township, on
  the old Mowers homestead, Oct. 13, 1833, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Cope)
  Mowers.
    
    George Mowers, his paternal grandfather, came from Lancaster county to
  Cumberland in the early days, and married here. Both he and his wife were
  active in the interests of the United Brethren Church. They were the parents
  of twelve children, of whom the following are living: George, of Mansfield,
  Ohio; John; Michael, of Fayetteville, Pa.; Catherine, wife of Adam Reese;
  Betsy, married to Philip Baughman; and Susan, wife of George Atherton.
    
    Henry Mowers, son of George, married Elizabeth Cope, and of their children,
  we have record of the following: Mary, deceased; John, a blacksmith, of
  Shippensburg; Morris, deceased; Peter; Isaiah, who died in 1863; William;
  Samuel A., a Presbyterian minister for a year in Lafayette, Ind., later at
  Gallipolis, Ohio, where he died in the spring of 1904; George A., a farmer in
  Southampton township; Miss Elizabeth; and Dr. Joseph H., a druggist in
  Shippensburg.
    
    Peter Mowers received his primary education in the old Croft schoolhouse at
  Cleversburg. Remaining on the farm until his nineteenth year, he acquired
  practical training along agricultural lines. He then learned the carpenter's
  trade with Henry Cormany, and after completing his apprenticeship he went to
  Newville, where for seven and one-half years he was employed by Abraham
  Killian. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 9th P. V. C., under Col. E.
  C. Williams and Capt. McCullough. After being mustered into service they were
  ordered to Jeffersonville, Ind., thence to Kentucky, where they participated
  in several engagements, Perryville, Chancellorsville and Mill Springs being
  the principal ones. Mr. Mowers was taken ill, and after being confined in the
  hospital some time he was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability,
  and in 1863 he returned home. He immediately set about recruiting a company in
  connection with Capt. Dodge, and again entered the service, serving two years
  on detached duty. After the close of the war he located in Cleversburg, and
  there erected his present substantial brick residence. He has been successful
  because of his unflagging industry, good management, and wise husbanding of
  his resources. His business methods have been characterized by strict
  integrity and open, above-board measures.
    
    In 1865 Mr. Mowers was united in marriage with Sarah J. Hawk, of
  Shippensburg, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Aunspaugh) Hawk, old
  settlers of Southampton township. To this union have been born the following
  children: Burk, a composer of music, now deceased; Harvey S., employed by the
  Philadelphia & Reading R. R.; Carrie Belle, wife of Jacob Railing, of
  Shippensburg; Maud, who married Stuart Baker; Dolly, at home; and Annie F.,
  who married

  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  471
    
  J. Arthur Smith, of Shippensburg, employed by the Bell Telephone Company.
  Their hospitable home is a pleasant gathering place for their many friends,
  with whom they are justly favorites. Mr. Mowers is a composer of music, and
  has written a number of fine selections for all kinds of instruments. His
  son, Burk, was the composer of a memorial song, "Shed not a Tear." His last
  production was entitled, "My Pennsylvania Home." At the time of his death he
  was just finishing a song "I Have a Secret That Never Once Was Told."