DIEL BAUER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

Following are some of the descendants of Diel Bauer, who immigrated from Germany about 1750 and settled in Plaintfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.   For the ancestors of Tillman Bower of Tompkins County, N.Y., go to http://bowershomestead.com/--tillman-bower-family.html.

DIEL and ELIZABETH BAUER
    Diel Bauer was born in Germany and immigrated to America around 1750.
    Married Elizabeth.
    Children: (1)
    Dielman, born 1744.
    Dietrich, born April 4, 1749.
    Maria Sophia, born April 24, 1750.  Married Frederick Paul.
    Elizabeth, born Dec. 7, 1751.  Married Valentine Metz.
    John, born April 6, 1753.
    Margaret. Married George Peter Gauff.
    Barbara.  Married Conrad Kocher.
    Eve, born Dec. 6, 1762.  Married William Freeman.
    Catherine.  Married Abraham Shupp.
    Diel’s parents are unknown.  The name “Diel” is very unusual and may point toward a place of origin.  It is a shortened form of the name “Dietrich” that usually appears in Hesse.  According to information supplied to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Diel may have been born in 1718 or 1719 in either Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany.  However, this file is riddled with errors and cannot be trusted in the least. (2)
    His name is often spelled Dill, Diehl or Thill in records.  Bauer is often anglicized to Bower in civil records, but records from German-language churches always spell the name Bauer.  He signed his own name “Diel Bauer” in a 1772 deed that covered the sale of his farm to his son Dietrich.
    It is possible that Diel immigrated to America with his mother and stepfather.  The will of Johann Nicklas Schmith (Schmitt) of Lowhill Township, Northampton County, Pa., refers to “my son Johan Thill Bauher.”  Past researchers consulted the English translation of the will and believed that this indicated Diel was this man’s son-in-law.  However, genealogists in Germany, consulting the original German version of the will, said this reference indicates Diel was his stepson.  Also, other married daughters are listed under their own names and not under their husbands’ so it seems unlikely that Elizabeth would be different.  If this is the case, Diel’s mother was probably Maria Margareta Schmidt, who had remarried after Diel’s father died.  The order of the names may also indicate that Diel’s sisters or half-sisters were Anna Barbara Meiher, Anna Elisabeth Wick and Elisabeth Wieder, since their names follow his.  It is possible that Diel’s immigration records are under the name of Schmitt. (3) 
    It is uncertain exactly when the Bauer family came to America.  Diel was naturalized in Philadelphia on April 10, 1760.  Normally, German immigrants who arrived in Pennsylvania swore allegiance to the British king upon arrival.  However, this does not appear to have been the case with Diel.  He does not appear in Pennsylvania immigration records until 1760 but he does appear in other records as early as 1750.  It’s possible that he immigrated through another port that was less conscientious about immigration procedures.  Diel’s immigration record appears in “Pennsylvania Archives” under the act of parliament calling for the naturalization of foreigners “having inhabited and resided the space of seven years and upwards in his Majesty’s Colonies in America.” (4)
    Diel first shows up in what is now Montgomery County, Pa., in 1750.
    A notice printed in a German-language newspaper on Aug. 18, 1750 says Diel was living on land at Falckner Swamp in what was then Philadelphia County.  He also appears as the father of Maria Sophia Baur, who was baptized Oct.  14, 1750, at Falkner Swamp Reformed Church in New Hanover Township. (5)
    Sometime before 1752, Diel moved northward to Northampton County.  He was among the early settlers of the area, which had been “purchased” from the Lenape Indians about 15 years earlier in a controversial stunt known as the Walking Purchase.  In the 1700s, German immigrants constituted about 90 percent of the county’s population. (6)
    Diel first appears in Northampton County records on Dec. 5, 1752.  The business transaction is among the first in the history of the county, which was separated from Bucks County in 1752.  It is recorded in Deed Book A-1, page 5.
    The book “A Frontier Village” mentions the transaction, which followed attempts by John Weidman to build a grist mill on Lefevre Creek.  “Weidman did not have sufficient funds with which to complete the mill, so he borrowed about 46 pounds from John Lefevre and Dill Bower.  To secure the payment of this obligation Weidman, on December 5th, 1752, gave a mortgage on his property, including the mill, to Lefevre and Bower.  In this mortgage, it is stated that John Weidman was a millwright, Dill Bower a smith, and John Lefevre an innholder, and that all three were residents of the ‘Forks of the Delaware’, the name by which Forks Township was then known.” (7)
    The fact that Diel had enough spare money to make a loan indicates he was relatively prosperous for that time and place.
    In 1753, the baptism of his son John is recorded at St.  Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Upper Saucon Township, in what is now Lehigh County.  However, the family may not have lived near there because they were never listed as communicants at that church.
    On Sept. 3, 1757, an advertisement in a German newspaper reported that Diel Bower had taken possession of land left by Georg Ewy in Bethel Township, Northampton County. (8)
    Either at this point or soon thereafter, Diel settled in what would become Plainfield Township in 1762.  He lived there until his death. (9)
    “History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh” describes Plainfield Township during the time the Bauer family settled in the area. (10)
    “The name Plainfield was given to it as describing its appearance to the first settlers.  The surface of the township is almost devoid of trees, except on the margins of the watercourses, where a few dwarf oaks and stunted evergreens grow on the high lands. … There is an opening, or pass, in the mountains called by the German settlers ‘Die Wind Kapf” (Wind Gap), through which no stream or water passes. … It is the only crossing for wagon roads leading from the township across the Blue Mountains,” William J. Heller writes in the history.  Diel’s farm was near what is now the town of Wind Gap.
    “The first settlers were Germans, who immigrated from their native land, settled around Wind Gap, and erected a house of worship … These were immediately followed by German settlers, and on December 24, 1762, a decree of the court authorized and ordered the laying out and erection of the township,” Heller writes.  The new township contained only 300 inhabitants.
    Heller is apparently referring to the French and Indian War when he states: “The settlers suffered during the Indian troubles, a temporary fortification being build as a place of refuge.”
    The Bauers worshipped at Plainfield Reformed Church, whose congregation was made up of Germans who settled in the area.  The first confirmation class listed in the church’s records contained Diel’s daughter Barbara, who was confirmed April 10, 1763.  The second class, which was confirmed Dec. 22, 1765, contained John. (11)
    During his early years in Plainfield Township, Diel appears several times in the records of the Northampton County Orphan’s Court.  In 1763 and 1767, he served on panels reporting on the estates of deceased residents of the township.  In 1778, he is listed as “next friend” when Christian Stout was appointed guardian of two children of Joseph Stout. (12)
    In 1772 tax lists, Diel is listed as a farmer. (13)
    However, Diel seems to have retired from farming in that year.  On Aug. 26, he sold his farm to his son Dietrich.  The deed recording this transaction says the farm covered 127 acres and was purchased by Diel on Dec. 20, 1763.  Dietrich – who is actually listed as “Richard Bauer,” a mistake that was cleared up in a later deed – also received “four cows, four Heifers, five sheep, five lambs, two Horses of three years, a Saddle & all our Utensills of Husbandry to wit a Harrow & Plough with their irons, also two sows & a Barrow Hog.” (14) 
    In payment, Diel and Elizabeth received 250 pounds.  Dietrich also agree to provide annual allotments of produce, including “Four Bushels of wheat, Twenty Bushells of Rye, One Hundred & fifty Pounds of Pork, twelve pound Hatcheld Flex & twelve pound Hatcheld Tow, each of us a new pair of Shoes, & to keep for use, two cows, at his Expence, and to Give us each year the wool of two sheep, as we shall choose, also apples for own use And when the orchard Hits well a Barrell of syder.”  The agreement also called for Dietrich to provide “a quarter part of the Garden-ground, and our Dwelling place in the House, or otherwise to Build us a Room at the Gable end thereof fit and Suitable for us to live in.”
    Finally, Dietrich also received a farm hand to help, as the deed states: “I give to my son Richard Bauer two years Servitude more or less of his Brother John Bauer, which is to be compleated & Ended when my said son John arrives to the full age of Twentyone years old and not Before.”
    During the Revolution, Diel’s sons served in the Northampton County militia.  His DAR file says he swore an oath of allegiance to the Colonies; however, his name could easily be mistaken for that of that of Dielman Bauer, who is believed to be Diel’s eldest son.  (15)
    Diel died sometime before July 21, 1796, when a deed indicated he was deceased. (16)  However, it’s possible that he died several years earlier.  Diel’s name does not appear among the heads of households in Northampton County in the 1790 Census.  That’s not a surprise since he and Elizabeth had become part of Dietrich’s household in 1772.  However, Dietrich’s household contained only one adult male and two adult females.  It seems most likely that these people were Dietrich, his wife and his mother, and that Diel had already died.
    It is unknown when Elizabeth died.  She is not listed as deceased in the 1796 record.  However, only one adult female is listed in the 1800 Census, possibly indicating that she had died by that point.
    It is also unknown where the Bauers are buried.  It seems likely that their graves are in the cemetery across the road from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield, south of Wind Gap.  Several of their children are buried there.  If Diel and Elizabeth are buried there, it’s possible that they lie beneath small, irregular stones that don’t bear full inscriptions.
    (1) Names come from Northampton County Deed Book A-4, page 35.  Birth date for Dietrich comes from “Burial Record of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” page 10.  Eve and Elizabeth’s are on page 6.  Sophia’s comes from “Church Records of the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church,” page 3.  John’s birth date is listed in “St.  Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,” page 10.  There is no documentary evidence that specifically states Dielman – or Tillman as he was later known – was actually a son of Diel.  However, the similarity of the very rare names, the links in later baptismal records and the places of residence point toward the link.  Family tradition also makes the link, but one must be wary of such information.  It should be noted that Dielman is not listed in the deed that names Diel’s children.  In addition, a power of attorney giving Dietrich authority to act on Dielman’s behalf calls Dietrich “my trusty and loving friend” rather than brother.  The transaction appears in Northhampton County Deed Book F2.  (2) The information on the name “Diel” comes from “Deutsches Namen Lexicon,” by Hans Bahlow.  The DAR information comes from Diel’s file and that of his son John at the national headquarters in Washington. D.C.  The DAR’s link to Hesse comes from a Miss Julia R. Mitchell, who lived at 83 Ellis Ave., Chicago in 1936.  It is difficult to say how reliable this information is without any further details.  (3) Northampton County Will File 135.  (4) “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 2, Vol.  II, page 402.  (5) Newspaper listing – originally from Christopher Sower’s Pennsylvanische Geschicht-Schreiber of Germantown – appears in “Genealogical Data Relating to the German Settlers of Pennsylvania and Adjacent Territory,” page 21.  The baptismal information comes from “Church Records of the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church,” page 3.  (6) Note on Germans from “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” by the Rev. Henry M. Kieffer, 1902, page 5.  The purchase involved an agreement – possibly fraudulent – that called for the Lenape tribe to sell to the Penn family a tract of land extending from Easton, Pa., as far north as a man could walk in a day and a half.  William Penn’s sons hired a professional walker who covered 70 miles in the allotted time.  This was far more territory than the Lenape had anticipated.  The tribe complained to the Iroquois Confederation and British officials but to their concerns were rejected and they left the area.  The Lenape – also known as the Delawares – filed suit over the purchase as recently as 2004.  (7) “A Frontier Village,” page 64.   (8) “Genealogical Data Relating to the German Settlers,” page 64.  (9) “Northampton County Tax List for the Year 1761,” page 73A.  Northampton County Deed Book A-4, page 35.  (10) “History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh,” by William J. Heller, Vol. II, page 484.  (11) “History of the Plainfield Reformed Church,” by the Rev. W.H. Brong, page 4.  (12) “Genealogical Abstracts of Orphan’s Court Records Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Vols A-E, 1752-1795,” by Candace E. Anderson, pages 31, 49 and 98.  (13) “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 3, Vol.  XIX, pages 62.  (14) Northampton County Deed Book C-2, page 223.  (15) DAR file.  (16) The 1772 deed was recorded in Deed Book C-2 in 1796.


SECOND GENERATION IN AMERICA

DIETRICH and CATHARINE ELISABETH BAUER
(Diel)
    Dietrich Bauer was born April 4, 1749, to Diel and Elizabeth Bauer. (1)
    Married Catharine Elisabeth, who was born Dec. 21, 1744.  (2)
    Children: (3)
    John Jacob, born Jan. 11, 1777.
    Abraham, born Nov. 28, 1778.  Died before 1783.
    Elizabeth, born Oct. 1, 1780.  Married Peter Frutchy.
    Abraham, born Feb. 11, 1783.
    Frederick, born July 5, 1785.
    George, born March 16, 1788.  Probably died before 1818.
    Catharine, born before 1790.  Married Philip Shierman.
    Dietrich is sometimes referred to as Dieter or Deeder and his last name is often spelled “Bower” in civil records.  One property record refers to him as “Richard Bauer.”  However, his own signature always reads “Dietrich Bauer.”
    Dietrich’s place of birth is unknown.  His father doesn’t appear in American records until 1750, so it seems likely that Dietrich was born in Germany.  The family settled in Northampton County, Pa., in the early 1750s and Dietrich liven there the rest of his life.
    In 1772, Dietrich is listed as a “single man” on the tax records for Plainfield Township, Northampton County. This indicates that he wasn’t married and didn’t own land. (4)
    In Aug. 26 of that year, Dietrich acquired his father’s 127-acre farm.  He paid 250 pounds and agreed to provide his parents with annual allotments of produce and a space to live in his house.  In 1789 and 1794, Dietrich acquired additional adjoining property from George and Elizabeth Pfeiffer. (5)
    It is not known when Dietrich married Catharine Elisabeth but it seems likely that they wed in 1776 if Jacob was their first child.  However, since the younger Catharine’s birthday is unknown, it’s possible she is the oldest child, which would push the Bauers’ wedding a year or two earlier.
    The Bauers worshiped at Plainfield Reformed Church.  Most of their children were baptized there between 1777 and 1788.  In 1779, Dietrich contributed grain toward the pastor’s salary.  He also served as an elder in 1783 and 1794 and as a deacon in 1793.  And in 1805, he contributed 3 pounds, 7 shillings and 6 pence to the construction of the congregation’s second building.  Only six people contributed more. (6)
    “History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of The Lehigh” describes the Plainfield church.  “St. Peter’s Reformed and Lutheran Church dates back to the middle of the eighteenth century.  The regular records, however, are extant since 1763. … The original founders of the church were principally Palatines, though there were some Swiss and French Huguenots.  The congregation was originally of the Reformed faith.”  However, Lutherans began holding services in the same building and in 1832 “were granted equal right in the church and landed property, and from that time it was been practically a union church.”  The Reformed and Lutheran congregations maintained a close relationship in the 1900s. The church that currently stands on the property is St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.  The Reformed church eventually became Hope United Church of Christ in Wind Gap. (6a)
    Dietrich appears to have been someone whom neighbors could turn to in time of need.  Northampton County Orphans Court records show that he was appointed one of the guardians for the children of Jacob Engler in 1778 and the guardian of the children of Joseph Stout in the 1790s.  In 1800, he served as the executor of the estate of George Pfeiffer – perhaps the son of the George Pfeiffer from whom he purchased property – and as guardian of his daughter when his wife, Catharine, died a year later.  He also served on panels auditing or reporting on several estates of people from Plainfield Township. (7)
    During the Revolutionary War, Dietrich was active in the Northampton County militia.  Pennsylvania required that men swear allegiance to the patriot cause and join the militia if they were able.  Those who didn’t were fined.  Militia units mustered when a threat manifested itself or they were needed to patrol the frontier. 
    In Northampton County, threats usually involved attacks by Native Americans who were allied with the British.  The only large engagement fought in the county was the Battle of Wyoming, which occurred in July 1778 near what is now Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County.  Loyalists and their Indian allies wiped out a patriot contingent and forced the surrender of nearby forts.  Although the county was generally pretty quiet, Easton was a strategic crossroads.  Continental troops often passed through the area en route to campaigns in New Jersey and elsewhere and wounded troops were treated in the town following several battles. (8)
    From 1777 to 1780, Dietrich served as a sergeant in the 6^th Company of the 5^th Battalion.  In May 1780, Dietrich was selected to be a lieutenant under Capt. Lewis Stacher’s 6^th Company, 2^nd Battalion.  Although the company’s numerical designation changed several times, Dietrich served under Stacher throughout the war.  The company mustered on May 16, 1780, April 10, 1781, July 1781 and April 18, 1782.  Selection as a militia officer is another measure of Dietrich’s standing the community since officers were elected by members of the unit. (9)
     On May 28, 1782, Dietrich’s militia company was called to active duty “in the service of the United States on the frontiers of said county for two months service.”  On this occasion, he served in Capt. Jacob Heller’s 3^rd Class of the 2^nd Battalion (which was actually under the command of Capt. Abraham Horn, who served in place of Heller).  Dietrich served as lieutenant for 60 days, 37 of them on the frontier.  This service probably involved patrolling the frontier to reduce the risk of attack by Native Americans.
     State records also list Dietrich as a private on the rolls of those receiving depreciation pay following the war.  This pay was in the form of certificates designed to offset the depreciation suffered by U.S. currency during the war.  It’s uncertain why he would have been listed as a private since no records of service at that rank have turned up.
     Dietrich continued his militia service after the war’s end. (10)  He served as a private in the 7th Company of the 6th Battalion of the county militia, which mustered on May 10, 1784.  Two other records in the Pennsylvania State Archives indicate active service.  They are dated Jan. 31, 1786, and Jan. 17, 1787, but more research is needed to determine whether they indicate additional active duty or refer to his service on the frontiers in 1782.
    During this time, Dietrich continued to work the farm in Plainfield Township.  Tax records for 1779 indicate Dietrich owned 160 acres.  In 1785 tax records, Dietrich is recorded as owning 100 acres of land, two horses and three cows, which was about average for that township.  Tax records show one less now in 1786 and a total of four cows in 1788 but the rest of the totals remained the same. (11)
    The 1790 Census records that nine people were living in Dietrich’s household – one adult male, four males under age 16 and four females.  Three of the females were Dietrich’s wife and two daughters.  The fourth was probably his mother, who presumably had lived with Dietrich since 1772.  If that’s the case, it seems likely that Diel had died by this time.
    In 1800, the census shows that Dietrich’s household contained one male age 10-15, one male 16-25, one male 45 and older, one female under 10 and one female 45 and older.  Since it seems certain that Dietrich’s daughter were both born by the time of the 1790 Census, it seems likely that the young girl listed in 1800 was one of the orphans whom Dietrich cared for.
    The 1810 Census indicates that only Dietrich and Catharine Elisabeth were living in their household.
    On March 26, 1818, Dietirch and Catharine Elisabeth sold their three contiguous properties to their son Abraham for $4,000. (12)  It appears that the couple continued to live with Abraham’s family on the old homestead.  Dietrich’s name doesn’t appear among the heads of households in Plainfield Township in the 1820 Census.  However, the household of the 37-year-old Abraham contained a male 45 or older, almost certainly Dietrich.
    However, Catharine Elisabeth died on July 7, 1818, only a few months after the property transaction. (13)
    Dietrich died April 1, 1826.  He had written his will on the same day that he sold his farm.  The will mentions that Abraham had paid only $300 of the $4,000 due for the properties.  Abraham was to pay off the remaining $3,700 after his parents’ deaths.  He was to make annual payments of $200 to his siblings Jacob, Catharine and Elizabeth in rotation until each had received $925.  The remaining $925 of the debt was Abraham’s portion of the inheritance.  The will also mentions that Dietrich had given money to his son Frederick beforehand so he would not receive payments like his siblings.  Since George is not mentioned in the will and does not appear in census records covering Northampton County in the early 1800s, it seems likely that he died before 1818.  In subsequent years, Dietrich wrote codicils to his will that reduced the total figure of Abraham’s indebtedness from $3,700 to $2,800 and then to $2,000.
    Dietrich and Catharine Elisabeth are buried in the cemetery across the road from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield, south of Wind Gap.
    (1) Date of birth comes from “Burial Record of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” page 10.  Father’s name comes from Northampton County Deed Book A-4, page 35, and Deed Book C-2, page 223.  (2) Date of birth comes from St. Peter’s burial record, page 10.  She is also named in Dietrich’s will, Northampton County Will Book 4, page 120.  It is possible that Catharine Elisabeth’s last name was Hann because the Bauers’ are buried beside many Hanns and Frederick Hann was as sponsor at Frederick Bauer’s baptism, usually an indication of relationship. Another possibility is Pfeiffer because Dietrich seems to have had an extremely close relationship with two generations of George Pfeiffers, appearing with them in land records, a will and Orphans Court records.  (3) The births and baptisms of most of Dietrich’s children are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., Vol. I.”   The husbands of the daughters are named in Dietrich’s will.  Presumably the earlier Abraham died before 1783, when the latter Abraham was born.  George probably died before 1818 because he isn’t listed in Dietrich’s will, which was drawn up in that year.  The only mention of Catharine appears in Dietrich’s will, which states she was the wife of Phillip Shierman.  Since there’s no baptismal record for Catharine, her birth date is unknown.  The 1790 Census indicates that four females lived in the household – these were probably Dietrich’s mother, wife and two daughters – which would indicate that Catharine was born before that time.  (4) “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 3, Vol.  XIX, page 64.  (5) Transfer from Diel Bauer is in Northampton County Deed Book C-2, page 223.  Pfeiffer deeds are in Deed Book C-2, pages 225 and 225.  (6) Church information comes from the Plainfield church record book, pages 249, 253 and 254; “First Settlers of the Forks,” pages 401 and 402; and “History of the Plainfield Reformed Church,” by the Rev. W.H. Brong, page 9.  (6a) “History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh,” by William J. Heller, Vol. II, pages 484 and 485.  (7) “Genealogical Abstracts of Orphan’s Court Records Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Vols. A-E, 1752-1795,” pages 93, 122, 181, 206 and 221.  Also, “Genealogical Abstracts of Orphan’s Court Records, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Volumes. 6-8 1795-1815,” by Candace E. Anderson, pages 98 and 305.  (8) “History of the Lehigh Valley,” page 110.  (9) The service as sergeant is listed in militia records available through the Pennsylvania State Archives Web site at www.phmc.state.pa.us.  No specific muster dates are listed.  The following militia listings are in “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 5, Vol.  VIII: election, page 565; muster on May 16, 1780, page 122; April 10, 1781, page 138; July 1781, page 147; April 18, 1782, page 173 and 175; service on the frontiers, page 183.  Listing as private due depreciation pay is in “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 5, Vol.  IV, page 313.  (10) “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 6, Vol.  III, page 816.  The two references to active duty are for Dieter Bower and Detrick Bower of the Northampton County militia, as listed on the Pennsylvania State Archives Web site at www.phmc.state.pa.us.  (11) 1779 tax lists are in “Tax Lists in the Northampton County Court House 1774-1806,” page 144.  1785 lists are in”Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 3, Vol.  XIX, page 152.  Records for 1786 are on page 265 and those for 1788 are on page 380.  (12) Northampton County Deed Book E-5, page 66.  (13) Catharine Elisabeth and Dietrich’s death information is in St. Peter’s burial record, page 10.

