BIO: William A. Bowers, Jefferson County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. 
Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1079-1080. 
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W. A. BOWERS is one of the early settlers of Jefferson county, who has 
long and honorably been connected with its interests as a farmer and 
lumberman.  He was born in Clearfield county, Penn., in 1820, and 
during his childhood came to Jefferson county with his parents, Philip 
and Caroline (Kipps) Bowers.
  Philip Bowers was born in Newmarket, Va., and after his marriage 
removed to Clearfield county, Penn., locating on the Susquehanna river.  
In 1813 he came to Gaskill township, where he purchased 150 acres of 
timber land and built a log house and barn.  He afterward erected a 
plank house, and made many other substantial improvements upon the 
excellent farm which he there developed.  He died in June, 1856, and 
his wife passed away in January of the same year.  This worthy couple 
had ten children:  (1) Elizabeth became the wife of Martin Packer, a 
farmer of Gaskill township, Jefferson county, and died some years ago, 
leaving three children.  (2) Annie, born in Virginia, came with her 
parents to Jefferson county, where she married John Rhodes.  Both died 
some years ago, leaving a large family.  (3) W. A. is the next younger.  
(4) Susan, born on the old homestead in Jefferson county, is the wife 
of Joseph Keller, a farmer of Du Bois, where they reside with their 
family.  (5) Michael, born on the homestead farm, married Elizabeth 
Devers, of Indiana county, and in that county was killed by the falling 
of a tree.  He left a widow and two children - Catherine, wife of James 
Neal, of Indiana county; and Michael, who married Sarah Ross and lives 
in Indiana county.  (6) John, born in Gaskill township, married 
Elizabeth Vandivender, of Indiana county, where he made his home until 
his death, thirty years since.  He left four children, all of whom are 
married and live in Indiana county.  (7) Abram married Emily Devers, 
and with his wife and six children resides in Indiana county, where he 
follows farming.  (8) Andrew, born in Gaskill township, married 
Christiana Macalvain, of Jefferson county, now deceased.  He is at 
present living in Punxsutawney, where he married Mrs. Reading.  (9) 
Isaac married Margaret Keel, daughter of Rev. Keel, of Armstrong 
county, Penn.  She died leaving six children - John, Jacob, Philip, 
Rebecca, Maurice and Peter.  The father of this family afterward 
married Lillie Spencer, and they now reside on the Wainwright farm near 
the old home.  They have two children - Edith and Martha.  (10) Leanna, 
born in Virginia, died in childhood.  (11) Mary, born in Jefferson 
county, became the wife of Isaac Warner, of Armstrong county, and both 
died in Illinois some years ago, leaving a large family.
   W. A. Bowers, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm in Gaskill 
township, and at the age of twenty-eight married Elizabeth Anthony, of 
Henderson township, Jefferson county.  He then purchased a farm 
adjoining the old homestead, built thereon a good house and barn, and 
continued the cultivation of his land until 1864, when he enlisted in 
Company F, 58th P. V. I., serving with the Army of the Potomac until 
the close of the war.  While in the service Mr. Bowers was called upon 
to mourn the death of his wife, who died in July, 1865.  Their children 
were:  Mary E., who was born on the homestead in June, 1849.  She 
married John Lantz, and resided in Indiana county, until killed by a 
bull in 1885.  She left six children - William, who is married and 
lives in Georgeville, Penn.; Chester; Nora; Lizzie; Harry; and Jessie 
E., who died in childhood.  (2) Henrietta, born in January, 1851, is 
the wife of Anthony Doverspike, who resides in New Salem, Armstrong 
county.  Their children are - Calvin, Edwin, Albert, Orpha, Ralston, 
Edith and Clark.  (3) Minerva J., born in February, 1853, is the wife 
of James Lantz, of Indiana county, who now resides at Anita, Jefferson 
county,.  Their children are - William, who died in childhood; Anna and 
Mary, at home; Bertha, wife of Henry Dunmire, of Anita; Maurice; James; 
Eli; Ira; Lee; Walter; and Lula.  (4) William, born in December, 1860, 
wedded Mary Engle, of Milton, Armstrong county, resides at Glen Hazel, 
Penn.  Their children were - Ralston, who died in infancy:  Erna, 
deceased; Edith, Laura and Minnie, at home.  [no (5)] (6) Matilda, 
born in March, 1855, died at the age of five years. 
  In 1872 our subject was married to Margaret E. Neal, daughter of 
Thomas and Mary Neal, of Neal's Mills, Jefferson county.  Her father, 
as a member of the 105th P. V. I., participated in many engagements of 
the Civil war, and was wounded at Bull Run, at Fair Oaks, and very 
seriously at the Wilderness.  He was one of the brave soldiers of the 
war.  He died in 1891, and his widow now resides with Mrs. Bowers.
  In politics Mr. Bowers is a Democrat, and has served as assessor, 
collector, school director and in other township offices.  He and his 
wife are consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and 
are highly esteemed people, whose personal worth enables them to move 
in the best circles of society.

1880 Gaskill Township, Jefferson County census -
William A. Bowers, 59  
Maggie Bowers, 29  
Lilian Bowers, 11