Newspspers: BOWER FAMILY REUNION, 1911: Perry Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cathy Wentz. ctwentz@aol.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ____________________________________________________ Newpaper article obtained from the Perry Historians Library; family file, Bower - Bauer. Handwritten: "May 2, 1911". BOWER FAMILY REUNION The one hundredth anniversary of the marriage of Solomon Bower, Sr., and Magdalena Fosselman was celebrated by a reunion of the dscendants of this honorable and prominent family at the old Bower homestead at Blain, this county, Tuesday of last week, May 2, 1911. One hundred and fifty-five descendants were present at the reunion, representing four generations. Sixty conveyances drove to the farm. A bountiful dinner was served from 12 until 3 o'clock on the barn-floor. It was the original intention to serve dinner on the lawn, but the cold weather compelled a change in the plans. The bread for the feast was baked in the old oven built in 1830 and still in perfect condition. Abraham Bower, of Warm Springs; Miss Cordelia Gray, of Ickesburg and C. M. Bower, of Blain, spoke on the history of the Bower family and Rev. J. C. Reighard, Lutheran pastor at Blain, delivered an address on sociability. All present had a very delightful day and the occasion will long be pleasantly remembered. The grandchildren in the afternoon viewed the farm, which is well kept up by the present owner and occupant, County Commisioner Clark M. Bower. The buildings are the oldest in this section of central Pennsylvania. The main part of the stone mansion house was built in 1794, when George Washington was President of the United States by Thomas and John Adams, who then owned the farm. James and Jane Blaine took up this land, having been given a title issued from Harrisburg, February 3, 1755. Mr. Blaine was an uncle of the Hon. James G. Blaine, of Maine. The farm was bought from James Blaine by James Adams in June, 1790. He sold to the above named Adams, who built the first house in 1794, an addition being erected in 1831 by Solomon Bower, Sr., who bought the farm from the Adams family in June, 1816. He built the barn in 1838 and the rest of the farm buildings in the thirties. The Jackson wagon-shed, by which name it is familiarly known in that community, was built when Jackson was President of the United States. Solomon Bower, Sr., was born November 28, 1780, near Roxbury, Franklin County, and died on the farm January 1, 1867 and his wife died in 1833. He sold the farm to his son, Solomon Bower, Jr., in 1857. This son died in 1894. The farm was bought then by C. M. Bower, who now owns it. His amiable and intelligent wife was Miss Annie Bistline, daughter of the late Benjamin Bistline, of Andersonburg. The great grandfather, Stephen Bower[sic], [from other family documents believe this is Christopher or "Stoffel" Bower] came from Roxbury, Franklin County and settled on the Stambaugh farm at Cisna Run. His son, Solomon, who married Magdalena Fosselman May 2, 1811, was the father of twelve children, Isabelle, John, Mary Ann, William, Sallie, Peggy, Solomon, Fannie, Eliza, Susan and two who died in infancy. There were forty-three grandchildren, 143 great grandchildren, 117 great great grandchildren and three great great great grandchildren, all being represented at the reunion. The certificate of marriage hangs on the wall at the old Bower homestead. There are some heirlooms there, a grandfather's clock, which runs correctly, and there are a chest and a bureau that have been there for almost one hundred years. C. M. Bower has a knife that belonged to his grandfather. Solomon Bower, Sr., was a Democrat but became a Republican in 1850 and was a strong supporter of President Lincoln. He was a member of the Lutheran church for seventy years and to this church most of the descendants belong. He was a County Commissioner in 1834, Solomon Bower, Jr., also served in this office and the latter's son, Clark M. Bower, is at present a County Commissioner. When Grandfather Bower was commissioner the first county bridge was built at Bridgeport. He was one of the viewers that laid out the Waggoner's Gap mountain road from Landisburg to Carlisle. Most all the Bower descendants are prosperous farmers. Grandfather Bower hauled logs for the first union and Reformed church at Loysville and attended services there, a distance of ten miles from his home at Blain. He was a deacon of that church until 1816, when the first union church at Blain was built and he was elected a trustee of the Lutheran congregation. He was a delegate to the first convention of the West Pennsylvania Synod, held at Chambersburg and he accompanied Rev. Father Heim there. Those present at the reunion were: Mrs. Lydia A. Gray, William Bernheisel, Edward Rice and wife of Andersonburg; John Gray, daughter Grace and son Robert, of Blain; Scott Gray, wife and two children, Marie and Arthur of Loysville; Frank Gray and wife, Arthur Gray and wife, of Blain; Mrs. Mary Harper, W. W. Showvaker and wife, Mrs. P. G. Beighler, Luella Beighler, of New Germantown; Mrs. Tillie Leiby, Harry Leiby, Mrs. Maude Reber and daughters, Myrtle and Mabel, of Blain; A. M. Bower, wife and children, Clarence, Mary and baby; J. D. Cooper and wife of Landisburg; Mrs. Sara F. Mueller and son John Dallas of Philadelphia; John Zimmerman, Della Zimmerman of Falling Springs; Mrs. C. C. Barnes of Norristown; Robert Zimmerman and wife of York; Mrs. Charles Stambaugh and son John David of Elliottsburg; W. N. Zimmerman, wife and two children, John and Mary of Blain; Oscar Baumbaugh, wife and baby Harold of Middletown; Ruth Zimmerman of Ickesburg; W. H. Zimmerman and daughters, Grace and Mame, of Andersonburg; Mrs. Sara Bousum of Ickesburg; Dr. George L. Zimmerman, wife and daughters, Geraldine and Margaret, of Carlisle; Stewart Lightner, wife and daughters, Vivian and Grace of Andersonburg; Edward Reapsome wife and daughters, Helen and Amy; J. M. Gray and children, Laura, Edward and James; Clayton Gray and wife and children, Virginia, John and Martin; Laura Gray, Ben Kistler, wife and son John of Elliotsburg; Samuel Wilson, wife and children, James and Marguerite, of Loysville; Cordelia Gray, John Gray, wife and daughter, Louise, of Ickesburg; Ellen Bower of Blain; Mrs. Sarah Bower of New Bloomfield; S. M. Dromgold, wife and daughter Lee; Clark Dromgold and wife, W. T. Dromgold and wife, Harry Gutshall, wife and children, Blaine, Helen, Merle and Lynn; Mrs. Solomon B. Bower of Blain; W. Miles Bower, wife and son Guy; Mrs. B. A. Bower and children, Rhea and Martin of Bellwood; Clark M. Bower, wife and children, Ida, Miles, Helen and Ben, of Blain; J. C. Martin, wife and children, Edith, Laura and John, of Andersonburg; Mrs. Mary V. Heim and son Edward of Loysville; Robert Shuman and daughter Frances, of Landisburg; Abram Bower and wife of Falling Springs; Prof. S. E. Harkins and wife, Mrs. Sara Moose, Mrs. David Stambaugh and daughter, Mary, Frank Stambaugh and daughter, Grace, of Blain; Mrs. Tower McConnell and son Dale, of New Germantown; Judge George M. Stroup and wife, Mrs. Annie Woods, W. S. Enslow and wife, G. W. Gutshall and wife, David Gutshall and wife, Capitola Wentzel, Rev. J. C. Reighard and wife, of Blain; Omer A. Kell of York; Miss Anna Baumbaugh of Middletown; and Wilson Bower of New Germantown. Assistant cooks were Mrs. Michael Miller of Blain, and Mrs. S. W. Miller of Loysville. The hostlers were Michael Miller, Bruce Miller and William Stum. Reporter Harry Kell of Blain and Photographer F. G. Couch of Andersburg, were also present, the latter taking a group photograph of the descendants.