JOHN and CATHARINE BAUER
(Diel)
    Johannes Bauer was born April 6, 1753, in Northampton County, Pa., to Diel and Elizabeth Bauer. (1)
    Married Catharine Heller on Oct. 4, 1779.  Catharina was born March 4, 1759, to Simon and Louisa Heller in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County. (2)
   Children: (3)
    Elizabeth, born June 16, 1780. 
    Catharine, born Dec. 24, 1781.
    John, born Jan. 30, 1784.
    Susanna, born May 5, 1786.  (Possibly married Peter Steinmetz.)
    Maria, born Aug. 20, 1788.  Married Christian Deily.
    Daniel, born Aug. 8, 1791. 
    In 1772, Diel Bauer sold his land to his son Dietrich.  Dietrich also got a farm hand to help, as the deed states: “I give to my son Richard Bauer two years Servitude more or less of his Brother John Bauer, which is to be compleated & Ended when my said son John arrives to the full age of Twentyone years old and not Before.” (4)
    During the Revolutionary War, John served as a private in Capt. Jacob Heller’s company of militia “on the Frontiers of Northampton County” in1781. (5)  This service probably involved patrolling the frontier to reduce the risk of attack by Native Americans who were allied with the British.
    Following the war, John’s family lived in Plainfield Township in Northampton County.  Tax lists for 1785 list John as owning two horses, but no land.  This probably indicates that he rented a farm or lived on his parents’ farm.  In 1786, he is listed as having a horse and a cow. (6) 
    The 1790 Census lists John as living in Plainfield and having five children.
    The family worshiped at Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    John died on Feb. 23, 1791.  He is buried in Plainfield Cemetery across the road from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. (7)  Catharine died Nov. 4, 1818. (8)
    (1) “St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,” page 10.  Parents also named in Northampton County Deed Book A¸4, page 35.  (2) Marriage date figured from tombstone inscription.  The information is repeated in the listing for her grave at Findagrave.com.  Other information comes from Diel Bauer’s file with the Daughters of the American Revolution; however, this file is incorrect in some instances.  The baptismal record for Simon and Louisa Heller’s daughter Catharine is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.” (3) Births are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I.”  Maria’s husband is named in Diel’s DAR file.  A Susanna Bauer married a Peter Steinmetz on April 22, 1806, according to “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 355.  There seem to be no other available Susanna Bauers in the area so she seems a likely candidate.   (4) Northampton County Deed Book C¸2, page 223.  (5) “Pennsylvania Archives” Series 5, Vol.  VIII, page 601.  (6) Tax lists appear in “Pennsylvania Archives” Series 3, Vol. XIX, pages 152 and 265, respectively.  (7) “Burial Record of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” page 6.  The administration of John’s estate is recorded in Northampton County, file 1397.  (8) The information on Catharine can be found at Findagrave.com.


THIRD GENERATION IN AMERICA

JACOB and ANNA BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich)
    John Jacob Bauer was born Jan. 11, 1777 in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Dietrich and Catharine Elisabeth Bauer.  (1)
    Married Anna Hess.  (See below.)
    Children: (2)
    Catharine, born Aug. 12, 1802.  Possibly died young.
    Jacob, born April 20, 1804.
    Thomas, born Aug. 19, 1806.
    Marianne, born Dec. 15, 1809.  Married David Walter.
    Margaret, born about Jan. 6, 1813.  Married Daniel Sandt.
    Tobias, probably born June 13, 1816, and died Dec. 12, 1836 of consumption.
    Elisabeth, born Feb. 4, 1819.  Married Charles Reeser.
    Salome, or Sarah, born April 8, 1821.  Married Joseph Metzger
    John Dietrich, born Oct. 12, 1823, and died Sept. 5, 1825.
    Jacob was raised on his father’s farm in Plainfield Township.  He is listed separately from his father in the Pennsylvania state census of 1800.  However, his name does not appear in that year’s federal census, which indicates that he was still living in Dietrich’s household.
    In 1801, Jacob married Anna Hess. (3)  Anna was born Dec. 6, 1783, in Northampton County to Jeremiah and Elisabeth Hess. (4)  Around the time of Anna’s birth, the Hess family lived in Williams Township, which is near Easton.  However, they appear to have lived in Plainfield Township about the time of Anna’s marriage to Jacob.  A Jeremiah Hess with roughly the right number of children appears in the township in the 1800 Census.
    The Bauers worshiped at the German Reformed church in Plainfield.  Most of their children were baptized in that church and Jacob was listed among contributors to a renovation of the church in 1805. (5)
    At some point, the family moved southward to Forks Township in Northampton County.  Jacob does not appear in the 1810 Census in either Plainfield or Forks Township so it is uncertain exactly where he lived at the time.  The move probably occurred after the birth of Margaret 1813, who was the last of their children to be listed among the baptisms at Plainfield Reformed Church.  The next child to appear in baptismal records is Elisabeth, who was baptized in 1819 at Salem Union Church in Forks Township.
    The 1820 Census lists Jacob Bower in Forks Township.  His household contained one male under 10, two males age 10-15, one male 26-44, two females under 10, two females 10-15 and one female 25-44.  Two people were engaged in agriculture.
    Jacob died Jan. 7, 1825. (6)  After his death, his brother Abraham Bauer of Plainfield Township was appointed guardian of Margaret, Tobias, Elizabeth and Sarah, who were listed as being younger than 14 years old.  (7)
    In the 1830 Census, Anna Bowers is listed in Forks Township.  Her household contained one male under 5, one male 15-19, one male 20-29, one female under 5, two females 15-19, one female 20-29 and one female 40-49.  Judging from the ages of the people listed, it seem certain that one of Anna’s adult children and his or her spouse where living with her.  After consulting the 1840 and 1850 censuses, it seems most likely that the child was Jacob.
    Anna’s name does not appear in the 1840 Census, but it seems likely that she was living with her son Jacob in Forks Township.  While he and his wife were in their 30s, his household contained one female 50-59, which is the right age range for Anna. 
    In the 1850 Census, Anna Bowers, age 66, is listed in Jacob’s household.
    Anna is frequently listed as Nancy in civil records, especially real estate transactions involving the Hess family in Luzerne County.  She does not appear to have been able to write because she always signed with a mark rather than a signature.  That was quite common for women in the early and mid-1800s.
    Nancy died March 21, 1857.  The Bauers are buried at Arndt’s Lutheran Church in Forks Township, just north of Easton.  (8)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Vol.  I,” page 12.  Dietrich’s will, Northampton County Will Book 4, page 120.  Two Jacobs appear in Northampton County records at this time: the Jacob in whom we are interested and a Jacob in Moore Township, who was married to a woman name Gertraud.  Information on this family can be found in “Bauer Family History,” compiled by Andrew and Marguerite Swagler Bauer, a copy of which is in the Easton Public Library’s Marx Room.  (2) The records linking Jacob to his children are a mishmash.  Most are in “Plainfield Reformed Church,” appearing on pages 50, 53, 58, 65 and 77.   Elisabeth’s birth is recorded in “Church Record of Salem Union Church in Forks Township, Northampton County,” which is available at the Easton Public Library.  The births of Margaret and John Dietrich are recorded a St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Easton, which are available at the Easton Public Library.  For some reason, Margaret’s birth, but no baptism, is also recorded in the Plainfield record.  The dates in these two records conflict with each other and with the date on her tombstone at Forks Cemetery in Forks Township (see Anna Margaret Sandt).  The youngest surviving children – Margaret, Tobias, Elizabeth and “Sarah” – are listed in Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 10, page 270, a record made after Jacob’s death.  “Sarah” was actually Salome, who’s listed as “Somla Metzger” in Nancy’s estate papers.  Salome’s birth date comes from her tombstone at Niskey Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem (see Findagrave.com).   The married names of the daughters appear in Nancy’s estate papers.  Tobias’ birth and death dates are listed on a tombstone cited in “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 16.  He is not listed among Nancy’s heirs in 1857, so it must be assumed he was dead at the time and this is the correct Tobias.  (3) According to a manuscript at the Wyoming Valley Historical Society, Anna and Jacob were married Nov. 2, 1801.  Records from the church where the Hesses worshipped say an Anna Hess married someone with the first name of Jacob on Nov. 21, 1801.  This is probably the record of the Bauers’ wedding.  The man’s last name was omitted in the transcript, probably because it was unreadable in the original document.  The manuscript is the rough draft for an item in “A History of the Wapwallopen Region,” by Lillie Cameron.  It is in the “Hess” file at the historical society in Wilkes-Barre.  The church record is in “Some of the First Settlers,” page 349.  (4) Anna’s birth is recorded in “Some of the First Settlers of  The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” by the Rev. Henry M. Kieffer, 1902, page 115.  Her birth date is also listed on her tombstone.  (The year is incorrectly copied in “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania.”) A real estate transaction in Luzerne County mentions “Nancy Bauer (late Nancy Hess)” as an heir of Jeremiah Hess.  This is Luzerne County Deed Book 22, page 611.  Luzerne County Deed Book 35, page 716, describes her as “Nancy Bower (widow and relique of Jacob Bower deceased) of Forks Township, Northampton County.”  (5) Plainfield Reformed Church, page 250.  (6) Jacob and Anna’s death dates listed in “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 15.  Jacob’s estate papers are in Northampton County, File No.  3681.  (7) Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 10, page 270.  (8) “Burials at Arndt’s Church” says Anna died in 1854, but her tombstone says 1857.  The administration papers for her estate were filed in 1857.  Estate papers in File No. 6584 in Northampton County.

ABRAHAM and CATHARINE BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich)
    Abraham Bauer was born Feb. 11, 1783, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Dietrich and Catharine Bauer. (1)
    Married Catharine Keller. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Charles, born Sept. 24, 1808. 
    Anna, born Oct. 14, 1809.  Married Conrad Bender.
    John Jacob, born Feb. 1, 1812.
    Samuel, born June 10, 1814. 
    Susanna.  Married Abraham R. Heller.
    Abraham, born June 25, 1818.
    Levi, born Aug. 25, 1820, and died May 22, 1821.
    Adam, born April 6, 1822. 
    Sabina, born Dec. 21, 1824.  Married Aaron Roeder.
    Elizabeth Jane, born Nov. 16, 1827.
    Reuben Thomas, born Aug. 21, 1830.
    The Bauers lived in Plainfield Township, where Abraham bought his father’s farm in 1818. (4)
    In the 1810 Census, Abraham Bower is listed in Plainfield Township with one male under 10 years old, one male 16-25, one female under 10 and one female 16-25.  Since his father’s household is listed separately, it seems likely that Abraham rented a farm at this time.
    In 1820, the household included four males under 10, one male 10-15, one male 25-44, one male 45 or older, two females under 10 and one female 25-44.  Two people were “engaged in agriculture.”
    The 1830 Census records that the household contained one male 5-9, one male 10-14, two males 15-19, one male 20-29, one males 50-59, one female under 5, 1 female 5-9, one females 10-14 and one female 30-39.
    Abraham was very active in the Plainfield Reformed Church, where most of the children were baptized.  On Nov. 27, 1835, he was elected treasurer and paymaster for construction of the church’s third building.  He contributed $54 toward construction of the building.  Only three people contributed more. (5)
    Apparently, Abraham was well respected in the community and may have acted as an attorney.  His obituary lists him as “Abraham Bauer, Esq.” (6)
    Abraham died Nov. 8, 1835.  Upon Abraham’s death Peter Frutchy – his brother-in-law – was named guardian of Abraham, Adam and Sabina. (7)
    On July 9, 1837, Catharine married John Shick of Easton. (8)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 19.  (2) Maiden name comes from the Plainfield church record, page 99.  (3) Most births are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church.”  Levi listed in “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 10.  Daughters’ married names – as of 1835 – and youngest children are listed in Abraham’s will.  Levi’s death is recorded in “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St. Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 10.  Sabina’s marriage is recorded in Ancestry.com.  “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985. “  (4) Northampton County Deed Book E5, page 66.  (5) “History of the Plainfield Reformed Church,” by the Rev. W.H. Brong, page 10.  (6) “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1799¸1851, Newspaper Extracts, Vol.  II,” page 447.  (7) “Burials at Arndt’s Church,” page 3. Abraham’s will is in Northampton County Will Book E2, page 233.  (8)”Marriages and Deaths,” page 453.

FREDERICK and SUSANNAH BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich)
    Frederick Bauer was born July 5, 1785, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Dietrich and Catharine Bauer. (1)
    Married Susannah Hohenschild on June 4, 1809. (2)
    Children: (3)
    William, born Sept. 4, 1809. 
    George Peter, born Nov. 24, 1811.
    Philip Findley, born Sept. 8, 1817. 
    Catharine, born Sept. 28, 1819.
    The family lived in Plainfield Township and probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    In the 1810 Census, Fred Bower’s household contained one male under 10, one male 25-44 and one female 15-26.
    In 1820, the household contained two males under 10, one male 26-44, two females under 10, one female 10-15 and one female 26-44.  One person was engaged in agriculture and one person was engaged in manufacture.  If the census numbers are correct, it would seem that at least one of the sons listed in church records had died and that two additional girls had been born.
    Frederick’s family seems to disappear from Northampton County after the 1820 Census.  Database searches have not turned up any evidence of their next home, but it seems likely that they moved westward with the expending frontier.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 23. (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 358.  George and Elizabeth Hohenschild appear among the baptismal sponsors at Plainfield Reformed Church.  It’s possible they are Susannah’s parents.  The listing is on page 50. (3) Births listed in Plainfield church records.

JOHN and VERONICA BAUER
(Diel, John)
    John Bauer was born Jan. 30, 1784 in Northampton County, Pa., to John and Catharine (Heller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Veronica Hahn on April 7, 1805.  She was born Oct. 10, 1785. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Peter, born Oct. 16, 1805, and died Sept. 16, 1828. 
    Rebecca, born Oct. 19, 1807. 
    John, born Aug. 24, 1810. 
    Catharine, born Sept. 26, 1812. 
    Thomas, born Jan. 18, 1815. 
    Elizabeth, born Nov. 7 (or 1), 1817, and died Sept. 7, 1821. 
    William Henry, born March 29, 1828.
    The Bauer family lived in Plainfield Township.  It’s possible that John was a blacksmith.  The 1820 Census indicates that one person in his household was “engaged in manufactures” and the 1850 Census indicates that, while John had no occupation, his three sons were all working as blacksmiths.  It’s very likely they learned the trade from their father.
    In the 1810 Census, their household contained two males under 10, one male 16-25, one female under 10 and one female 16-25.
    The 1820 Census shows the household contained two males under 10, one male 10-15, one male 26-44, two females under 10, one female 10-15, one female 26-44.  One person was engaged in agriculture and one was engaged in manufacture.
    In 1830, the household contained one male under 5, one male 15-19, one male 40-49, one female 15-19 and one females 40-49.
    In 1840, the household contained one male 5-9, one male 10-14, two males 20-29, one male 50-59, one female 15-19 and one female 50-59.  The numbers and ages of the children don’t match up well with the children listed in church records.  It’s possible that these represent additional children who died young.  One person was engaged in agriculture.
    John retired by 1850, when the census lists him as a 64-year-old with no occupation.  His real estate was valued at $2,000.  The household also contained his wife, Fanny, age 62; John, 36; Thomas 30; William H., 21; and Catharine, 33.  Emilius Hawn is listed as a 16-year-old laborer.
    In 1860, the household contained John, listed as a 76-year-old farmer; Frana, 74; Thomas, a 43-year-old coach maker; and Catharine, 45.  It also contained William’s family: William H., a 31-year-old blacksmith; Mary E., his 25-year-old wife; Catherine, 6; Samuel, 4; and Sarah J., 2.
    The Bauers probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    Veronica died Oct. 2, 1868. (4)
    John died May 11, 1870 of “dropsy.”  John is listed in death records as being a “gentleman,” which usually indicates the person is a retired, well-respected farmer. (5)
    Both are buried in Plainfield Cemetery across the road from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 21.  (2) Wedding date comes from “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 354.  Birth date comes from “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 33.  (3) Children’s births listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church.”  Peter’s death are recorded in St. Peter’s cemetery records, page 56; Elizabeth’s death is on page 25.  Findagrave.com lists different dates.  (4) Dates from St. Peter’s cemetery records.  Cause of death from 1870 mortality schedule.  (5) “Pennsylvania 1870 Mortality Schedule,” page 41. 

DANIEL and CATHARINE BAUER
(Diel, John)
    Daniel Bauer was born Aug. 8, 1791, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to John and Catharine (Heller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Catharine Michael on Aug. 19, 1810. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Benjamin, born Feb. 11, 1812. 
    Edward Thomas, born Oct. 11, 1813. 
    Daniel, born Aug. 18, 1815.
    Mary Anna, born July 19, 1817.
    John, born March 3, 1819. 
    Elizabeth, born Nov. 18, 1820. 
    Reuben, born Nov. 29, 1822, and died Aug. 22, 1824. 
    Carl (Charles), born Feb. 17, 1825.
    Jeremias, born Nov. 5, 1826. 
    Catharine, born Aug. 22, 1829. 
    Peter Augustus, born March 30, 1832, and died July 3, 1832.
    The Bauer family lived in Plainfield Township and probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    In the 1830 Census, the household contained one male under 5, one male age 5-9, two males 10-14, three males 15-19, one male 30-39, one female under 5, one female 5-9, one female 10-14, and one female 20-29.
    Daniel died Feb. 11, 1836. (4)  It’s uncertain whether Catharine remarried or moved out of the area after Daniels’ death.  However, none of the Bauer/Bower families in the area seems to be Catharine’s.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 33.  (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 360.  (3) Plainfield church records, vol.  I.  Peter Augustus’ death is in “First Settlers of The Forks,” page 328.  Reuben’s death is in “Burial Record of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” page 25.  (4) “First Settlers of The Forks,” page334.


FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

THOMAS and NANCY BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob)
    Thomas Bower was born Aug. 19, 1806, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Anna (Hess) Bauer. (1)
    Probably married twice.  (See below.)
    Children: (2)
    Mary Ann, born Feb. 4, 1830.  Married William Walp.
    Jacob D., born Jan. 12, 1834.
    Margaret Ann, born July 17, 1838.  Married George Thomas.
    John, born Nov. 11, 1842.
    Elsa, born March 30, 1844, probably died before 1850.
    Thomas J., born in 1849.
    Thomas was born in Plainfield Township but his family moved to Forks Township while he was young.
     In the last 1820s, Thomas appears to have gotten married for the first time.  The 1830 Census lists Thomas Bowers as the head of a household in Forks Township.  The household consisted of one male age 20-29, one female under 5, one female 10-14 and one female 20-29.  This would represent Thomas, his wife and their daughter, Mary Ann, who had been born earlier that year.  The older girl – age 10 to 14 – would have been too old to have been the 24-year-old Thomas’ daughter.  She was probably a sister of either Thomas or his wife. 
    The full name of this first wife is unknown.  No marriage or birth records have turned up and Mary Ann died before Pennsylvania death records listed the names of the deceased’s parents.  The books “Historical and Biographic Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania” and “Pioneers Families of Berwick, Pa.,” say that Mary Ann was the daughter of Thomas and a woman whose first name was unknown but whose last name was Switzer.  If this is accurate, a likely candidate for her father would be Conrad Schweitzer, who is listed relatively close to Thomas in Forks Township in the 1830 Census. Presumably, Thomas’ first wife died sometime between 1830 and 1833.
    Thomas married Anna Ernst on Feb. 2, 1834, which was about a month after Jacob’s birth. (3)  At that time, he probably still lived in Forks Township since the wedding was recorded in the church book of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, Pa. 
    Thomas’ second wife, Anna, was born Nov. 9, 1809, according to her tombstone. (4)  Her parents are unknown and no likely candidates appear in the Forks Township census records.  She is frequently listed as Nancy in records. 
    At some point before 1840, the family moved northwest to Luzerne County, where the family of Thomas’ mother had migrated in the early 1800s.  This began a series of moves within western Luzerne County and eastern Columbia County.
    Before the first move, the family’s last surname was usually spelled “Bauer” with a few uses of “Bower” in civil records.  Afterward, it was usually “Bower.”  This probably happened because there were fewer Germans in northeastern Pennsylvania and those who kept records were unfamiliar with German spellings.
    The 1840 Census lists Thos Bower in Salem Township, Luzerne County, where his household consisted of one male age 5-9, one male 30-39, one female under 5, one female 10-14 and one female 30-39.  One person was employed in agriculture.
    While the family lived in Salem Township and neighboring areas, they worshiped at Salem Church, a union church serving both Lutheran and Reformed congregations.  From May 1841 to March 1854, Thomas and his family are listed as taking communion there.  In addition, John and Elsa were baptized in that church.  German was the language used in services and early records. (5)  The Bowers are also listed as Lutheran communicants at a similar union church in Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, from Nov. 23, 1862 to November 1884. (6)
    In the 1850 Census, Thomas Bower is listed as a farmer in Centre Township, Columbia County.  This household also consisted of Nancy, age 40; Mary A., 20; Jacob D., 15; Margaret A. 12; John, 8; and Thomas, 1.
    The Bowers’ second son, John, was mentally disabled.  Although early census records don’t give any indication that John was disabled, the 1880 Census lists him as “idiotic” and unable to read or write.  The Schedule for Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Classes notes that John’s “idiocy” began at birth and he was not self-supporting.  It states that his head was “small” and that he had never been in a training school.
    In 1860, the family lived in Hollenback Township, Luzerne County.  The 1860 Census indicates that Thomas Bower was a farmer who owned real estate valued at $3,000 and personal property valued at $900.  The household also consisted of Nancy, age 40; John, an 18-year-old farm laborer; and Thomas, 10.  Notes indicate that the younger Thomas was attended school and that Nancy could not read or write.  In addition to Thomas’ household, his son Jacob appears to have lived on the property at that time because Jacob’s household is listed beside Thomas’ but Jacob is not listed as owning any real estate.
    Interestingly, the census also seems to indicate that the household included the family of Jacob Radler (actually Readler).  The family consisted of Jacob, his wife Lydia and their seven children.  Among the children was Mary Jane, who would marry the younger Thomas a decade later.  It uncertain whether the Readlers actually lived in the same household or the census contains an error.
    By 1870, Jacob had moved away but the Bower home was still a busy place.  That year’s census lists Thomas Baur as a 63-year-old farmer in Hollenback Township, where he owned real estate valued at $6,000 and personal property valued at $740.  Nancy was 61 and keeping house and John was listed as a 26-year-old farmhand.  Young Thomas had married in that year and his wife had moved into the household.  Thomas is listed as a 21-year-old farmhand and Mary is listed as a 24-year-old domestic servant.  In addition, the census lists John Thomas, age 5.  John was the son of the Bowers’ daughter Margaret, who was married to George Thomas and lived in Salem Township.
    In 1873, Thomas bought land in nearby Nescopeck Township.  “Atlas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 1873” shows T. Baur’s farm in the southwest corner of Hollenback Township, near the border of Nescopeck Township.  The Bower farms generally covered about 150 acres, according to Luzerne County deed books. (7)
    The 1880 Census lists Thomas Bower as a 73-year-old “gentleman,” a term used for respected retired farmers. His household  in Nescopeck Township contained Nancy, age 71, and a 15-year-old listed as “George Thomas.”  However, it’s most likely that the boy was actually the same John Thomas who lived in the household in 1870.  George Thomas – who was John’s brother and was actually only 12 years old – appears with his parents in Salem Township in the 1880 Census.  The Bowers’ son John is listed in the household of his brother younger Thomas, who also lived in Nescopeck.
    In 1882, there seems to have been some family turmoil.  Thomas Jr. seems to have defaulted on a loan either from his father or guaranteed by his father.  As a result, the father sued the son to recover the money.
    In April 1876, Thomas Jr. bought about 4 acres of land in Nescopeck Township for $1,700.  Six years later, Luzerne County records show the land being forfeited in a sheriff’s sale.  On March 15, 1882, the court of common pleas commanded “that the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of T.J.  Bower” be sold to recover “a certain debt of seventeen hundred dollars which Thomas Bower lately in the said court recovered against him as four & 25-100 dollars which to the said Thomas Bower were adjudged for his damages which he sustained by occasion of the detention of that debt ...” The land was sold for only $40, covering little of the $1,700. (8)
    That November, Thomas drew up his will, which mentions the court decision and the debt.  It reads: “As to my son Thomas J.  Bower, I hold a judgment in the Common Pleas of Luzerne County of the amount of about seventeen hundred dollars, which judgment is unsatisfied.  I consider the same to be his portion and an advancement out of my estate and that no proceeding may be had toward the collection of the same.”
    A little more than two years later, Thomas moved to Ridgely, Md., where his son Jacob had lived since the late 1860s.  The communion listings of the Nescopeck church note that he moved there between Nov. 2, 1884, and May 17, 1885.
    Nancy died Feb. 9, 1887. (9)
    Thomas Bower died Dec. 6, 1890 in Ridgely.  His death notice appeared in the Denton Journal under news from Ridgely: “Mr. Thomas Bowers died at the residence of his son, Mr. Jacob D. Bowers, on Saturday last, aged 84 years.  Interment took place on Monday at the cemetery of the Reformed Church.” (10)
    Thomas’ will was filed in Luzerne County. (11)  In addition to addressing the younger Thomas’ situation, the will provides for the care of John.  It reads: “It is my desire that my executor look after the interest of my son John and after the decease of his mother, if he should survive her, act as a trustee for him and if they think necessary apply to the court for the appointment of a committee or trustee for him.”  The 1900 Census records that John lived with Jacob in Ridgely.  John died there in 1902. (12)
    In a codicil that was written Aug. 8, 1882, Thomas left $200 to John Thomas, the grandson listed as living with him in 1870 and 1880.  The codicil also mentions: “I further give & bequeath to my son Jacob D. Bower my sausage grinder & stuffer and a lot of grain sacks and also a lot of meat I brought to him.”
    (1) Date of birth comes from “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 58, and “Beneath These Stones – Cemeteries of Caroline County, Vol.  I,” page 157.  Parents are listed in church record and in papers of administration for mother’s estate, Northampton County File No.  6584.  (2) Children are listed in the census records cited in the text and in Thomas’ will.  John and Elsa’s births are recorded in the “Church Book of the Salem Church in Luzerne County.”  Mary Ann’s birth is listed in “Historical and Biographic Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Vol. I,” by J.H. Beers & Co., page 826, and in “Pioneer Families of Berwick, Pa.,” which is available at the Berwick Public Library.  Jacob’s birth date is listed in his death certificate in the Maryland State Archives.  Margaret’s birth date appears on her death certificate, available at Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.  Mary and Margaret’s husbands are identified in Thomas’ will.  Elsa probably died before 1850 since she does not appear in that year’s census.  (3) The marriage to Anna Ernst is recorded in the church book of St.  John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, Pa., which is available at the Marx Room at the Easton Public Library.  (4) “Beneath These Stones: Cemeteries of Caroline County, Vol.  I,” page 157.  (5) “Church Book of the Salem Church.” (6) “Church Book of the Nescopeck Congregation,” which later became Mount Zion.  (7) Luzerne County Deed Books 71, page 50; 167, page 370; 168, page545; and 300, page 479.  (8) Original purchase is recorded in Luzerne County Deed Book 200, page 147.  An account of the court decision and sheriff’s sale appears in Deed Book 234, page 330.  (9) “Beneath These Stones – Cemeteries of Caroline County, Vol.  I,” page 157.  (10) Denton Journal, Saturday, Dec. 13, 1890.  (11) Will is recorded in Will Book L, page 639.  Thomas’ name is spelled Bower in his will, although it’s indexed under Bowen in Luzerne County records.  (12)  Denton Journal, April 5, 1902.

JACOB and SUSANNAH BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob)
    Jacob Bauer was born April 20, 1804, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Anna (Hess) Bauer. (1)
    Married Susannah Hay on May 22, 1825.  Susannah has born Dec. 25, 1800. (2)
    Children: (3)
    William, born about 1826.
    Peter, born April 24, 1828, and died Jan. 17, 1830. 
    Eliza Ann, born Oct. 14, 1829.  Married Samuel Lynn.
    Susan, born about 1835. 
    Jacob, born about 1840.  
    Thomas, born Aug. 1, 1843.
    Tobias, born about 1838. 
    Margaret. 
    Jacob was a farmer in Northampton County.
    The 1850 Census lists Jacob as a 47-year-old farmer living in Forks Township.  The household included his wife and children: Susan, age 49; William, 24; Eliza, 21; Susan, 15; Tobias, 12; Jacob, 10; and Thomas, 7.  His mother, Anna, age 66, also lived in the home.  The household also included laborer named Jacob Miller, 27.
    Jacob died Feb. 4, 1854. (4)
    In 1860, the census indicates that Susanna Bower, age 62, was living with her son William in Palmer Township.  The household also contained her son Tobias, age 22.
    Jacob, Thomas and Tobias fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Thomas and Tobias died of wounds suffered in combat.  Jacob survived the war.
    The 1870 Census also lists Susannah Bower, age 69, as keeping house in the home of her son William, age 44, Palmer Township.  The census also indicates that she owned personal property valued at $200.
    In 1880, Susanna Bauer, age 79, is listed as the mother of William Bauer, age 53, the head of a household in Palmer Township.  The census notes that she could not write. 
    Susanna died April 20, 1881. (5)
    The Bauers are buried at Arndts and Messinger Cemetery in Forks Township.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 53.  (2) Marriage records in “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 374.  Birth date comes from “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 20.  (3) Names appear in administration papers for the estate of Anna Bauer, mother of Jacob, in File No. 6584  in Northampton County.  Information on Eliza appears on her death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  Date for Peter comes from “Burials at Arndt’s Church,” page 15.  Other birth dates from 1850 Census of Forks Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Susann’s death is in Burials at Arndt’s Church,” page 20.  Thomas’ birth is in “St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Easton, Pa.,” page 266.  (4) “Burials at Arndt’s Church,” page 2.  Jacob’s estate papers in Northampton County, File No. 6202.  (5) “Burials at Arndt’s Church,” page 2.

CHARLES and ELIZABETH BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham)
    Charles Bauer was born Sept. 24, 1808, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Catharine (Keller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Elizabeth Weber on Oct. 12, 1828.  She lived in Lower Mount Bethel Township at the time of the marriage. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Josiah Heller, born April 9, 1829. (4)
    Susan, born Dec. 2, 1830. 
    William Jacob, born Sept. 23, 1832.
    Anna Sabina, born May 2, 1836.  Married Perry B. Sax. 
    Louisa, born March 21, 1838.  Married Enos Young.
    Abraham, born April 28, 1840. 
    Emma, born about 1846. 
    Franklin, born July 27, 1849. 
    In 1830 Charles Bower appears in Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  His household contained one male under age 5, one male 20-29, one female 5-9 and one female 20-29.
    In 1840, the census indicates the household of Charles Bower in Plainfield Township contained one male under 5, one male 5-9, one male 10-14, one male 30-39, two females under 5, two females 5-9 and one female 20-29.
    In the 1850 Census, Charles is listed as a 42-year-old carpenter in Plainfield Township.  The household also contained Elizabeth, age 44; Joseph (actually Josiah), a 21-year-old carpenter; Abraham, 10; Sabine, 14; Emma, 4; and Franklin, 1.  Charles owned real estate valued at $300.
    Up to this point, the Bauers probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    During the 1850s, the family moved to neighboring Monroe County.  In 1860, the census indicates Charles was a 52-year-old farmer in Tobyhanna, Monroe County.  The household also included Elizabeth, age 55; Emma E., 13; and Franklin, 10.  It also included William Stubs a 21-year-old farm laborer.  Charles owned real estate valued at $1,200 and personal property valued at $300.
    During the 1860s, Charles and Elizabeth followed some of their children westward to Ohio.  In 1870, the census, lists Charles as a 61-year-old house carpenter in Liberty Township, Crawford County.  He owned personal property valued at $150.  Elizabeth is listed as 64 and keeping house.  It appears that they were living on property owned by their son William, who is listed as a 37-year-old house painter.  The Charles and Elizabeth are listed as a different family but in the same house as William.
    The couple again moved westward during the 1870s.  In the 1880 Census, Charles and Elizabeth Bower are listed as the father-in-law and mother-in-law of Enos Young, head of a household in Eldorado Township, Benton County, Iowa.  Charles was listed as 71 and Elizabeth as 73.  Both are listed as “at home,” which indicates neither had no occupation.  It also notes that Elizabeth could not write.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 62. (2) “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1799¸1851, Newspaper Extracts, Vol. I,” page 273.  (3) Children’s birth listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” volumes I and II.  Emma is listed in the 1850 Census of Plainfield Township.  (4) There seems to be a lot of inconsistency with Josiah’s name in the records.  The transcription of birth and baptism record lists him as “Isaiah” and the 1850 Census lists him as “Joseph.”  However, most later records say “Josiah.”  It seems that the Josiah-Isaiah switch is a simple transcription error because the names look similar in cursive script.  The appearance of Joseph can probably be blamed on a census taker’s sloppiness, which was pretty common.

JOHN JACOB and FLORENTINA BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham)
    John Jacob Bauer was born Feb. 1, 1812, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Catharine (Keller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Florentina Bender on Sept. 9, 1832.  She was born about 1813. (2)
    Married a second time to Sabina, who was born Feb. 4, 1814. (3)
    Children: (4)
    Joseph Lewin, born Jan. 10, 1833. 
    Conrad, born May 2, 1835. 
    Sabina, born March 28, 1836. 
    Ephraim, born July 27, 1839. 
    Joel, born Sept. 2, 1841. 
    Amos, born Feb. 15, 1844. 
    Aaron Henry, born Feb. 13, 1846.  
    Matilda Susanna, born Feb. 26, 1848. 
    Thomas, born Aug. 17, 1850. 
    George Peter, born April 19, 1853. 
    Lewis, born March 11, 1858, and was killed in an accident in May 1870.
    Emma Elizabeth, Jan. 17, 1860. 
    In the 1850 Census, Jacob Bower is listed as a farmer living in Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  He owned real estate valued at $4,500.  Most of his family members are listed by their first initials, but it’s easy to figure out who’s who.  They were: F(lorentina), age 37; J(osiah), a 17-year-old laborer; C(onrad), 15; S(abina), 13; E(phraim), 12; Joel, 10; Enos, 8; A(aron) H(enry), 5; and Matilda, 2.   In addition, Florentina’s father, Conrad Bender, age 83, is included in the household.
    In 1860, the census again lists Jacob Bower as a farmer in Plainfield Township.  This household included Florentine, age 47; Ephraim, a 21-year-old house painter; Joel, a 19-year-old farm laborer; Aaron, a 17-year-old farm laborer; Thomas, 11; Matilda, 10; George P., 8; Lewis, 3; and Emma E., 9 months.  The notation on the value of Jacob’s property is difficult to read, but it appears to say that his real estate was worth $14,800 and his personal property was worth $1,275.
    During the Civil War, Jacob’s sons Conrad and Joel fought for the Union Army.  Conrad’s unit, the 153^rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment saw action at the battle of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.  Joel’s unit, the 129^th Pennsylvania Infantry, fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
    In 1864-65, Jacob served as a Northampton County commissioner. (5)
    Florentina appears to have died before the 1870 Census was taken.  Jacob’s wife is listed as Sabina.  Sabina was the widow of Jacob Bender, and had three children from the previous marriage: James F. Bender, Mrs. Reuben Ackerman and Mrs. Peter S. Miller. (6)
    By the time the 1870 Census was taken, most of the children had moved away.  The household in Plainfield Township included Jacob Bower, a 58-year-old farmer; Subina, age 56; George, a 17-year-old farm laborer; and Matilda, 10.  It notes that Sabina could not read or write.
    In the 1880 Census, Jacob Bauer is listed as a 68-year-old farmer in Plainfield Township.  His household also included his wife Sabina, age 66; daughter Emma E., age 19; and a servant named Jacob Snyder, 18. 
    The Bauers probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    Sabina died Jan.  12, 1891, and is buried at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township.
    Jacob died Dec. 5, 1895, in South Easton. (7)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 73.  (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 381. Birth date comes from 1850 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) Mentioned as wife in 1870 and 1880 censuses and cemetery records.  Birth and death dates are in “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St. Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 63.  (4) Children’s births listed in the Plainfield church records, volumes I and II.  Joseph’s birth is listed on his tombstone, as indicated on Findagrave.com.  Lewis’ death is listed in “Pennsylvania 1870 Mortality Schedule,” page 41.  (5) “Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1864¸ 65,” page 5.  (6) “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1885¸1902, Vol. II,” page 87.  (7) “Marriages and Deaths,” page 89.

SAMUEL and MARIA BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham)
    Samuel Bauer was born June 10, 1814, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Catharine (Keller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Maria Russell on Dec. 10, 1839.  Maria was the daughter of George Russell. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Anna Maria, born Aug. 24, 1840. 
    Samuel Jacob, born March 18, 1844.
    Samuel Bower is listed in Plainfield Township in the 1840 Census.  His household contained one male age 5-9, one male 20-29 and one female under 20.  Since the Bauers had been married for less than a year when the census was taken, it’s most likely that the boy listed here was either a brother of Samuel or Maria’s or a child from a previous marriage.
    The Bauers probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, were their children were baptized.
    Samuel died April 20, 1844, and is buried in Plainfield Cemetery near St. Peter’s
Lutheran Church. (4)
    His son Samuel, age 6, is listed as living with Maria’s parents, George and Elizabeth Russell, in the 1850 Census of Plainfield Township.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 81.  (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 390. Samuel’s will names George Russell as his father-in-law.  Northampton County Will Book 6, page 255. (3) Plainfield church records, volume II.

