Biography:  Russell BOWERS; Trempealeau Co., Wisconsin

SUBMITTER: Laurel Fechner
EMAIL: laurel@spiritone.com
DATE: Jan 19, 1999

SURNAMES: BOWERS, CHASE, WARNER, STEELE, LOLLER, DONAHUE

Russell Bowers: information from The History of Trempealeau Co. WI; 
compiled gy Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge; Chicago and Winona; H.C.Cooper, 
Jr., & Co. 1917 With updates added by this submitter.

Russell Bowers, the popular Postmaster at Hamlin, Trempealeau County, 
is one of the pioneers of this county. He settled where he now lives 
on June 22, 1857. He was born in the town of Lyme, Jeff. Co., NY, in 
1825, son of Zachariah Bowers of NY and Adeline HUBBARD b. 1808 MA d/o 
Abner HUBBARD and Catherine WEBSTER. They were the parents of five 
children, Russell, Cornelia m. Wm. K. DODGE, Caroline m. James STEELE, 
Luman B. m. Mary CHASE (cousin to Russell's wife, Rebecca CHASE) and 
Rosetta.

Russell lived in NY until he was about 18 when the family moved to 
Waukesha Co. WI. From there they went to Dane Co. In 1849 Zachariah, 
the father, went with a company overland for CA, but lost his life in 
San Francisco in 1857. The manner of his death was never known, his 
body having been found on the street. His wife, Adeline, died in Dane 
Co. in 1885. (he had been driving a gold-quartz wagon and had 
acummulated some money. He sent word that he was returning but then 
the telegram arrived saying he had been murdered in San Francisco--
from a letter of Russell's daughter Adeline (Lina)Woodruf.

Russell Bowers was married to Rebecca CHASE b.1834 in Stowe Twp., 
Summit Co.,OH d/o James and Lovinia Burnet CHASE. They moved from OH 
to IL and then to Dane Co., WI and then when Russell and Rebecca came 
to Trempealeau Co., they were accompanied by her parents, who settled 
on an adjoining farm. The parents of Mrs. Bowers moved to Barron Co. 
after 1863 where the father died. Mrs. Chase moved near Traverse City, 
MI at the age of 91.

Mrs. Bowers is the youngest of four children: David m. Hilda and was 
in the 25th Wis. Reg. who was killed at Shiloh; Salome, wife of John 
WARNER of Indiana and lived in Sauk Co then Trempealeau Co in 1860 
then returned to IN; Joy H.(a son), also in the war who m. Elvira 
STEELE and moved to Traverse City, MI.

Russell Bowers along with his brother, Luman Bowers, enlisted in 1864 
in Co. K, 36th WI and served his country loyally and well until the 
close of the war.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have eight children: James, who is now (bio. 
written before 1896) in Dakota; Fred, Adeline, and George all at home. 
Jennie, wife of Frank LOLLER, a resident of Sumner; Loretta, wife of 
James DONAHUE, a prominent lumberman of Eau Claire; Charles and Elsie 
at home. They lost four children (Earnest, Rose, Abner, Arthur) in 
early life. During their long residence in Trempealeau Co., Mr. and 
Mrs. Bowers have ever possessed the respect and confidence of their 
fellow citizens. Mr. Russell Bowers has had the post office where he 
now resides for the past 35 years.

(Russell died 17 Dec. 1896 at Hamlin, Sumner Twp.(now just a 
crossroads between Osseo and Strum), Trempealeau Co. His farm is still 
standing there, across from Fred Teeple's farm which was a stagecoach 
stop in those days)

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