ABRAHAM and SARAH BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham)
    Abraham Bower was born June 25, 1818, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Catharine (Keller) Bauer. (1)
    Married Sarah Keller on Sept. 26, 1840.  Sarah was born about 1819. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Melinda, born April 21, 1841.  Married L.S. Burroughs. 
    Emma Elisabeth, born Oct. 8, 1842. 
    Uriah, born Jan. 27, 1844.
    John Henry, born March 31, 1846. 
    Tillman, born Dec. 28, 1847. 
    Jacob, born May 17, 1850. 
    Catharine Susanna, Feb. 6, 1852. 
    David Daniel, born March 30, 1854.  Probably died young.
    Reuben Thomas, Sept. 8, 1855.
    Alice, born about 1857.
    Anna, born about 1859
    Mary Ella, born about 1863.
    The Bowers probably worshiped at Plainfield Reformed Church, where they had their children baptized and Abraham’s father was very active.
    In the 1850 Census, Abraham Bower is listed as a farmer in Plainfield Township.  His household included Sarah, age 31; Milenda, 9; Emma, 7; Uriah, 6; John, 5; Tillman, 2; and Jacob, 4 months.  In addition, Samuel Cambelin, age 14, lived in the home.
    The Bowers probably moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio around 1856.  In 1855, Reuben was the last child to be baptized at Plainfield Reformed Church and Alice was born in Ohio about 1857.
    In the 1860 Census, the family appears in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  Abraham is listed as a 42-year-old farmer who owned real estate valued at $5,000 and personal property worth $500.  His household included Sarah, age 41; Malinda, 19; Emma, 17; Uriah, a 16-year-old farm laborer; John, 14; Jacob, 10; Catherine, 8; Reuben, 5; Alice 3; and Anna, 10 months.  Since David isn’t listed in this census, it’s likely that he had died before 1860. 
    In 1870, the census indicates that Abraham Bower was a 52-year-old farmer in Liberty Township.  He owned personal property worth $818, but no real estate is indicated.  His household included Sarah, 51; Catharine, 18; Reuben T., 14, working on the farm; Alice, 12; Anna, 10; and Mary E., 7.
    A land map from 1873 shows the Bower farm on the outskirts of Annapolis, which was a village within Liberty Township. (4)
    The 1880 Census finds the family on Paris Street in Annapolis.  Abraham Bower is listed as a 61-year-old farmer.  Sarah was 61 and Ella (Mary E. in the previous census) was 17.  The household also contained Sarah’s mother, Elizabeth Keller, age 85, and her sister, Rebecca, age 57.  Rebecca is listed as “idiotic.”
    The 1880 agricultural schedule of the census shows that Abraham owned a farm that contained 27 acres of tilled land and 15 acres of woodland.  Its land, fences and buildings were worth $2,940, the implements and machinery were worth $20 and his livestock was worth $100.  His farm production was valued at $255.  In 1879, he planted 6 acres that were mown, and harvested 5 tons of hay.  He owned a horse and two milk cows, which dropped two calves.  One head was sold and one died or strayed.  The cattle produced 100 pounds of butter in 1879.  He also owned 35 barnyard poultry, which produced  50 dozen eggs.  He planted 5 acres in Indian corn and harvested 200 bushels, 6 acres in oats and harvested 250 bushels, 5 acres in wheat and harvested 80 bushels, 1 acre in Irish potatoes and harvested 80 bushels.  He also cut 20 cords of wood.  
    Sarah died on Oct. 29, 1888.  Abraham died on Jan. 5, 1900. (5)
    The Bowers are buried at Union Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, Crawford County.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 92.  (2) “Some of the First Settlers of The Forks of the Delaware and Their Descendants,” page 391. Year of birth comes from 1850 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) Most of the children are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church,” volumes I and II.  Alice, Anna and Ella are listed in the 1870 Census.  That census lists the youngest daughter as Mary E. and the 1880 Census lists her as Ella. (4) Ancestry.com, “U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918.”  (5) Findagrave.com.

REUBEN and SARAH BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham)
    Reuben Thomas Bower was born Aug. 21, 1830, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Catharine (Keller) Bauer. (1)
    Married a woman named Sarah A.  She was born about 1836 in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Oliver, born about 1853.
    Rachael E., born about 1856.  Probably married L.W. Snyder.
    Stella, born about 1859.  Married James L. Martin.
    Matilda, born about 1862.
    William, born about 1864.
    Reuben grew up in Plainfield Township, Northampton County.
    In 1850, Reuben Bower is listed as a 20-year-old carpenter in the household of Stephen Hasen in Plainfield Township.
    Reuben and Sarah probably got married about 1852 since their first child was born about 1853.  According to the 1870 Census, the couple’s first three children were born in Pennsylvania, which would indicate that they were married in Pennsylvania and lived there until about 1859.  That’s probably the year that they moved to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.
    The 1860 Census lists Reuben Bower as a painter in the village of Annapolis in Liberty Township.  He owned real estate valued at $200 and personal property valued at $50.  His family is listed as Sarah, age 24; Oliver, 7; Rachael, 4; and Matilda, 10 months.  The household also contained Elizabeth Williams, an 18-year-old “domestic,” and William Heler, a 22-year-old painter.  Since William was born in Pennsylvania, it’s possible he was a cousin from the Heller family.
    During the Civil War, Reuben served as a private in Company C of the 49^th Ohio Infantry Regiment. (4)  He enlisted on Feb. 17, 1864, in Sulphur Springs, which was near his home in Annapolis.
    Reuben was discharged on Dec. 17, 1864, in Cleveland because of a wound.  Records from the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers indicate he had suffered a “GSW arm” – gunshot wound to the arm – on May 27, 1864, at Pumpkinvine Creek Ga.  This engagement was part of Battle of Dallas, which occurred during Gen. William T. Sherman’s Atlanta campaign.  The battle was fought from May 26 to June 1 and resulted in 2,400 Union and 3,000 Confederate casualties.  Reuben was wounded before the main engagement, which occurred on May 28 when Confederate troops unsuccessfully assaulted the Union line. (5)
    In 1870, Reuben T. Bower is listed as a 39-year-old house painter in Liberty Township.  Interestingly, “R.T. Bowers” is listed as the census taker on the form.  As a result, the information in this census should be very reliable.  His family included his wife Sarah, age 33; Rachael E., 12; Matilda, 10; Stella, 8; and William 6.  It’s possible that Oliver was working on another farm in Crawford County.  An Oliver Bower who was 16 and had been born in Pennsylvania is listed as a farm laborer in the household of Benjamin Stevens in Sandusky Township.
    At some point during the 1870s, Reuben and Sarah moved to nearby Hardin County.  In the 1880 Census, Rubin T. Bower is listed as a 50-year-old painter in Blanchard Township in that county.  Sarah A. is listed as 44 years old and it’s noted that she’s “Maimed, Crippled, Bedridden, or otherwise disabled.”  In addition, Etta Martin, age 22, is listed as the Bowers’ daughter.  This is Stella, who had married James Martin by this point.  She may have been caring for her disabled mother, which would explain her presence in the household after her marriage. (6)
    Sarah died sometime before 1885.
    On April 25, 1885, Reuben was admitted to the home for disabled veterans in Dayton, Ohio.  The home’s records provide quite a bit of information about Reuben.  At the time of his admission, he was 54 years old; was 5 feet, 10 inches tall; and had a fair complexion with blue eye and gray hair.  He was a painter who lived in Dunkirk, Ohio (a village in Blanchard Township).  He was widowed.  His nearest relative was his son-in-law L.W. Snyder of Tiffin, Ohio.  This seems to be the husband of Rachel because Stella had married James Martin and Matilda was still single.
    Reuben died April 6, 1894, of apoplexy “Suddenly in Barrack.”  His money and effects were sent to his daughter Tillie Bower of “Sulpher Grove, Ohio,” probably Sulphur Springs.
    It’s uncertain where Reuben is buried.  On the veterans home records, there’s a notation in a different hand that states: “No headstone found & no record in the filing envelope to show that remains were removed.”
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 130.  (2) Sarah is listed as Reuben’s wife in the 1860 Census of Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  (3) The children are listed in the 1860 and 1870 censuses of Liberty Township.  (4) Ancestry.com, “U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938.”  (5) The Battle of Dallas is described at the National Park Service’s website at www.cr.nps.gov.  (6) The 1900 Census of the 7^th Ward of Toledo reveals more information on Stella.  In that record, she is listed as Ella Martin, wife of James.  She and James had been married 21 years at that point and Ella had given birth 3 times but none of the children had survived.  Their household also contained Ella’s sister Tilly Bowers, who had never been married or given birth.

JOHN BAUER
(Diel, John, John)
    John Bauer was born Aug. 24, 1810, in Northampton County, Pa., to John and Veronica (Hahn) Bauer. (1)
    John does not appear to have married or had children.
    John Bauer is listed as living with his parents in the 1850 Censuses of Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  He was a blacksmith, as were his brothers Thomas and William, who also lived in the household.
    The 1870 Census lists John as living with his brother Thomas and sister Catharine.  He is listed as a 59-year-old a “gentleman,” probably indicating he was retired.
    John died Feb. 15, 1879.  He is buried in Plainfield Cemetery near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. (2)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol.  I,” page 67.  (2) “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 75.

THOMAS BAUER
(Diel, John, John)
    Thomas Bauer was born Jan. 18, 1815, in Northampton County, Pa., to John and Veronica (Hahn) Bauer. (1)
    Thomas does not appear to have married or had children.
    He is listed as living with his parents in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  In 1850, he was a blacksmith, as were his brothers John and William, who also lived in the household.  In 1860, he was a coachmaker.
    The 1870 Census lists him as living with his brother John and sister Catharine.  He is listed as a carriage maker.  He still lived next to his younger brother William and his family.  It seems likely that they were living on different parcels of their parents’ property.
    In 1880, Thomas Bauer is listed as a 60-year-old carriage maker.  His household contained his 63-year-old sister Catharine.  He still lived next to his younger brother William and his family.
    Thomas died Oct. 10, 1884.  He is buried in Plainfield Cemetery near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. (2)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 82.  (2) Birth date comes from “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St. Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 56. 

WILLIAM and MARY BOWER
(Diel, John, John)
    William Henry Bower was born March 29, 1828, in Northampton County, Pa., to John and Veronica (Hahn) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary Elisabeth Reph, who was born Aug. 30, 1834. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Veronica Catherine, born Feb. 27, 1854, and died April 30, 1868.
    Samuel Miles, born June 21, 1856, and died March 24, 1861. 
    Sarah Jane, born Nov. 5, 1858.  Married Jonathan Peters.
    Maria Elizabeth, born Aug. 15, 1860, and died May 24, 1862. 
    John Thomas, born Oct. 28, 1863. 
    Simon Peter, born Oct. 26, 1866. 
    Martha S., born 1874.  Married Frank Eyers.
    William grew up in Plainfield Township.  In the 1850 Census of Plainfield Township, William Bauer is listed as living with his parents.  He was a blacksmith, as were his brothers John and Thomas, who also lived in the household.  It seems likely that his father was a blacksmith who trained his sons.
    In 1860, William was still listed as living with his parents in Plainfield Township, but he was married and had two children.  He was a 31-year-old blacksmith who owned personal property valued at $200.  His family included Mary E., age 25; Samuel, 4; and Sarah J., 2.
    In 1870, William Bower is listed as a 42-year-old carriage maker in Plainfield Township.  His household contained Mary, age 35; Sarah, 12; John, 7; and Simon, 4.  He was living next to the home of his siblings Thomas, John and Catharine.  It seems likely that they were living on different parcels of their parents’ property and all of them were involved in some aspect of the carriage business.
    In the 1880 Census, William Bauer is listed as a 60-year-old carriage maker in Plainfield Township.  His household contained Mary E., age 46; John T., 16; Simon P., 13; and Martha S., 5.  John and Simon are listed as laborers but also as attending school.  William’s siblings Thomas and Catharine still lived next door and Thomas was still a carriage maker.
    During this time, the Bowers probably attended Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    At some point during the early 1880s, the family seems to have moved south to the town of Easton.  In 1885, a William H. Bowers is listed as a carriage maker on South Sixth Street in Easton. (4)
    It’s uncertain where William and Mary lived after that.  In the 1900 Census, a William and Mary Bower are listed in Plainfield Township.  However, the information doesn’t quite match up, even by census standards.  The record indicates that William Bower, who was born May 1831, and Mary, who was born April 1834, were living in the household of Peter Miller and his wife Louisa.  They had been married 45 years.  William was a boarder in the home and worked as a farm laborer.  Mary was a servant who had given birth to five children, four of whom were still alive.
    William died Oct. 30, 1900.  Mary died Feb. 9, 1903.  Both are buried in Plainfield Cemetery near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 124.  (2) Birth date comes from “Burial Records of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township,” page 76.  Her last name comes from the death record of her son Simon at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) Except for Martha’s, the births are listed in Plainfield church records, volumes I and II.  Death’s listed in St. Peter’s burial records.  Sarah and Martha’s husbands and birth dates appear in their Pennsylvania death certificates at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (4) “Ferris Bros. Northampton County Directory 1885,” page 364.

DANIEL and SABINA BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel)
    Daniel Bauer was born Aug. 18, 1815, in Northampton County, Pa., to Daniel and Catharine (Michael) Bauer. (1)
    Married Sabina Bruch, who was born June 2, 1819. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Joseph Henry, born Sept. 27, 1842. 
    Louisa Rebecca, born April 20, 1844. 
    Marietta, born Aug. 28, 1845.  Married Jacob Lewis Christman.
    Sabina Elizabeth, born April 20, 1847.  Married Sidney B. Beitel.
    Herman Franklin, born Oct. 29, 1848. 
    Edward Jeremiah, born July 16, 1850. 
    Caroline Augusta, born Sept. 4, 1852.  Married James F. Walton and later Adolph Conradi.
    Elvina Catharine, born June 21, 1854.  Married William F. Kostenbader.
    Sarah Jane, born July 29, 1856.  Married Jacob Frankenfield.
    George V., born Dec. 21, 1858.
    Anna Matilda, born Dec. 5, 1859.  Married Samuel Milheim.
    Minerva Aquila, born Nov. 5, 1862.  Married George Kostenbader.
    Daniel grew up in Plainfield Township and settled in nearby Bushkill Township after he married.
    In the 1850, Daniel Bower is listed as a 33-year-old laborer in Bushkill Township.  He owned real estate valued at $1,000.  The members of his family are listed as Sobina, age 30; Joseph H., 8; Louesa, 5; Maretta, 3; Sobina, 2; and Harman, 1.  Also living his house was his brother Charles D. Bauer, a 25-year-old shoemaker.  Interestingly, it appears that Charles’ surname was originally spelled “Bower” on the census form but was written over to spell it “Bauer.”
    The 1860 Census lists Daniel Bauer as a 44-year-old master shoemaker in Bushkill Township.  He owned real estate valued at $2,200 and personal property valued at $295.  His family is listed as Sabina, age 41; Joseph, 17; Sabina, 13; Edwin, 10; Carolina, 8; Ellevina, 6; Sarah, 4; Gorege (George), 2; and Anna, 6 months.
    The Bushkill township census form that covers the family in 1870 is badly faded so it’s difficult to read Daniels’ listing.  Daniel Bower is listed as 55 and his occupation seems to be “Farmer.”  His family is listed as Sabina, age 51; Levine (possibly Edward), 20; Caroline, 18; Sarah, 14; Valentine, 11 (George); and Minerva, 7.  The household also contained Barbara Michael, 50.
    In 1880, Daniel Bauer is listed as a 64-year-old farmer in Bushkill Township.  His family is listed as Sobina, age 61, and George V., a 21-year-old farm laborer.  In addition, the household contained Caroline’s children Stella and Charles Walton, ages 9 and 8, respectively.  At this point, Caroline was a widow.  She is listed as a servant in the household of Peter Rohn in Lower Nazareth Township.  Her daughter Catherine, 4, lived with her.
    The family probably worshipped at Plainfield Reformed Church, where their children were baptized.
    In 1885, a Daniel Bower is listed as an invalid living in Bushkill Center. (4)
    Daniel died Dec. 8, 1891, and Sabina died Nov. 4, 1884.  They are buried at Plainfield Cemetery near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. (5)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Vol.  I,” page 86. (2) Date comes from “Burial Record of the Old Cemetery of St.  Peter’s Church of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa.,” page 58.  Her maiden name appears in the death certificates of several of her children at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) Most of the children’s births are recorded in Plainfield Reformed Church records, vols. I and II.  George and Sarah Jane’s birth dates are listed in their Pennsylvania death certificates.  In most cases, the husbands of the daughters were found by comparing death, burial and census records.  Marietta’s marriage appears in Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  Minerva’s husband is listed on her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (4) “Ferris Bros.  Northampton County Directory 1885,” page 364.  (5) Burial record, page 58.

CHARLES and SARAH BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel)
    Charles Bauer was born Feb. 17, 1825, in Northampton County, Pa., to Daniel and Catharine (Michael) Bauer. (1)
    Married Sarah A. Myers, who was born Oct. 12, 1834, in Pennsylvania to William and Anna A. (Schaffer) Myers. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Erwin F., born July 11, 1858.
    Sarah, born about 1860.
    Mary E., born April 11, 1866.  Married Preston Reichard.  (May have married earlier.)
    Allen Daniel, born Sept. 10, 1868.
    Calvin David, born Oct. 20, 1873.
    In 1850, Charles lived in his brother Daniel’s household in Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  That year’s census lists Charles D. Bauer as a 25-year-old shoemaker.
    The 1860 Census lists Chas D. Bauer as a master shoemaker in Bath, Northampton County.  His family included Sarah, age 26, and Erwin, 1.  Charles owned real estate valued at $1,800 and personal property valued at $200.
    In 1880, Charles Bowers is listed as a 55-year-old laborer in Allen Township, Northampton County.  His household included Sarah, age 44; Mary, 14; Allen, 11; and Calvin, 6.
    Charles died May 30, 1899.
    At some point before 1900, Sarah moved to West Bethlehem in Lehigh County.  In that year’s census, Sarah A. Bauer is listed as a 65-year-old widow.  She rented a house at 201 Vineyard St. in West Bethlehem borough.  Her household also contained her daughter Mary E., age 34, and son Calvin D., a 26-year-old ribbon weaver.  The census also indicates that Sarah had given birth to five children and all were still alive.
    Sarah died Feb. 7, 1909 of bilious fever.
    Charles and Sarah are buried at Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem, Northampton County. (4)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 116.  (2) Sarah’s birth information and parents are listed in her death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) The children’s birth dates are listed in their Pennsylvania death certificates.  (4) Findagrave.com.


FIFTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

JACOB and LUCY BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas)
    Jacob D. Bowers was born Jan. 12, 1834, in Northampton County, Pa., to Thomas and Anna (Ernst) Bower. (1)
    Married Lucy Ann Hawk about 1857.  Lucy was born Oct. 12, 1838, in Luzerne County, Pa., to John and Fanny Hawk. (2)
    Children: (3)
    John Wesley, born in Nov. 11, 1856.
    George Washington, born in Feb. 22, 1859.
    Jacob’s parents moved to Salem Township in Luzerne County, Pa., within a few years of his birth.  As Jacob was growing up, his family moved several times within the same general area.  They lived in Salem Township in 1840; Centre Township, Columbia County, 1850; and Hollenback Township, Luzerne County in 1860. 
    In Luzerne County, the family worshipped at union churches, where Lutheran and Reformed congregations met under the same roof.  They probably worshiped at a similar church when they lived in Columbia County, but records have not yet turned up.  In 1854, Jacob took communion at Salem Union Church.  He communed at a similar union church in Nescopeck in starting in 1862, when the family moved to neighboring Hollenback. (4)
    In 1860, Jacob was a farmer in Hollenback Township, according to that year’s census.  He probably lived on his father’s property because his household is listed next to his father’s and he is not listed as owning any real estate.  Jacob’s household also included Lucy, age 21; John W., 2; and George W., 1.  He owned personal property valued at $100.
    From 1866 to 1868, Jacob owned 3 acres beside his father’s farm in Hollenback Township, according to Luzerne County land records. (5)
    About 1868, the family moved to Caroline County, Md.  Since they do not appear to have had any connection to eastern Maryland, it seems unusual that they would move south rather than west if they were looking to migrate.  However, it seems that cheap land was available in Caroline County at the time.  A group of men had decided to plant a city where the Maryland and Delaware Railroad ran by the Choptank River.  They named the town Ridgely, after a local pastor who was helping them with their plans. They drew up a street map and started building in the summer of 1867, but they couldn’t attract enough interest to keep up with the bills and the project died within a few months.  Soon afterward, a real estate firm set its sights on Ridgely and “for the first decade the most apparent growth lay outside the boundaries of the village.  New settlers bought farms in the surrounding country where land was plentiful and cheap.”  Jacob’s family was among the settlers mentioned. (6)
    The 1870 Census shows Jacob Bowers living in Caroline County’s Second Election District, which was covered by the Greensborough post office.  Jacob is listed as a 39-year-old farmer who owned $2,000 in real estate and $200 in personal property.  It mistakenly says that he and his entire family were born in Maryland.  The household also included Lucy, age 30; Wesley, 11; and George, 9.
    Early records usually list the family’s surname as Bower, and occasionally Bauer.  However, the name is almost always spelled Bowers after the move to Maryland.  This is probably because other Caroline County families spelled the name with the “s” and the newcomers adopted the spelling over the years.
    The 1880 Census lists Jacob D. Bowers as a farmer in Caroline County’s Second District.  It says Lucy A. was 43 years old and keeping house and John W. was 22 and working on the farm.  The household also contained George W. – age 21 and working on the farm – and his wife Permilla, 21.
    Jacob and Lucy sold off several tracks of land during the 1880s and 1890s.  In 1885, they sold 61 acres to Susan A. Green for $270, according to the Dec. 5 edition of the Denton Journal.
    In 1890, the Bowers sold their farm and moved to nearby town of Ridgely.  The transaction is mentioned in the July 26 edition of the Denton Journal, which states: “Mr. W.W. Seward has bought the Jacob D. Bower farm, near Ridgely.  Mr. Seward intends to remove to his new home and Mr. Bower will reside at Ridgely.”  The May 31 edition of the newspaper had noted that the property covered 93 acres and sold for $5,000. 
    In October 1891, they sold 62 acres to Sallie E. Camper for $2,400, according to the Oct. 31 edition of the Denton Journal.  The Jan. 7, 1893, edition records the sale of a property in Ridgely to Harvey J. Baker for $100.  The Feb. 4, 189, edition records Jacob’s purchase of property in Ridgely from Franklin P. Herr for $212.
    In addition, Jacob and Lucy appear to have been involved in some dispute that resulted in their owing $1,750.  The April 7, 1894, edition of the Denton Journal contains a legal notice headlined “Richard T. Carter, Assignee, vs. Jacob D. Bower and Lucy A. Bower.” The Caroline County circuit court ordered that “the sale made and reported by Richard T. Carter, assignee, in the above entitled cause, be ratified and confirmed unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown. … The report of sale sates the amount of sales to be seventeen hundred and fifty dollars.”
    The 1900 Census lists Jacob D. Bower as a 66-year-old miller living in Ridgely.  He owned a house that was mortgaged.  His household contained wife Lucy, age 62, and his brother, John, who is listed as age 54.  John moved in with Jacob after their father died.  John suffered from some sort of mental disability, which caused him to be listed as “idiotic” in the 1880 Census.  The 1900 Census says he could not read, write or speak English.  This seems to have been a serious decline from previous censuses, which list him as a farm hand.  John died in 1902.
    The 1910 Census indicates that Jacob and Lucy had moved in with their son John and his wife, Rosie.  John owned the house, which was on Central Avenue in Ridgely.  Jacob D. Bowers is listed as 76 years old and having his “own income.”  Lucy A. Bowers was 73.  John W. was a 52-year-old carpenter.  His wife, Rosie B., was 48.  The household also contained Beatrice Passwater, a 12-year-old boarder.  Beatrice was actually Rosie’s niece, whom John and Rosie adopted several years later. (7)
    In that year, Jacob sold a property in Ridgely to his daughter-in-law Rosa for $1,500, according to the Sept. 3 edition of the Denton Journal. 
    Jacob died Oct. 21, 1910 in Ridgely.  His death certificate states he had suffered from “general debility” for about a year and died from “inability to take food.”
    After Jacob’s death, Lucy continued to live with John in Ridgely.  She does not appear to have been healthy during the last years of her life.  Notices in the Denton Journal state that she “sustained severe bruises from a fall” in the Jan. 27, 1917, edition; “has been on the sick list” in the Dec. 20, 1919 edition; and “is quite ill” in the March 20, 1920 edition.
    The 1920 Census shows 80-year-old Lucy living with John, who is listed as Wesley Bowers.  The census also inaccurately lists Lucy and John’s mother-in-law.  John was a widower.   Rosie died before June 23, 1917, when her will was exhibited for probate, according to that day’s edition of the Denton Journal.
    The 1920 census was taken on Jan. 23, and Lucy lived only a few more months.  She died April 20 in Ridgely.  Her death certificate states she had suffered from “senility – chronic nephritis,” the latter – a kidney disease – for five years.
    The Bowes were buried in Ridgely, according to their death certificates, but their graves have not been located.
    (1) Information comes from Jacob’s death record at the Maryland State Archives.  (2) The 1900 Census of Ridgely, Caroline County, Md., says that Lucy and Jacob had been married 43 years.  Lucy’s birth date is listed in her death records in the Maryland State Archives.  However, the 1900 Census indicates that Lucy was born in November 1837.  Parents identified in 1850 Census of Newport Township in Luzerne County, Pa.  (3) Children listed in census records for 1860 Hollenback Township, Luzerne County, Pa., and Ridgely, Caroline County, Md., 1880.  “Genealogy of Conrad and Elizabeth (Borger) Hawk,” page 271, says the Bowers were married in August 1856 and John was born Nov 11, 1856.  John’s birth date is confirmed in the Nov. 15, 1946, edition of the Denton Journal, which mentions he celebrated his 90^th birthday on Nov. 11.  (4) “Church Book of the Salem Church” and “Church Book of the Nescopeck Congregation.” (5) Luzerne County Deed Books 110, page 401, and 127, page 378.  (6) “History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning,” by Laura Cochrane, 1920, pages 299-300.  (7) According to the 1910 Census, John and his wife had no children.  The will of Rosie B. Bower is in Caroline County, Md., Estate No. 1917-217-D.

JOHN BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas)
    John Bower was born Nov. 11, 1842, in Luzerne County, Pa., to Thomas and Anna (Ernst) Bower. (1)
    John was mentally disabled.  Although early census records don’t give any indication that John was disabled, the 1880 Census lists him as “idiotic” and unable to read or write.  The Schedule for Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Classes notes that John’s “idiocy” began at birth and he was not self-supporting.  It states that his head was “small” and that he had never been in a training school.
   However, before the 1880 Census, available records don’t indicate any problems.  The 1860 Census indicates that John was an 18-year-old farm laborer in the household of his father Thomas Bower in Hollenback Township, Luzerne County.  The 1870 Census lists John as a 26-year-old farmhand in Thomas Baur’s household Hollenback Township.
    In the 1880 Census, Thomas is listed as living with his brother, Thomas, in Nescopeck Township.
    In the mid-1880s, John and his parents moved to Ridgely, Md., where his brother Jacob already lived.
    Thomas Bower died Dec. 6, 1890 
    Thomas’ will made provisions for John’s care.  It reads: “It is my desire that my executor look after the interest of my son John and after the decease of his mother, if he should survive her, act as a trustee for him and if they think necessary apply to the court for the appointment of a committee or trustee for him.” Thomas’ son Jacob and son-in-law George Thomas were named executors. (2)
    The 1900 Census records that John lived with his brother Jacob in Ridgely.
    John died in 1902.  The April 5 edition of the Denton Journal of Denton, Md., reported: “Mr. John Bowers died last Saturday morning at the home of his brother, Jacob Bowers.  Funeral services were held in the Reformed Church last Sunday afternoon and burial took place in the Reformed cemetery.”
    (1) “Church Book of the Salem Church in Luzerne County.” (2) Will is recorded in Will Book L, page 639.

THOMAS J. and MARY JANE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas)
    Thomas J. Bower was born in June 8, 1849, in Columbia County, Pa., to Thomas and Anna (Ernst) Bower. (1)
    Married Mary Jane Readler about 1870.  Mary Jane was born May 25, 1846, in Luzerne County, Pa., to Jacob and Lydia (Mowery) Readler. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Calvin Oswald, born May 9, 1872. 
    Alphia Rebecca, born Oct. 1, 1874.  Married Elmer Lachman.
    Flora Anaza, born Jan. 24, 1877. 
    Getha May, born March 12, 1879. 
    While Thomas was young, his family moved to Luzerne County, Pa.  His name and those of his parents and siblings appear in records of union churches in Salem and Nescopeck townships. The family lived in Hollenback Township at the time of the 1860 Censuses.
    In the 1870 Census, Thomas J. Baur is listed in the household of his father in Hollenback Township.  Thomas is listed as a 21-year-old farmhand.  His new wife Mary, age 24, is listed as a domestic servant.
    The 1880 Census indicates that Thomas J. Bower was 31 years old and working in a powder mill.  His family is listed as Mary, age 34; Calvin O., 8; Atha R., 5; Flora A., 3; and Yetha M., 1.  In addition, his brother John, age 37, lived in the household.  John was mentally disabled and the 1880 Census indicates that he was “idiotic” and could not read or write.
    In 1882, there seems to have been some family turmoil.  Thomas Jr. apparently to have defaulted on a loan either from his father or guaranteed by his father.  As a result, the father sued the son to recover the money.
    In April 1876, Thomas Jr. bought about 4 acres of land in Nescopeck Township for $1,700.  Six years later, Luzerne County records show the land being forfeited in a sheriff’s sale.  On March 15, 1882 the court of common pleas commanded “that the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of T.J. Bower” be sold to recover “a certain debt of seventeen hundred dollars which Thomas Bower lately in the said court recovered against him as four & 25¸100 dollars which to the said Thomas Bower were adjudged for his damages which he sustained by occasion of the detention of that debt ...”  The land was sold for only $40, covering little of the $1,700. (4)  It has been suggested that Mary’s family conspired against the elder Thomas to keep the price artificially low.
    That November, Thomas drew up his will, which mentions the court decision and the debt.  It reads: “As to my son Thomas J. Bower, I hold a judgment in the Common Pleas of Luzerne County of the amount of about seventeen hundred dollars, which judgment is unsatisfied.  I consider the same to be his portion and an advancement out of my estate and that no proceeding may be had toward the collection of the same.”
    It seems that Thomas studied to become a Reformed pastor at some point during the 1880s.  Thomas eventually became the pastor of St.  Peter’s Reformed Church in Frackville.  “History of Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa.” records the early history of the church. (5)
    “The first services were held here by the Rev. T.J. Bower, then located at St. Clair, in the spring of 1890.  On the 29th day of July, 1890, Rev. Mr. Bower and a number of Reformed people assembled in the home of Franklin Brown, and after services organized themselves into a congregation.  This organization was effected by the election of the Rev. T.J. Bower as missionary in charge ...”
    The congregation grew quickly and built a church about two years after its founding.  Thomas became its first official pastor.  “The Rev. T.J. Bower, of St. Clair, having organized the mission, and served them faithfully up to this time was extended the call to become the pastor. Having accepted the call, the Rev. Mr. Bower moved to Frackville on the 21st day of October, 1892.” He was still a pastor in Frackville at the time the 1910 Census was taken.
    The 1900 Census lists Thomas J. Bowers, age 51, living in Frackville.  His occupation is not listed, but the census indicates that he owned his home, which was on Nice Street.  His household included Mary J., age 54; Flora A., a 23-year-old dressmaker; and Getha L., a 21-year-old tailor.  The census says Mary gave birth to six children, four of whom were still alive at the time.
    In the 1910 Census, Thomas J. Bowers is listed as a 60–year-old preacher living in a house he owned on Nice Street in Middle Frackville.  His family is listed as Mary J., age 63, and Flora M., a 33-year-old clerk in a general store.  His household also included his widowed daughter Alphia Lachman, age 35, and her children Vera, age 12, and Ralph, age 10.
    Mary died in November 1912 in Frackville.
    Thomas died on Aug. 20, 1914, in Frackville. (6)
    (1) Parents and birth information appear in Thomas’ death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  The parents also are named in Thomas Sr.’s will in Luzerne County Will Book L, page 639.  (2) Approximate marriage date is from 1900 Census of Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa.  Parents and birth information are listed in Mary’s Pennsylvania death certificate available at Ancstry.com.  (3) Children’s births are recorded in “Church Book of the Nescopeck Congregation.” (4) Original purchase is recorded in Luzerne County Deed Book 200, page 147.  An account of the court decision and sheriff’s sale appears in Deed Book 234, page 330. (5) “History of Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa.,” page 46. (6)”Church Book of the Nescopeck Congregation.”

WILLIAM and SUSANNA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Jacob)
    William Bower was born about 1826 in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Susanna (Hay) Bauer. (1)
    Married Susanna King.  She was born Dec. 28, 1832, to David and Mary (Schnabel) King in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Children: (3)
    John, born about June 1860.  Probably died young.
    Mary S., born June 4, 1865.  Married Henry Walter.
    Amanda E., born February 1871.
    William grew up in Forks Township, Northampton County.  In the 1850 Census, William is listed as a 24-year-old farmer living in his parents’ household in Forks.
    The 1860 Census lists William Bower as a 33-year-old farmer in Palmer Township Northampton County.  William’s immediate family was Susanna, age 26, and John, 1 month.  His brother Tobias, a 22-year-old farm laborer, and his 62-year-old mother, Susannah, also lived in the household.  In addition, the household contained Mary Metzgar, a 17-year-old domestic servant, and Machael Wolfinger, a 58-year-old laborer.
    In 1870, the census listed William Bower as a 44-year-old farmer in Palmer Township.  His immediate family consisted of Susannah, 37, and Mary S., 4.  His mother, listed as 69 years old, still lived with the family.  The household also contained William Eisley, a 13-year-old laborer.  The census doesn’t indicate that he owned any real estate, but it mentions that he owned personal property valued at $2,000.  His mother owned personal property valued at $200.
    It seems likely that John died before 1870 since he does not appear in that year’s census.
    The 1880 Census lists William Bauer as a 53-year-old farmer in Palmer Township.  His family is listed as Susanna, age 46; Mary S. 15; Amanda E., 9; and his 79-year-old mother, Susanna.  The household also contained Preston Hanshue, a 16-year-old servant, and Frederic Shaeffer, a 14-year-old servant.  The census indicates that all of Williams children and servants attended school.
    William died sometime before June 3, 1900, when that year’s census was taken in Palmer Township.  His wife Susanna Bowers is listed as a 67-year-old widow.  Her household also contained her 29-year-old daughter Amanda, who was a winder at a silk mill.
    By 1910, Susanna and Amanda had moved to Easton to live with Mary and her husband, Henry.  The household contained Henry Walter, a 52-year-old laborer in a silk mill; his wife, Mary S., 44; Amanda Bauer, a 39-year-old winder in a silk mill; and Susan, 77.  The census indicates that Susanna had give birth to five children but only two were still alive in 1900.
    Susanna died Feb. 16, 1912, in Easton.  She was buried at Easton Heights.
    (1) Jacob is mentioned in the administration papers for the estate of Anna Bauer, his grandmother, in File No. 6584 in Northampton County.  Birth date and parents are also listed in the 1850 Census of Forks Township, Northampton County, Pa.  (2) Susannah birth information is listed in the death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  Her birth place and approximate birth year are listed in the 19 (3) John’s birth is listed in the 1860 Census of Palmer Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Amanda’s birth is listed in the 1900 Census of Palmer Township.  Mary’s birth date is on her Pennsylvania death certificate.

TOBIAS BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Jacob)
    Tobias Bauer was born about 1838 in Northampton County to Jacob and Susannah (Hay) Bauer. (1)
    Tobias fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.  He enlisted twice.  First, he enlisted as a private in Company E of the 153^rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on Oct. 10, 1862.  He was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, but was able to muster out with the company on July 24, 1863. (2)  For a full description of the 153^rd Infantry’s war record, see the narrative about Conrad Bowers, Tobias’ cousin who also served in the regiment.
    On May 27, 1864, Tobias joined Company A of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private. His brothers Jacob and Thomas also joined this unit. (3)
    Tobias was wounded in an unspecified engagement and died Jan. 23, 1865, in Philadelphia.  His brother Thomas was killed at the Battle of Cedar Creek on Oct. 19, 1864, and it is possible Tobias was wounded then.  The battle was the final major engagement in Union Army’s 1864 campaign in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
    Tobias is buried at Arndt’s Lutheran Church in Forks Township. (4)
    (1) Parents named in administration papers for the estate of Anna Bauer, Tobias’ grandmother, in File No. 6584 in Northampton County.  Approximate year of birth comes from the 1850 Census of Forks Township, Northampton County.  (2) His first set of service dates and his wounding is mention on his “Record of Burial Place of Veteran” from the Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs.  Also in “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. IV, page 784.  (3) “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. I, page 1159.  (4) “Burials at Arndt’s Church Near Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 8. 

JACOB BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Jacob)
    Jacob Bauer was born about 1840 in Northampton County to Jacob and Susannah (Hay) Bauer. (1)
    Jacob’s father died in 1854.  In the 1860 Census, most of the family appears in his brother William’s household in Palmer Township, Northampton County.  It seems most likely that Jacob was in the household of Michael Hahn in Palmer Township.  That Jacob Bauer is listed as a 19-year-old farm laborer.
    Several Jacobs are listed in Northampton County civil and church records so it is difficult to distinguish among them.  Is seems likely that Jacob is the Jacob M. Bauer who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  However, this isn’t absolutely certain.  It should be noted that the following information has not been linked to Jacob with absolute certainty.
     Jacob M. Bauer, who was born Sept. 18, 1840, fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. First, he enlisted in Company D, 113^th/12^th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  According to his veteran burial record, he served in that unit from Nov. 19, 1861, to April 1864.  However, the 1890 Census’ veterans schedule says that he was discharged on Nov. 20, 1862.
    On May 29, 1864, Jacob joined Company A of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry as a private.  His brothers Tobias and Thomas also joined this unit at the same time and both died as the result of combat. (2)
    The 47th Infantry primarily operated in the South.  On Oct. 19, 1864, the regiment was engaged in the Battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where it sustained heavy casualties.  Thomas was killed in this battle.
    Jacob was mustered out with the company on Dec. 25, 1865.
    After the war, Jacob settled in Easton.  About 1864, he had married a woman named Frances, who was born in January 1839.  The couple had no children. (3)
    In the 1880 Census, Jacob M. Bauer is listed as 39 years old and living on West Street in Easton.  His occupation appears to be something like “cordwainer,” which is a type of shoemaker.  His wife, Frances C. Bauer, is listed as 40 years old.
    In 1900, Jacob N. Bauer is listed as a 59-year-old invalid living on North Union Street.  Frances is listed as 61 years old and employed in washing and cleaning.
    Jacob died Oct. 2, 1904.  He is buried at Easton Heights Cemetery in Easton.
    (1) Administration papers for the estate of Anna Bauer, Jacob’s grandmother, in File No. 6584 in Northampton County.  Birth date is from Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  (2) “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. I, page 1159.  The May date appears in the burial record and “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers.”  The 1890 Census says he joined the unit on Jan. 1, 1864.  (3) 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.

THOMAS J.  BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Jacob)
    Thomas J. Bauer was born in about 1843 in Northampton County to Jacob and Susannah (Hay) Bauer.
    Thomas fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. On May 27, 1864, Thomas joined Company A of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry as a private.  His brothers Jacob and Tobias also joined this unit at the same time. (2)
    The 47th Infantry primarily operated in the South.  On Oct. 19, 1864, the regiment was engaged in the Battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, in which it sustained heavy casualties.  Thomas was killed.
    Thomas is buried in Lot 9 in the National Cemetery in Winchester, Va. (3)
    (1) “St.  John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Easton, Pa.,” page 266.  Parents also named in administration papers for the estate of Anna Bauer, Thomas’ grandmother, in File No. 6584 in Northampton County.  (2) “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. I, page 1159.  (3) The burial information comes from “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers.”  A search of the Winchester National Cemetery’s website didn’t turn up Thomas’ grave.

JOSIAH and LOUISA BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles)
    Josiah Heller Bauer was born April 9, 1829, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Elizabeth (Weber) Bauer. (1)
    Married Louisa Warner about 1850.  Louisa was born Dec. 19, 1830, in Nazareth, Pa., to Frederick Warner. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Augusta, born about 1853.
    Mary, born about 1855.
    Robert J., born April 17, 1857.
    Benjamin F., born April 28, 1860.
    Amanda E., born about 1863.
    Minnie, born October 1873.
    Josiah grew up in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, where he appears in the 1850 Census as a 21-year-old carpenter living in his father’s household.
    After Josiah and Louisa married, they moved to Nazareth in Northampton County.  In 1860, the census lists Josiah Bauer as a 30-year-old master painter in Nazareth.  He owned real estate valued at $6,000 and personal property valued at $300.  His family consisted of Louisa, 29; Augusta, 7; Mary, 5; Robert, 3; and Benjamin, 2 months.  In addition, the household contained Josiah’s brother Abraham, a 20-year-old painter.
    By 1863, the family moved to Bethlehem, which also is in Northampton County.  In that year’s registration for the Civil War draft, Josiah H. Bauer, age 35, is listed as a painter in Bethlehem. (4)
    In 1870, the family is found in the town of Slatington in Lehigh County.  That year’s census lists Josiah Bauer as a 41-year-old painter.  His family consisted of Louisa, age 38; Agusta E., 17; Robert J., 12; Benjamin F., 10; and Amanda E., 7.  The census doesn’t’ indicate that Josiah owned real estate but it says he owned personal property valued at $300.  It also indicates that Louisa could read but not write.
    Although the family lived in Slatington in 1870, Josiah is also listed as running a business in the city of Scranton that year.  Scranton’s 1870 directory lists the painting firm of Bauer & Miller, which was run by Josiah Bauer and Edwin F. Miller at 307 Spruce.  Josiah’s home was at 141 Penn Ave. (5)  It seems likely that he moved to Scranton during the year.
    A few years later, it seems that Josiah switched from painting to creating confections.  The Boyds’ Wilkes-Barre City Directory for 1875-76 lists Josiah H. Bauer’s business as “candies.”  The listing appears under the heading of “Scranton Business Directory,” and the address given is in the Hyde Park section of Scranton.
    Josiah died on March31, 1877. (6)
    After Josiah’s death, Louisa remained in Scranton.  In the 1880 Census, Louisa Bower is listed as a 48-year-old widow.  Her family included Robert, a 23-year-old painter; Benjamin F., a 20-year-old painter; Minnie, 6; and Robert’s wife Mary, 24.
    Scranton’s 1884 directory lists Louisa Bauer, widow of Josiah, as living at 411 N. Chestnut.  Robert had moved into his own house by this time.  He is listed as living at 122 N. Bromley Ave.
    The 1890 and 1891 directories of Scranton indicates that Louisa had moved in with her son Benjamin, who lived a 121 N. Bromley Ave. Robert had moved to 119 N. Bromley.
    In 1893, the directory shows that Benjamin had moved away but Louisa still lived at 121 N. Bromley.
    In the 1900 Census, Lucy Bauer is listed as a 69-year-old owner of the house at 121 N. Bromley Ave.  Her household included her 26-year-old daughter Minnie and three boarders.  The census indicates that Lucy had given birth to eight children but only three survived.
    In 1910, the census lists Louisa Bower as a 78-year-old widow who owned the house at 121 N. Bromley Ave.  George and Mary Beagle were renting at the same address.
    Louisa died Sept. 21, 1916, in Scranton.
    Josiah and Louisa are buried at Washburn Street Cemetery in Scranton.  Minnie is listed on the same gravestone as Louisa.
    (1) Birth information and parents are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 127.  There seems to be a lot of inconsistency with Josiah’s name in the records.  The transcription of birth and baptism record lists him as “Isaiah Heller Bauer” and the 1850 Census lists him as “Joseph.”  However, most later records say “Josiah.”  It seems that the Josiah-Isaiah switch is a simple transcription error because the names look similar in script.  The appearance of Joseph can probably be blamed on a census taker’s sloppiness, which is pretty common.  (2) The approximate year of marriage comes from the 1900 Census of Scranton, Pa.  Louisa’s birth information and father are listed in her death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) The approximate birth dates of the children appear in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses.  Robert’s birth information is available in their Pennsylvania death certificates.  Benjamin’s is on his tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.  (4) Ancestry.com, “U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865.”  (5) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) Findagrave.com.

WILLIAM and SUSAN BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles)
    William Jacob Bauer was born Sept. 23, 1832, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Elizabeth (Weber) Bauer. (1)
    Married Susan Werner about 1855.  She was born about 1837 to Frederick and Elizabeth (Resch) Werner. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Mary A., born Oct. 13, 1855.  Married Charles F. Schneider.
    Wayne, born 1858. Possibly died young.
    George P., born Dec. 5, 1861.
    Emma E., born 1865.
    Lillie J., born May 7, 1867.  Married W. Frank Ringler.
    Jennie E., born about March 4, 1870.  Possibly married Ingram Jones.
    Elsie M., born about 1872.  Married John Bause and later Albert J. Hass.
    Abbie E., born Dec. 3, 1873.  Married Parker A. Leu.
    Joseph Wesley, born June 7, 1875.
    Robert Werner, born Jan. 11, 1881.
    After William and Susan married, they moved to Nazareth in Northampton County.  In the 1860 Census William Bauer is listed as a 28-year-old painter in Nazareth.  His household included Susan, age 25; Mary, age 7; and Wayne, 2.  It seems likely that Wayne died while he was young because he doesn’t appear in any other records that have turned up.  William owned real estate valued at $1,600 and personal property valued at $150.
    At some point between the birth of Emma in 1865 and Lillie in 1867, the family moved from Pennsylvania to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  In the 1870 Census, Wm Bower is listed as a 37-year-old house painter in that township.  He owned real estate valued at $1,000 and personal property valued at $250.  His family included Susan, age 33; Mary, 14; George, 9; John, 8; Emma, 6; Lilla, 3; and Jennie, 3 months.  Listed as a second family at the same location are William’s parents, Charles Bowers, a 61-year-old house carpenter, and Elizabeth, age 64.
    The family seems to have moved twice during the 1870s.  Robert’s World War II draft registration record indicates that he was born in Wayne County.  At the least, the family moved to Norton in Summit County by 1880. (4)
    In the 1880 Census, William J. Bowers is listed as a 46-year-old farmer in Norton.  His family included Susan, age 44; George P., 19; Emma E., 15; Lillie J., 13; Jennie E., 10; Elsie M., 8; Abbie E., 6; and Joseph W., 4.  The household also included Susan’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Warner, age 75.
    By 1900, William and Susan had moved to Copley Township in Summit County.  William J. Bauer is listed as a 66-year-old carpenter who rented a house in that township.  William was unemployed for three months during the previous year.  His household included Susan, age 64, and their son Robert W., who was a 19-year-old farm laborer.  The census indicates that Susan had given birth to 11 children and nine were still alive in 1900.
    William died at some point before 1910, when Susan is listed as a widow in the census.
    The 1910 Census indicates that Susan was living with her son Joseph, whose family lived at 209 W. State St. in Akron, which is in Summit County.  The census again notes that she had given birth to 11 children and that nine were still alive.  It also indicates that she could read but not write.
    On Nov. 11, 1912, Susan married James Andre.  James was born about 1830 in Nazareth, Pa., to Daniel and Anna (Fread) Andre. (5)
    James was 82 when they married and he didn’t live too much longer.  By the time of the 1920 Census, Susan is again listed as a widow.  The 84-year-old Susan Andre was living in Richfield Township, Summit County, with her daughter Abbie, who had married Parker A. Leu.
    In the 1930 Census, Susan Andre, age 94, is listed as living in the household of her daughter Lillie, who had married W. Frank Ringler.  They lived in Copley Township.
    Susan died March 16, 1938. (6)
(1) Birth information and parents are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 136.  (2) The approximate marriage date comes from the 1900 Census of Copley, Summit County, Ohio.  Susan’s parents and birth information are listed in the record of her second marriage, which is available at “Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958,” FamilySearch.  (3) The approximate birth years of all of the children are listed in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses.  The birth dates and place and the spouses of Mary, George, Lillie and Joseph are found in “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” at FamilySearch.  The birth information for Abbie and Jennie is found in “Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962,” at FamilySearch.  Elsie’s approximate birth year and second husband appear in Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  Her first husband’s name is found in the 1910 Census of Cleveland, Ohio.  Joseph’s birthday appears in “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,”at FamilySearch.  His death record says he was born June 27, 1876.  Robert’s birth information appears in, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980” at Ancestry.com and in “Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962” at FamilySearch.  The birth record says his middle name was Summit.  A Jennie Bowers, apparently age 17, married Ingram Jones on April 27, 1887 in Summit County, according to Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  Abbie’s husband is identified in the 1920 Census of Richfield Township, Summit County.  (4) Robert’s draft registration can be found at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (5) The wedding date and James’ parents and birth information are listed in “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” at FamilySearch.  (6) Susan’s death is recorded at Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007.”

ABRAHAM and ELMIRA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles)
    Abraham Bower was born April 28, 1840, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Elizabeth (Weber) Bauer. (1)
    Married Elmira Eisenhauer about 1865.  Elmira was born Dec. 25, 1844, in Reading, Pa., to Jacob and Mary (Edmunds) Eisenhauer. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Estella E., born Dec. 28, 1866.  Married three times: a man named Albright, Thomas H. Haupt and Christian H. Selfing.
    Ulysses G., born about 1869.  Possibly died young.
    Ellen L., born about 1873.  Married Walter V. Koone.
    Birdie, born July 28, 1875.
    Alvin Hayes, born March 10, 1877.
    Calla, born about 1879.
    Abraham grew up in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, where he is listed in his father’s household in the 1850 Census.  In the 1860 Census, Abraham Bauer was listed as a 20-year-old painter living in the household of his brother, Josiah in Nazareth, Northampton County.
    After Abraham and Elmira married, they moved to Hazelton, Luzerne County.  In the 1870 Census, Abraham Bower is listed as a 30-year-old painter there.  His family included Elmira, age 25; Estella, 3; and Ulyses G., 1.
    At some point before Birdie’s birth in 1875, the family moved to Crawford County, Ohio.
    In the 1880 Census, Abraham Bauer is listed as a 40-year-old “painter by trade” in the village of New Washington in Cranberry Township.  He appears in the household of George Aschbacher.  For some reason, the rest of the family is listed in a separate household in New Washington.  Elmira Bowers is listed as 36 years old and the head of the household.  The children are listed as Estella, age 13; Luella, 7; Birdie, 5; Alvin, 3; and Calla, 1.  Since Ulysses doesn’t appear in this census, it seems likely that he died before 1880.
    It seems that Abraham died sometime between 1880 and 1885.  In that year, Elmira married John Hiskey.  He was born June 10, 1852, in Pennsylvania to William and Julian (Knouse) Hiskey. (4)
    It appears that Elmira didn’t stay in the Ohio long after Abraham’s death.  In fact, it seems likely that she had returned to Pennsylvania before she married John Hiskey since he was from the Allentown, Pa., area and they lived there after their marriage.
    In the 1900 Census, Elmira Hiskey is listed in her husband’s household in Allentown.  John was a 47-year-old day laborer who rented a house at 31 Wood St.  The census indicates that Elmira could not read or write.  The household also included Estella Bauer, who’s listed as a boarder.  The census also mentions that Estella, age 33, was divorced and had given birth to three children, all of whom were still alive but aren’t listed in the household.
    John died Feb. 19, 1909, in Allentown.  Soon afterward, Elmira moved to Schenectady, N.Y, to live with her daughter Ellen.  In the 1910 Census, Elmira Hiskey is listed as the 65-year-old mother-in-law of Walter Koons.  The census indicates that she was blind.
    The 1920 Census finds the family in the town of Malta in Saratoga County, N.Y.  Ellen Hiskey is listed as a 75-year-old widow and boarded in the household of Walter and Ella Koone.
    Interestingly, Elmira seems to have started using the surname Bauer again in the 1920s. In the Schenectady directory for 1924, she is listed as Elmira Bauer, widow of Abraham, living at 1018 State.  In the directories from 191115, she is listed as Elmira Hiskey, widow of John.  She lived at 404 Francis Ave. (5)
    Elmira moved back to Allentown soon afterward.  She is listed in Allentown’s 1925 directory as Elmira Bauer, widow of Abraham, living at 516 Park.
    On Jan. 4, 1926, Elmira died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Allentown.  On her death certificate, she is listed as Elmira Bauer Hiskey of 516 Park.
    Elmira is buried in Howertown Cemetery in Northampton County.
    (1) Birth information and parents are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 182a.  (2) The approximate marriage year is based on the birth year of Abraham and Elmira’s old child.  Elmira’s parents and birth information are available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) The children’s approximate birth years are listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses.  Estella’s birth information is listed in her Pennsylvania death certificate.  The birth information for Birdie – or Bertene – is found at “Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962” at FamilySearch.  Alvin’s birthday is listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Ellen’s husband is listed in the 1910 Census of Schenectady, N.Y.  Her mother, Elmira Hiskey, lived in the household.  Estella’s two divorces and her second and third marriages are outlined in Lehigh County marriage license applications that are posted on her profile by several genealogists at Anestry.com.  (4) John Hiskey and Abraham Bauer are listed as her husbands on her death certificate.  The approximate marriage year is listed in the 1900 Census of Allentown, Pa.  John’s birth information and parents are listed on his Pennsylvania death certificate.  (5) The directories are at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”

FRAKLIN and ELIZABETH BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles)
    Franklin Bauer was born July 27, 1849, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Elizabeth (Weber) Bauer. (1)
    Married Elizabeth Serfass about 1872.  She was born about 1852 in Pennsylvania to Samuel and Sallie (Miller) Serfass. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Emma Elizabeth, born about 1877.  Married Emery Hawk.
    Sarah J., born about 1883.  Married Douglas George.
    Francis Franklin, born July 1, 1888.
    Edna E., born Jan. 25, 1890.  Married Jeremiah Heydt.
    Lottie M., born about 1892.
    Franklin spent most of his childhood in Plainfield Township, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
    Franklin’s parents and many of his siblings moved to Crawford County, Ohio, during the 1860s and 1870s.  It’s uncertain where Franklin lived when the 1870 Census was taken but it seems likely that he remained in Pennsylvania because he married a woman from that state in 1872 and is found in Monroe County in the 1880 Census.
    In 1880, the census identifies Franklin Bower as a 31-year-old painter living in Polk Township, Monroe County.  His family is listed as Elithabeth, age 28, and Emma Elithabeth, 3.  Several Serfass families – almost certainly relatively of Elizabeth – also lived in the neighborhood.
    The 1900 Census lists Franklin Bauer as a 50-year-old house painter.  He owned a farm in Polk Township.  He had been unemployed for four months of the previous year.  His family consisted of Elizabeth, 48; Edna E., 10; and Lottie M., 7.  His household also included his nephew Daniel R. Serfass, a 13-year-old farm laborer who also attended school for six months of the preceding year.  The census also indicates that Elizabeth had given birth to six children but only five were still alive.
    The 1910 Census lists Frank Bauer as a 60-year-old farmer who owned a “general farm” in Polk Township.  His household contained Elizabeth, age 58, and his grandson Henry Hawk, who was 16 years old.  Once again, the census indicates that Elizabeth had given birth to six children but only five were still alive.
    In the 1920 Census, Franklin Bauer is listed as a 70-year-old farmer who owned a farm in Polk Township.  His household contained Elizabeth, who’s listed as 62, and her brother Monroe Serfass, age 70.
    At some point during the 1920s, Franklin and Elizabeth moved in with their daughter Sarah and her family.  At the time of the 1930 Census, they lived in the household of Douglas George at 304 E. Princeton Ave. in Palmerton, Carbon County, Pa.  Franklin Bauer is listed as 70 and Elizabeth is listed as 77.
    On Aug. 3, 1930, Elizabeth died of generalized arteriosclerosis.
    Franklin committed suicide by hanging on Aug. 3, 1934.  He is listed as a retired farmer who was living at 304 Princeton Ave.
    Franklin and Elizabeth are buried at the Lehighton Cemetery in Palmerton.
    (1) Birth information and parents are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 197a.  Also, his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate year of marriage is indicated in the 1900 Census of Polk Township, Monroe County, Pa.  Her parents and birth information are listed on her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3)  Most of the children’s approximate birth years are listed in the 1880 and 1900 censuses of Polk Township.  The birth information for Francis and Edna appear on their Pennsylvania death records.  The death record also provides the name of Edna’s husband.  Sarah’s husband is indicated in the 1930 Census, in which her parents are living in the George household in Palmerton, Carbon County.  Emma’s husband is named in Ancestry.com, “Web: RootsWeb Marriage Records Index.”

JOSEPH and GEORGIANNA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Joseph Lewin Bowers was born Jan. 10, 1833, in Northampton County, Pa., to John Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Georgianna Andrews.  She was born about 1833 in Connecticut to George and Almeida (White) Andrews. (2)
    Child: Belle, born January 1869.  Married Milton D. Keller. (3)
    Joseph grew up in Plainfield Township, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1850 Census.
    At some point before 1860, Joseph left Plainfield and moved to the town of Stroudsburg in Monroe County.  In the 1860 Census, Joseph L. Bower is listed as a 33-year-old painter.  He was single and lived in an inn run by Peter Kemerer.  (The age is obviously a mistake, as are many ages associated with Joseph and his family.)
    In 1863, Joseph L. Bowers is listed among those registering for the Civil War draft.  He was a 30-year-old painter living in Stroudsburg.  Joseph does not appear to have served in the military during the war.
    During the mid- or late 1860s, Joseph married Georgianna and the couple settled in Stroudsburg.  In the 1870 Census, Jos. S. Bowers is listed as a 35-year-old painter in Stroudsburg.  He owned real estate valued $1,500 and personal property valued at $200.  His family included Georgiana, age 28, and Anna, 2 (actually Belle).  His household also included J.H. Seible, a 25-year-old miller.
    In the 1880 Census, Joseph L. Bowers is listed as a 41-year-old painter living on Williams Street in Stroudsburg.  His family consisted of Georgiana, age 30, and Bella, 10.
    Joseph died April 17, 1888. (4)
    After Joseph’s death, Georgiana lived with Belle and her husband.  In the 1900 Census, Anna Bowers is listed as the mother of Adell B. Keller (Belle), the head of a household on Pocono Street in Stroudsburg.  Milton D. Keller is listed as the husband of Adell.  The household also contained Robert B. Keller, Bell’s 6-month-old son.  Anna was listed as a 59-year-old widow who had given birth to one child.
    In the 1910 Census, Anna Bowers is again listed in Belle’s household in Stroudsburg.  This time, Milton Keller is listed as its head.  Bell, age 40, and Robert B., 10, are also in the household.  Anna is listed as a 67-year-old widow who had her “own income.”
    In 1920, Anna Bowers is listed as a 75-year-old widow living in the Keller household on Ninth Street in Stroudsburg.  In addition to Milton, Bell and Robert, the household also contained Robert’s wife Bertha.
    Georgianna died Dec. 4, 1922, in Stroudsburg.
    Joseph and Georgianna are buried at Stroudsburg Cemetery in Stroudsburg.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., Vol. I,” page 137, at the Marx Room at the Easton Public Library.  And his tombstone at Findagrave.com.  Also, it seems possible that Joseph’s middle name was actually “Lewis” and the transcription was incorrect.  (2) Anna’s information is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) Belle is listed with Joseph and Georgiana in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pa.  Her birth date and the link to her husband is in the 1900 Census of Stroudsburg, where Anna Bowers is living with her Belle’s family.  She also witnessed Georgiana’s death certificate.  (4) Joseph’s tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.

CONRAD and LENORA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Conrad Bower w as born May 2, 1835, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Lenora Paul about 1867.  She was born in February 1847 in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Children: (3)
    David Calvin, born August 1873.
    Jacob Franklin, born March 16, 1876.
    Florentina, born in September 1878.  Married Fred. F. Downing.
    Mary, born in January 1885.
    Jerome Daniel, born in Sept. 13, 1886.
    Conrad grew up in Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  In the 1850 Census, he is the C. Bower listed as living at his father’s farm in that township.  It’s uncertain where he lived after his father’s death in 1854.  However, it seems likely that he was the Conrad Bauer who was listed as a 27-year-old painter living in the household of William Bauer in Nazareth, Northampton County.  William was a distant cousin of the Conrad we’re interested in.   
    Conrad served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Conrad Bauer enlisted as a private in Company I of the 153^rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on Oct. 11, 1862.  Conrad was promoted to corporal on Oct. 16. (4)  His cousin Tobias enlisted in the regiment’s E Company.
    The 153^rd Infantry, which was raised in Northampton County for nine months’ service, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac’s Eleventh Corps. (5)  While the 153^rd Infantry was part of Eleventh Corps, the corps was humiliatingly overrun by Stonewall Jackson’s forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville and was then mauled at the Battle of Gettysburg, in which about a third of its members were killed, wounded, captured or listed as missing.
    In December 1862, the 153^rd Infantry was sent toward Fredericksburg but arrived too late to participate in the battle, which was a disastrous Union defeat.  Over the winter, the regiment settled in to winter quarters.  “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers” reports, “Considerable sickness prevailed during the winter, and a number died or were permanently disabled.”
    In late April, the regiment joined other elements of Eleventh Corps and crossed the Rappahannock River and headed toward the area that would become the Chancellorsville battlefield.  On May 1, the battle began and the regiment was ordered back and forth to support other parts of the Union line but didn’t engage the enemy.  On the morning of May 2, the unit built barricades and rifle pits along its line.  However, the Confederate force under Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson snuck around the Union flank and launched a surprised attack on the right end of the Union line.  “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers” reports: “The One Hundred and Fifty-third was first struck.  This was its first experience of battle; but with the steadiness of veterans, a volley was poured in with deadly effect.  The two pieces of artillery immediately started to the rear, and with them went the troops in support on their left.  The enemy was coming in on both flanks; to stand longer was certain destruction, and accordingly, Colonel Von Gilsa gave the order to retire. ‘Our backward movement,’ says an officer of the regiment, ‘was begun just in season.  Had we remained a minute longer, all would doubtless have been captured. The enemy had not only outflanked us on our extreme right, but were also advancing in force on our immediate left.’  Broken and disorganized by this overwhelming blow, the fragments of the brigade retired rapidly, little opportunity being given to re-form, until they reached the open ground to the west of Chancellorsville.  Here the regiment was rallied, and a position assigned it for the night.”  The 153^rd Infantry exchanged fire with the enemy at a distance for the next two days until the Army of the Potomac withdrew.  During the battle, the regiment suffered 19 killed, three officers and 53 men wounded and 33 captured, including its commander, Col. Charles Glanz.
    Almost two months later, on June 30, the 153^rd Infantry and the Eleventh Corps were in Emmittsburg, Md.  “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers” reports: “At eight o’clock on the following morning, it was put in motion towards Gettysburg, moving at a rapid rate to the sound of the enemy’s guns, and passing through the town at half-past one.  At the Poor House, north of the town, the brigade halted and deposited knapsacks, and was then ordered to advance at double-quick, and dislodge the enemy from a piece of woods to the right of the line taken up by the Eleventh Corps.  Gallantly did the brigade advance, and cleared the intervening ground; but the enemy was already in heavy force, advancing on all sides, the brigades of Hayes and Hoke, in double line, in its immediate front, and infantry and artillery, most advantageously posted, away to the right and flank of its position. It was losing fearfully, and had no hope of gaining any advantage, when Colonel Von Gilsa, unwilling to sacrifice his men needlessly, ordered them back.  In this brief engagement, the regiment lost one officer, and thirty-two men killed, eight officers, and ninety-three men wounded, and eighty-two missing and prisoners.  The corps was soon afterwards ordered to retreat through the town, and take position on Cemetery Hill.  Von Gilsa’s Brigade went into position on the right on the Baltimore Pike, behind a low stone-wall, nearly opposite the Cemetery gate, and in front of batteries F, and G, of the First Pennsylvania Artillery.  Content with his victory, the rebel leader neglected to follow up his advantage, and the exhausted troops slept undisturbed.  During the 2d, the artillery fire bearing upon the centre was very severe, but little loss was sustained until four in the afternoon, when a perfect storm of shot and shell was poured upon it, inflicting merciless slaughter, men on every hand writhing in the agonies of death.  Scarcely had the change been effected, when a powerful column of the enemy, which had secretly formed under cover of a rising ground, consisting of the brigades of Hayes and Hoke, burst upon the view, and charged full upon the position occupied by Von Gilsa.  Shot and shell were poured into them from the artillery crowing the hill, and showers of bullets from the well poised muskets of the infantry; but unheeding the fall of comrades, they rushed on undismayed, crossed the low stone-wall, and were among the guns.  It was no longer a question of steady aim or effective missiles, but a hand-to-hand encounter, in which clubs and stones were freely used.  ‘At one time,’ says the officer above quoted, ‘defeat seemed inevitable.  Closely pushed by the enemy, we were compelled to retire on our first line of defenses, but even here the enemy followed us, while the more daring were already within our lines, and were now resolutely advancing towards our pieces.  The foremost one had already reached a piece, when, throwing himself over the muzzle of the cannon, he called out to the by-standing gunners: “I take command of this gun.” “Du sollst sie haben,” was the curt reply of the sturdy German, who, at that very moment, was in the act of firing.  A second later, and the soul of the daring rebel had taken its flight.’  With a desperate persistence, the enemy struggled for the mastery; but all in vain.  His bravest had fallen.  The Union lines were being rapidly reinforced, and seeing no hope of holding the ground, he sullenly retired.
    “During the following day, the position was subjected to a fierce artillery fire, but the enemy made no more attempts with his infantry upon that part of the line. … The loss in the entire battle was one officer, Lieutenant William H. Beaver, and ten men killed, eight officers and one hundred and eight men wounded, and one hundred and eighty-eight missing; and aggregate of three hundred and eight.”
    Conrad’s cousin Tobias was wounded during the first day of the battle.
    After the battle, the 153^rd Infantry helped pursue the retreating enemy.  The soldiers’ enlistment period expired about two weeks later so the regiment returned to Northampton County.  Conrad mustered out with the company on July 24, 1863.
    Conrad’s brother Joel also served in the Union Army during the war.  His unit, the 129^th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
    About 1867, Conrad married Lenora Paul, possibly in Pennsylvania since she was born there.  A Lenora Paul of the right age is listed in the 1860 Census of Palmer Township, Northampton County, living in the household of Benjamin Kemmerer.  In the 1850 Census, she appears in Forks Township in the household of Daniel and Lucinda Paul.
    It appears that Conrad and Lenora spoke German at home while raising their children.  The 1940 Census of Franklin Township, Linn County, Iowa, notes that their son Jacob’s “Language spoken in home in earlier childhood” was German.
    About 1869, the family moved west to Iowa, settling in Linn County.  The 1915 Iowa state census indicates that Conrad had lived in the state for 46 years.  From this time on, the family name is usually spelled “Bowers.”
    In the 1870 Census, Conrad Bowers is listed as a 35-year-old farmer in Linn Township, Linn County.  He owned real estate valued at $3,800 and personal property valued at $1,000.  Lenora was listed as 23 years old.  The household also contained a 2-year-old boy named William Parker, who was born in Iowa.  At some point before 1880, Conrad and Lenora adopted this child.
    The census’ agricultural schedules provide a snapshot of the Bowers farm in 1870.  Conrad owned 80 acres of improved land and 10 acres of woodland.  His land was valued at $3,300, and his farming implements and machinery was valued at $150.  He had paid a total of $12 in wages during the year.  He owned three horses, three milk cows, four other cattle and four swine, for a total value of $600.  He had harvested 285 bushels of spring wheat, 700 bushels of Indian corn and 230 bushels of oats.
    In 1880, the census again lists Conrad Bowers in Linn Township.  He was listed as a 45-year-old farmer.  His family consisted of Lenora, age 33; David, 7; Jacob, 4; Floranteina, 1; and William Parke, 13, who is listed as adopted and a farm hand.
    In 1885, the Iowa state census doesn’t list William, so it seems likely that he left the family when he turned 18.  The census noted that the Bowers residence was at Township 83, Range 5, Section 36, Southeast, Southeast.  The household contained Conrad Bowers, a 49-year-old farmer; Lenora P., 37; David, 11; Jacob 8; and Florentine, 6.
    The 1886 “List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Living in Iowa” notes that Conrad Bowers had served in the 153^rd Infantry.  Interestingly, two other men from Conrad’s Company I also lived nearby.  Conrad and Samuel Drach both had a post office address in Mount Vernon and David Bruch had one in nearby Lisbon.  It seems likely that they maintained a friendship from their time in the military.
    The family moved to Pioneer in Cedar County between 1886 and 1895.  The 1895 Iowa state census noted that Conrad Bowers, age 59, lived there.
    The 1900 Census lists Conrad Bowers at a 65-year-old farmer in Pioneer.  His household contained Lenora, age 53; Florentina, 21; Mary, 15; and Jerome, 13.  It also held Jacob, a 24-year-old farmhand, and his wife, Arthelda, 21, who had been married for two years.  The census notes that Lenora had given birth to seven children but only five were still alive when the census was taken.  The family owned a farm but it was mortgaged.
    Sometime before 1910, Lenora died and Conrad moved back to Linn County.  In that year’s census, Conrad Bowers is listed as a 75-year-old widower living in Lisbon, which was in Franklin Township, Linn County.  Florentina, age 31, is the only other member of the household.  Conrad had his “own income” and Florentina was a school teacher.  They owned a house.
    In 1915, the Iowa state census lists Conrad Bowers as a 78-year-old widower in Lisbon, Linn County.  He had completed eight years of schooling.  He had served in Company I of the 153^rd Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War.  He was affiliated with a Reformed church.  His home was worth $1,800.  And he was retired.
    In 1920, the census lists Conrad Bowers, age 84, in Lisbon.  He owned his home but had no occupation.  He still lived with Florentina, 41, who is also listed as having no occupation.
    On June 27, 1920, Florentina married Frederick Downing and the couple moved in with Conrad.  The 1925 Iowa state census indicated that Conrad Bowers, age 89, was the head of a household in Lisbon.  The household included Florentina and Fred F. Downing.  Florentina is actually listed and the owner of the house, which was valued at $3,500.
    Conrad appears to have died sometime between 1925 and 1930 because he has not been found in the latter year’s census.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 144.  Also the 1925 Iowa state census of Lisbon, Linn County.  (2) The approximate marriage date, as well as Lenora’s birth information appears in the 1900 Census of Pioneer, Cedar County, Iowa.  Her maiden name is listed in the marriage records of her children at Ancestry.com. “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (3) The names and approximate birth dates of the children appear in the 1900 Census of Pioneer.  Florentina and Mary’s husbands are listed at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  Jerome and Jacob’s birth dates appear on their World War I draft registration card, which are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (4) “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5,” Vol. IV, page 791.  The 1910 Census indicates that Conrad served in the Union Army and “List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Living in Iowa” indicates that Conrad Bowers – whose post office was in Mount Vernon, Linn County – served as a private in the 153^rd Infantry.  The “List of Ex-Soldiers” is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976.”  Several other Conrad Bowers from Pennsylvania served in the Union Army during the war.  These served in the 192^nd, 194^th and 201^st infantry regiments but each is listed as living in Pennsylvania in the 1890 Census’ veterans schedules.  (5) “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. IV, pages 772-776.

EPHRAIM and SUSAN BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Ephraim Bowers was born July 27, 1839, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Susan Gradwohl in 1868 or 1869.  She was born July 12, 1846, in Easton, Pa., to John and Mary Ann (Krutz) Gradwohl. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Anna, born in July 1870. 
    Wilson H., born Aug. 4, 1874.
    Minnie S., born about 1876. 
    Edith May, born in February 1880.
    Ephraim grew up in Plainfield Township, where he is listed in his father’s household in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.  In 1860, Ephraim Bower is listed as 21-year-old house painter.
    At some point between 1860 and 1863, Ephraim moved a few miles away to Forks Township.  According to the Civil War draft registration records created on July 31, 1863, Ephraim Bower was a 23-year-old laborer living in that township. (4)  Ephraim did not serve in the Civil War, according to the 1900 Census.  Two of his brothers – Joel and Conrad – served in the Union Army.
    About five years later, Ephraim married Susan and moved to Easton.
    In the 1870 Census, Ephraim Bowers is listed as a 30-year-old painter in the Bushkill Ward of Easton.  He owned real estate valued at $2,500 and personal property valued at $300.  The household also contained Susan, age 24; Annie, 1; and Ephraim’s sister, Matilda, a 23-year-old dressmaker.
    The family appears to have moved back and forth between Forks Township and Easton.  Ephraim is listed in Easton directories in 1870, 1877 and from 1884 well into the 1920s, but appears in Forks in the 1880 Census. (5)  After the move to Easton, Ephraim’s surname was usually spelled “Bowers.”
   In 1880, Ephrian Bowers is listed as a 39-year-old painter.  The household also included Susan, age 33; Anna F., 9; Wilson H., 5; Minnie S., 4; and Edith May, who had been born that February.
    The family had moved back to Easton by 1884, when the Easton directory lists Ephraim Bowers as a painter living in a house on Cattell Street.
    The 1900 Census lists Epriam Bowers as a 60-year-old painter who owned a house at 718 Cattell Street.  His household contained Susanna, age 53; Anna F., 29; Wilson H., 25; and Edith M., 20.  The census indicates that Susanna had given birth to five children but only four were still alive.
    Sometime before 1908, the family moved to 523 Lafayette St. in Easton.  From at least 1908 to 1927, Ephraim and Susan lived in the house on Lafayette.
    In 1910, the census lists Ephriam Bowers at a house painter who owned his house in Easton.  The household also included Susan, age 62; Anna F., 40; and Wilson H., 35, who worked as a pattern maker in a machine shop.  The census indicates that Ephraim and Susan had been married 42 years, but that Ephraim was in his second marriage.  It’s uncertain whether this is accurate.  The census also notes that Susan had given birth to six children but only four survived.  It’s uncertain whether she gave birth after she was 53 or if one of the census listings is wrong.
    By 1920, Wilson had married and his wife moved in with Ephraim and Susan.  That year’s census lists Ephraim P. Bowers as an 80-year-old house painter who owned his house in Easton.  Susan is listed as 73.  Living with them were Wilson H., a 45-year-old carpenter; his wife, Cula, 30; and their daughter Edith M., 2 months.
    In the Easton directories, Ephraim is listed as a painter in 1925 but not in 1927, so it seems likely that he retired during the intervening time.
    Ephraim died July 15, 1927, in Easton.
    In 1920, Susan is listed as the head of the household at 523 Lafayette St.  Her household contained her daughter Mary B. Crawford, age 60, and Mary’s husband William H., 66.  Susan was 83 and owned the house, which was valued at $16,000.  She owned a radio.  Wilson and his family had moved down the street and appear on the same page of the census form as Susan.
    Susan died Feb. 11, 1932, in Easton.
    Ephraim and Susan are buried at Easton Cemetery.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 180a.  His parents, birth date and place are also listed at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage date is 1869 in the 1900 Census and 1869 in the 1910 Census, both from Easton, Pa.  Susan’s Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3) The approximate birth dates of Anna and Edith appear in the 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.  Minnie’s approximate birth year appears in the 1880 Census of Forks Township, Northampton County.  Wilson’s birth listed in “Tombstone Inscriptions and Interment Records from Forks Church.” (4) Ancestry.com, “U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865.”  (5) In addition to directories available at the Marx Room in the Easton Public Library, some are available online at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”

JOEL and EDNA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Joel Bowers was born Sept. 2, 1841, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to John Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Edna Cecelia Heller about 1865.  Edna was born Oct. 5, 1841, in Stockertown, Northampton County, to Joseph and Lucy (Seyfried) Heller. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Robert Jacob, born June 7, 1866.
    Albert Joseph, born April 13, 1868. 
    Harry E., born March 14, 1870.
    Joel grew up in Plainfield Township.  In the 1860 Census, he is listed as a 19-year-old farm laborer in his father Jacob’s household.
    Joel served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Joel Bauer enlisted in Company D, 129^th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on Aug. 11, 1862. (4) 
    The 129^th Infantry arrived at Antietam too late to see fighting in that famous battle.  However, it actively participated in the bloody Union defeat at Fredericksburg.  In that battle, Confederate forces were deployed behind a long stone wall that overlooked an open field.  Their fire devastated Union troops who attempted to cross the field.  “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers” reports: “Shortly after noon of the 13^th of December, the division crossed the Rappahannock, and proceeding through the town to a position in full view of the field, awaited the order to enter the fight.  It was not long delayed, and again advancing by a main road, the brigade halted in low, open ground, where the men were ordered to lie down.  Tempted by the easy range and unprotected situation of the brigade, the enemy opened a destructive fire from his batteries, by which Lieutenant Jacob Parvin, Jr., was mortally, and a number of privates severely wounded.  Moving to the left of the road, the division was shortly after formed in line of battle on the crest of the hill, the brigade in two lines, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth on the left front.  In the hopeless and fruitless charge which followed, made under a ceaseless fire of musketry and artillery from the impregnable position which the enemy held, officers and men did everything that true soldiers could do, traversing in good order the lines of dead and wounded left in previous charges, and pressing forward in the gathering darkness until they attained position in advance of every previous charge, and from which it was impossible to go farther.  In the brief space that it was in motion, the regiment lost one hundred and forty-two in killed and wounded.  The caps of some were subsequently found close up to the famous stone-wall, and an officer and several privates of company D were taken prisoners. … The loss in killed was sixteen.” (5)
    After the vicious battle, the 129^th Infantry suffered another setback.  “The knapsacks which had been thrown aside before going into battle, had been carefully guarded, but were not recovered.  During the cold rainy days preceding the 23d of December, when extra clothing and blankets were furnished  to supply the place of those lost, the men suffered greatly from exposure, one dying, and many being thrown into hospitals.”
    Joel was discharged on Feb. 27, 1863, “on Surgeon’s certificate,” according to the regimental roster in “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers.”  It seems likely that this resulted from illness since a wound is not specifically indicated.
    Joel’s brother Conrad also found in the Civil War.  His unit, the 153^rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, fought at the battle of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
    After serving in the war, Joel married Edna and settled in Plainfield Township.  The family lived there until at least 1866.  Robert’s death certificate notes that he was born at Wind Gap.  It’s possible that the Bowers family lived in Plains in Luzerne County for a brief time around 1868.  Albert’s death certificate notes that he was born in Plains.  It’s also possible this was a mistake.
    In the 1870s Census, Joel Bower is listed as a 28-year-old farmer in Plainfield Township.  His household included Edney, age 27; Robert, 4; Alfred, 2; and Harry, 5 months.
    By 1880, the family had moved to the town of Easton.  That year’s census lists Joel Bower as a 38-year-old policeman living on Cattell Street in Easton.  The members of his household are listed as Etna, age 38; Robert J., 13 and working in a brickyard; Albert J., 12; and Harry E., 10.
    By 1884, Joel had switched his occupation.  In that year’s Easton directory, Joel Bowers is listed as a carpenter living at 978 Berwick St. (6)
    Joel and Etney Bowers are listed as members of Easton’s Christ Methodist Church from the 1880s until their deaths. (7)
    The 1900 Census lists Joel Bower as a 59-year-old carpenter in Easton.  Edna C. was 58.  They rented their home.
    Joel died Feb. 22, 1909, in Easton of cerebral apoplexy.
    In the 1910 Census, Edna Bowers is found living by herself on Berwick Street in Easton.  She is listed as a 68-year-old widow how had her “own income” and owned her home.
    At some point before 1916, Edna moved in with her son Robert.  The Easton director for that year lists them both living at 527 Centre St. in Easton. (8)
    The 1920 Census lists Edna C. Bowers as a 78-year-old widow living in the household of her son Robert on Centre Street in Easton.
    Edna died May 10, 1927, in Easton of heart disease.  Christ Methodist Church’s records note she “Died in the faith 85 years old.”  Her listing is the only one to bear such a note.
    The couple are buried at Hays Cemetery in Easton.
    (1) Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 185a.  (2) Approximate marriage date from 1900 Census of Easton, Northampton County, Pa.  Edna’s birth information comes from her death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) Pennsylvania death certificates at Ancestry.com.  (4) Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  (5) “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,” Vol. IV, page 192.  The account of the 129^th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment’s activities is found on pages 184-186.  (6) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (7) Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  (8) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”

AMOS BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Amos Bowers was born Feb. 15, 1844, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Martha M. McIlhaney on April 13, 1882.  Martha was born in October 1849 in Pennsylvania. (2)  It possible she was the Martha M. McIlhaney, age 11, who is listed in the 1860 Census in the household of Jams and Mary McIlhaney in Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton County, Pa.
    The couple had no children, according to the 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.
    Amos grew up in Plainfield Township, where he is listed as Enos Bower in his father’s household in 1850.  It’s uncertain where he lived in 1860 because he’s not listed in his father’s household.  It’s possible that he was the 16-year-old Enos Bower who was a farmhand in the household of Charles Huhn in Palmer Township.
    In the 1870 Census, Amos Bowers is listed as a 26-year-old painter living in a hotel run by Jacob Shafer in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pa.
    In 1880, Amos lived with his brother Aaron.  In that year’s census, Amos Bowers is listed as a 36-year-old painter in Aaron’s home at 123 Ninth Street in Easton.
    After Amos married Martha in 1882, they settled in Easton.  From 1883 to 1900, Amos Bowers is listed in the Easton directory as a painter who lived at 224 Cattell St. (3).
    In the 1900 Census, Amos Bowers is listed as a 56-year-old house painter who owned his house in Easton.  He had been unemployed for two months during the previous year.  His wife Martha M. was 51 and had never given birth.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 157.  Birth place listed in “Record of Births, Baptisms and Marriages of First Methodist Episcopal Church, Second Street, Easton, Pa.,” page 137.  Father’s obituary is in “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1885¸1902, Vol. II,” 89.  (2) Methodist church record.  Her birth information appears in the 1900 Census of Easton, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.” 

AARON and MARY BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Aaron Henry Bowers was born Feb. 13, 1846, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary Hentzler on May 25, 1871.  She was born Jan. 14, 1852, in Pennsylvania to George and Margaret (Kichline) Hentzler. (2)
    Children: (3)
    George Jacob, born March 16, 1873. 
    William Edgar, born Oct. 27, 1874.
    Aaron grew up in Plainfield Township, where he is listed as AH Bower in his father’s household in 1850.  In 1860, Aaron Bower is listed as a 17-year-old farm laborer in the household. 
    It seems likely that he then moved to Bethlehem, possibly to learn a trade.  In the 1870 Census, Aaron Bowers is listed as a 23-year-old chair maker in the household of Charlott Osborne in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pa.
    The record of their marriage indicates that Aaron was living in Bethlehem and Mary in Easton in 1871. (4)  They eventually settled in Easton.
    In the 1880 Census, Aaron H. Bowers is listed as a 34-year-old cabinet maker living at 123 Ninth St. in Easton.  His family included Mary, age 28; George Jacob, 7; and William Edgar, 5.  In addition, the household included Aaron’s brother Amos, a 36-year-old painter.
    Soon after this, Aaron switched careers from cabinetmaker to prison warden.
    In the 1884 Easton directory, Aaron H. Bowers is listed as a deputy warden of the Northampton County prison who lived at 717 Ferry St.  In 1894, the city directory lists him as a deputy warden living at 679 Walnut St.  In 1898, he lived at the same address but was listed as a watchman.  In 1900, Aaron Bowers is listed as a watchman with an address of “Dock.”  And the 1906 directory lists Aaron H. Bowers as a watchman “at Ingersoll,” and living at 505 Northampton St. (5)
    In 1900, Aaron Bowers is listed as living at 191 River Side, which probably explains the “Dock” reference in that year’s Easton directory.  Aaron is listed as a 54-year-old watchman who rented his house.  Mary is listed as 48 years old.  The household also contained the family of Aaron’s son George, a 27-year-old bookkeeper.  George’s family included his wife Minnie, age 23, and two sons Robert, 4, and Frank, 7 months.  In addition to the Bowers family, the census lists 10 boarders as living in their household.
    Aaron died Feb. 1, 1910, in Easton of a hemorrhage into the brain after a “heavy fall followed by exposure.”  His death certificate indicates that he was still a watchman.
    Mary died Dec. 26, 1914, in Easton of stomach cancer.
    Aaron and Mary were buried at Easton Cemetery. 
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 157. (2) Marriage is listed at “Church Record of the German Reformed Congregation, Easton, Pennsylvania,” page 207.  Mary’s birth information and parents are listed in her death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) George’s birth is listed in the Easton Reformed church record, page 105, and William is listed in his Pennsylvania death certificate.  (4) “German Reformed Congregation” record, page 207.  (5) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.” 

THOMAS and CARRIE BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    Thomas Bowers was born Aug. 17, 1850, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    Married Carrie J. Rose about 1883.  She was born March 19, 1864, in Pennsylvania to Charles P. and Susan (Wolf) Rose. (2)
    Child: Marguerite R., born August 1895.  Married Thomas Noll. (3)
    [It seems likely that Thomas was married to another woman in the 1870s and had a son by his first wife.  See below.]
    Thomas grew up in Plainfield Township, where he appears in the 1860 Census as Thomas Bower, age 11, in his father’s household.  He does not appear in his parents’ household in the 1870 Census.  It seems that he joined some of his brothers who had struck out on their own before 1870.  It’s possible that he is the 19-year-old Thomas Bour who is listed as a miller’s apprentice in the household of William Rincker, a miller in Palmer Township, Northampton County.  (2)
    In 1895, Thomas lived in Bowman’s in Carbon County, according to his father’s obituary.
    In the 1900 Census, Thomas Bowers is listed as a 48-year-old paint miller in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County.  He rented his house and had been unemployed for three months the previous year.  His family included Carrie J., age 40, and Marguerite R., 4.  The household also included Ellen H. Beidleman, who is listed as a 21-year-old servant.  The census indicates that Carrie had given birth to three children, though only one was still alive.  The 1910 Census says the same thing.
    In 1910, the census lists Thomas Bowers as a laborer who rented his house in Lower Towamensing.  Under the “industry” column, the word “street” appears, which might indicate that worked for a municipal government caring for the roads.  Carrie J. was 41 and Marguerite was 14.  The census indicates that Thomas had been married twice.
    At some point during the 1910s, Thomas and Carrie moved to 464 Franklin Ave. in Palmerton, Carbon County, which is listed as Carrie’s address at the time of her death. 
    Carrie died March 22, 1919, of an “unknown disease.”  Thomas died less than a month later of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 13, 1919. (4)
    Thomas and Carrie are buried at Union-West End Cemetery in Allentown, Pa.
    NOTE: The 1910 Census indicates that Thomas was in his second marriage.  If this is accurate, there is strong evidence that he was married to a woman named Ella.  A Thomas Bowers, age 29, appears in the 1880 Census in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pa.  He was a milkman.  His household contained his wife Ellie, age 24; son Charles, 8; and mother-in-law Matilda Brotzman.  This Ella was buried in the same cemetery as Thomas and Carrie.  Her headstone lists her as Ella M. Bowers, wife of Thomas Bowers, born Sept. 7, 1856, and died July 19, 1881.  Matilda Crader Brotzman is also buried in the same cemetery.  Her first husband was James Crader, a Civil War veteran.  I have not been able to track Charles yet.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 199a.  He is also listed in his father’s obituary in “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1885¸1902, Vol. II,” 89.  (2) According to the 1900 Census, they had been married 17 years.  The 1910 Census indicates they had been married 22 years.  However, there appear to be several other discrepancies in the 1910 Census.  Her birth information comes from her death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (3) 1900 Census of Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County, Pa.  She appears as the wife of Thomas Noll in the 1920 Census of Palmerton, Carbon County.  (4) Thomas’ Pennsylvania death certificate indicates that his parents were Jacob and Sabina Bowers.  The information was provided by Thomas daughter Marguerite, who probably was only aware of Jacob’s second wife.  Also, Thomas’ address is listed as 350 Delaware Ave. in Palmerton on his Pennsylvania death certificate.  This was not Marguerite’s address in the following year’s census and it seems strange that he would have moved to a new home a month after his wife’s death.

GEORGE PETER BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob)
    George Peter Bauer was born April 19, 1853, in Northampton County, Pa., to Jacob and Florentina (Bender) Bauer. (1)
    George grew up in Plainfield Township, where he is listed in his father’s household in the 1860 and 1870 censuses.
    George lived in Wichita, Kan., in 1895, according to his father’s obituary.
    It’s possible he was the George Bowers who is listed in the 1900 Census at 406 Douglas Ave. in Wichita.  The census indicates that George was born April 1864 in Pennsylvania and had been married for five years.  He was a cabinetmaker.  He was married to Anna D., who was born April 1867 in Vermont.  (It should be noted that birth years in the 1900 Census are frequently off by one year so this discrepancy is not a major concern.)
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 203a.  He is also mentioned in his father’s obituary at “Marriages and Deaths, Northampton County, 1885¸1902, Vol. II,” 89.

JOHN and MARY ANN BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham)
    John Henry Bower was born March 31, 1846, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Sarah (Keller) Bower. (1)
    Married Mary Ann Hess on Nov. 6, 1867, in Crawford County, Ohio.  She was born in August 1848 in Ohio.  It’s possible that her parents were Andrew and Mary (Hemery) Hess. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Jessie E., born about 1869.
    Homer Andrew, born Sept. 4, 1870.
    Roderick Burr, born Oct. 10, 1872.
    Guy Haines, born Sept. 27, 1874.
    Archer A., born June 10, 1876.
    During the 1850s, Abraham moved the family from eastern Pennsylvania to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  John appears in his father’s household there in the 1860 Census.
    During the Civil War, John served in the Union Army.  The 1890 Census indicates that John H. Bowers served as a private in Company L, of the 10^th Ohio Calvary Regiment.  He enlisted on Oct. 18, 1862 and was discharged on July 24, 1865, when his unit was mustered out of service.  He would have been only 16 at the time of his enlistment. (4)
    A brief history of the unit is contained in “Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-866”: (5)
    “This Regiment was organized at Camp Cleveland, and Camp Chase, O., from October 1862, to July 25, 1863, to serve three years. It left early in the spring of 1863 for Nashville, Tenn., when it was ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where it remained doing picket and scout duty, until the Army of the Cumberland opened the campaign against General Bragg.  During this campaign the Regiment performed a vast amount of marching and counter-marching. It was actively engaged in all of Kilpatrick's movements during Sherman's Atlanta campaign.  The great march to the sea was inaugurated, on this march, the Regiment was frequently engaged with the enemy.  It was mustered out July 24, 1865, at Lexington, N.C., in accordance with orders from the War Department.
    “The official list of battles, in which this Regiment bore an honorable part, is not yet published by the War Department, but the following list has been compiled, after a careful research, during the preparation of this work:  
“Chickamauga, Ga. … September 19-20, 1863.  Cosby Creek, Tenn. … January 14, 1864.  Tunnel Hill, Ga. … May 2, 1864. Siege of Atlanta, Ga. … October 1-3, 1864.  Jonesboro, Ga. … August 19-20, 1864.  Sweetwater, Ga. … October 1-3, 1864.  Bear Creek Station, Ga. … November 16, 1864.  Waynesboro, Ga. … December 4, 1864.  Aiken, S.C. … February 11, 1865.  Monroe Cross Roads, N.C. … March 10, 1865.  Averysboro, N.C. … March 16-20, 1865.”
    Members of the 10^th Ohio Cavalry enlisted for three years of service and John served for three years and 19 days, according to the 1890 Census.  The unit roster doesn’t mention that he received any wounds.
    After the war, John married Mary Hess and the couple settled in Liberty Township.  In the 1870 Census, John H. Bower is listed as a 23-year-old house painter.  Mary is listed as 21 and their daughter Jessa as 1.  The census doesn’t indicate that John owned any real estate but it says he owned personal property valued at $200.  In addition to John’s immediate family, his household included his 20-year-old brother Jacob, who also was a house painter.
    At some point during the 1870s, the family moved north to Pokagon, Cass County, Mich.  In the 1880 Census, John H. Bower is listed as a 34-year-old painter.  His family included Mary A., age 32; Jessie E, 11; Homer A., 9; Roderick B., 7; Guy H., 5; and Arthur A., 4.
    In 1890, the U.S. Census’ Veterans Schedules lists John H. Bowers in Pokagon.
    By 1894, he had moved to Grand Rapids, Mich. In that year, he appears in the city’s 11^th Ward in the state census’ listing of veterans.
    In the 1900 Census, John H. Bower is listed as a 54-year-old insurance agent.  He rented a house at 654 Lafayette St. in Grand Rapids.  His household included Mary, age 51, and Archer A., 23.  The census indicates that Mary had given birth to six children but only five were still alive.  Archer worked as a manager of a club.
    At some point before 1906, John and Mary moved to Seattle, Wash., where Archer and Roderick also lived.  In 1906, John H. Bower is listed as living at 118 W. Howe St, in the city’s directory.  John appears to have lived at that address for the rest of his life. (6)
    In the 1910 Census, John H. Bower is listed as a 61-year-old insurance agent living at the address on West Howe Street.  Mary A is also listed as 61.  The census again says that she gave birth to six children and that five were still alive.  The census also indicates that John served in the Union Army.
    In Seattle’s 1911 directory, John H. Bower is listed as an insurance agent.  However, he seems to have switched his job about that time because the 1912 directory lists John H. Bowers as a solicitor married to Mary A. and living at 118 W. Howe St.
    It seems likely that John died in 1912 because he does not seem to be listed in the 1913 directory.  A John Henry Bower died April 18, 1912, in Seattle, according to state death records.  His father’s name is listed as Andrew, but it’s possible this is an error and Abraham was intended. (7)
    The 1920 Census indicates that another couple had moved in with Mary.  It lists Mary A. Bower as the owner of the home on West Howe Street and Kirk and Anna Clark as a second family renting at the same address.  The census says Mary was 71 and didn’t have an occupation.  However, it should be noted that the census lists her as married rather than widowed.
    Seattle’s 1925 director lists Mary A. Bowers, widow of John H. Bower, as still living on West Howe Street.  And the 1926 directory simply lists her as Mrs. Mary Bower.
    Mary does not seem to be listed in the 1930 Census.  It seems likely that she had died by that point.  Washington records list the death of Mary A. Bower on Jan. 11, 1927, in Seattle.  The information listed for this women corresponds relatively well with our Mary.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Vol. II,” page 192a.  Available at the Marx Room at the Easton Public Library.  (2) Marriage and maiden name is listed in “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” index and images, FamilySearch.  Birth dates comes from the 1900 Census of Grand Rapids, Mich.  Her maiden name is listed in the birth record of her son Homer, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  It seems likely that Mary’s parents were Andrew Hess and Mary Hemery.  Washington state death records available at “Washington, Deaths, 1883-1960” list a woman named Mary A. Bower, who was born about 1849 to Andrew Haas and Mary Emory.  An Andrew Hess who had a daughter named Mary, age 12, is listed in the 1860 Census of Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  All of this fits well with Mary A. Bower.  Also, an Andrew Hess and Mary Hemery were married April 10, 1833, in Crawford County, according to “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” at FamilySearch.  (3) Jessie’s birth is listed in the 1870 Census of Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  The births of Roderick and Homer are listed in “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index.”  Archer and Guy’s birth is listed in his World War I draft registration at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (4) In “Census of the state of Michigan, 1894,” John is listed in Vol. III, page 150, under “United States soldiers of the Civil War residing in Michigan, June 1, 1894.”  It is available at Ancestry.com, “Census of the state of Michigan, 1894.”  (5) “Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866,” Vol. 11, pages 503 and 539.  (6) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (7) The death records are available at Ancestry.com, which is available at “Washington, Deaths, 1883-1960.”

REUBEN and JOSEPHINE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham)
     Reuben Thomas Bower was Sept. 8, 1855, in Northampton County, Pa., to Abraham and Sarah (Keller) Bower. (1)
    Married Josephine Mary Markley on Oct. 4, 1876, in Crawford County, Ohio.  She was born in February 1855 in Ohio to Joseph and Elizabeth (Stough) Markley. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Nellie E., born April 1877.
    Walter Scott, born April 3, 1878.
    Roy Markley, born June 27, 1881.
    Clara E., born June 1883.
    Myrtle M., born Sept. 6, 1884.  Married John Fielding.
    Archie Earl, born Oct. 13, 1885.
    Ralph Dwight, born Dec. 31, 1886.
    Ray Elwood, born July 10, 1889.
    Clyde Keller, born April 29, 1891.
    Grace Lucille, born June 8, 1892.
    Glenn E., born April 1894.
    Edith, born May 1897 and died Aug. 3, 1904.
    When Reuben was about 5 years old, his family moved to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  He is listed in his father’s household there in the 1860 and 1870 censuses.  In 1870, he is listed as working on the farm and attending school.
    After Reuben and Josephine married, they moved around quite a bit.  In 1878, the family lived in Sulphur Springs, Crawford County, where Walter was born.  In 1881, the family was living in Columbus, where Roy was born, according to Franklin County birth records.  By 1884, they had moved to McClue in Henry County, where Myrtle and Ralph were born. And by 1889, they had moved to Petoskey in Emmet County, Mich., where Ray was born. (4)
    In the 1900, Thomas R. Bower is listed as a 44-year-old druggist who lived at 215 W. Mitchel St. in Petoskey.  His family contained Josephine M., age 45; Nellie E., a 23-year-old music teacher; Walter S., a 22-year-old pharmacist; Roy M., an 18-year-old pharmacist; Clarrie E., a 16-year-old stenographer; Myrtle M., 15; Archie E., 14; Ralph D., 13; Ray E., 10; Clyde K., 9; Grace S., 7; Glenn E., 6; and Edith, 3.  The census also notes that Josephine had given birth to 12 children and all were still alive.
    It seems likely that the family moved to Detroit sometime before 1903 when the city’s directory lists “Bowers … Reuben T, drugs, 575 Greenwood av, h 290 Kirby av. w.”  This indicates that he worked in a drug store at 575 Greenwood Ave., and lived at 290 W. Kirby Ave. 
    Over the next 12 years, the city directories show Reuben and his family moving around the city.  In the 1905 directory, Reuben has a larger listing, which offers the following description: “Druggist, prescriptions Carefully Compounded,” at 1167 W. Warren Ave.  He lived at 1304 24^th.  The directory lists Ralph D. and Ray E., as helpers who lived at the same address.  In the 1906 directory, Reuben T. Bower is listed among the retail druggists in the Detroit business directory.  The address of the establishment was 1167 W. Warren Ave.  And in the 1915 directory, Reuben T. Bowers is listed as working in a drugstore at 1336 Riverside and living at 360 Medbury. (5)
    It has been difficult to locate Reuben’s family in census records, possibly because he moved even more than is apparent in the available records.  He has not yet been located in the 1880, 1910 and 1920 censuses.  It seems possible that he is listed in the 1930 Census in Precinct 27 of Alachua County, Florida.  A Reuben T. Bower is listed as a 75-year-old widower who had been born in Pennsylvania.  He owned a farm valued at $7,000.
    In any case, Reuben appears to have been living in Detroit at the time of his death on Dec. 17, 1937.  His death record indicates that he was widowed so Josephine had already passed away.  His burial place is unknown.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Vol. II,” page 208a.  Available at the Marx Room at the Easton Public Library.  (2) Marriage and maiden name is listed in “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” index and images, FamilySearch.  Her approximate birth date comes from the 1900 Census of Petoskey, Emmet County, Mich.  Her mother is identified in the 1870 Census of Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, and her mother and father are identified in “A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County, Ohio,” page 688.  Although Josephine isn’t named in the applicable passage, the details match when compared with the census records.  It mentions that Joseph Markley married Elizabeth Stough and that he died in 1858, which is confirmed by other records.  It then mentions that his widow married Peter Rutan, which created the household where Mary appears in the 1870 Census.  (3) All of the children are listed in the 1900 Census of Petoskey, Emmet County, Mich.  The birthdays of Roy, Myrtle and Ralph children are listed at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  The birthdays of Walter and Archie are listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  The birthdays of Ray and Clyde are listed in Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  And Grace’s is listed at Ancestry.com, “Michigan, Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911.”  Edith’s death is listed at Ancestry.com, “Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1920.”  Myrtle’s husband is listed in the 1910 Census of Hamtramck Township, Wayne County, Mich.  (4) Most of the birthplaces are listed in the records cited above.  Walter’s birthplace is listed in “Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” FamilySearch.  (5) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) Reuben’s death is listed at “Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” at FamilySearch.

JOHN and EMELINE  BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William)
    John Thomas Bowers was born Oct. 28, 1863, in Northampton County, Pa., to William Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Reph) Bower. (1)
    Married Emeline Miller about 1890.  Emeline was born Jan. 31, 1860, to Peter S. and Lucy Ann (Bender) Miller. (2)
    Child: Floyd Thomas Bower, born Sept. 26, 1890.  Died in 1912. (3)
    John grew up in Plainfield Township, where he is listed in his father’s household in the 1870 and 1880 censuses.  He is listed as a laborer in the 1880 Census.
    After John married Emeline, the couple settled in the town of Wind Gap, which adjoins Plainfield Township. 
    In the 1900 Census, Jno T Bowers is listed as a 35-year-old school teacher who owned a house in Wind Gap.  His family included Emeline, age 40, and Floyd, 9.  The census indicates that Emeline had given birth to one child.
    In the 1910 Census, John T. Bowers is listed as a 46-year-old high school teacher who owned a home in Wind Gap.  Emeline, age 50, worked at home as a dressmaker.  And Floyd T., age 19, had no occupation.  The census again indicates that Emeline had given birth to only one child.
    John died Sept. 24, 1929, in Wind Gap.
    His obituary provides a brief account of his life.  “John Bowers, a well known resident and for many years a school teacher at Wind Gap, died on Thursday evening at 10 O’clock of Cancer, after a lengthy illness, aged fifty years. … He was a member of the Reformed Congregation of Plainfield Church, the P.O.S. of A. and I.O.O.F. of Wind Gap, and of the free and Accepted Masons of Pen Argyl.” (4)
    After the deaths of her son and husband, Emeline lived alone in Wind Gap.  In the 1920 Census, Emeline Bowers is listed as a 59-year-old widow who owned a house at 51 Broadway St.  She continued to work out of her house as a dressmaker.
    Emeline died Sept. 24, 1929 in Wind Gap, Pa.
    John, Emeline and Floyd are all buried under the same headstone at Plainfield Cemetery, near Wind Gap.
    (1) John’s birth information and parents are listed on his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  Also at “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Vol. II,” page 221a.  (2) The approximate year of their marriage is listed in the 1900 Census of Plainfield, Northampton County, Pa.  Emeline’s birth information and parents are listed in her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3) From baptismal records of St. Mark’s Reformed Church in Easton, Pa., which are available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  His death is listed at Findagrave.com.  (4) The obituary is in the March 28, 1916, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com. 

SIMON and ANNA BOWER
(Diel, John, John, William)
    Simon Peter Bower was born Oct. 26, 1866, in Northampton County, Pa., to William Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Reph) Bower.
    Married Anna R. Sandt about 1889.  She was born in Oct. 3, 1869, to Thomas and Catherine (Frankenfield) Sandt.  Thomas had been a captain in the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Artie, born Sept. 10, 1889.  Married Charles H. Breidinger. 
    Warren, born Dec. 23, 1890.
    Frederick, born June 24, 1892.
    Mable, born Feb. 6, 1894.  Married Asher Houk.
    Lottie, born Oct. 21, 1895.  Married Frederick Metz.
    Mary, born April 16, 1897.  Married Howard Snyder.
    Raymond, born Nov. 22, 1898.
    Russell Thomas, born April 9, 1900.
    Laura E., born about 1902.  Married Harry E. Metzgar and later Leroy M. Bowser.
    Horace Roosevelt, born Sept. 19, 1903.
    Carrie V., born about 1906.  Married Paul W. Keller and later Edmund P. Bitting.
    Willard S., born Jan. 26, 1907.
    Meda M., born Nov. 2, 1909.  Married Harold B. Sprague.
    In the 1900 Census, Simon Bowers is listed as a 34-year-old painter in Plainfield Township,  His family included Annie, age 30; Artie, 10; Mabel, 7; Lottie, 5; Mary, 4; Fred, 7; Warren, 9; Raymond, 1; and John (actually Russell), 1 month.  The family rented their house.  Annie had given birth to eight children and they were all still alive.
    In the 1910 Census, Simon P. Bower is listed as a 43-year-old house painter who owned the farm where he lived, on the Jacobsburg-Belfast Road in Bushkill Township.  Annie R. is listed as 39 years-old. The children are listed as Warren H., a 19-year-old  house painter; Fred E., a 17-year-old house painter; Lottie M., a 14-year-old knitter in a hosiery mill; Mary C., 13; Raymond E., 11; Russell T., 9; Laura E., 7; Harris, R., 6; Carrie V., 4; Willard S., 3; Meda, M., 5 months.
    In the 1920 Census, Simon P. Bowers is listed as a 53-year-old house painter who owned a home on Bolton Road in Bushkill Township.  His family included Anna, 49; Russel, a 19-year-old painter; Horace, a 16-year-old painter; Carrie, 14; Willard, 12; and Meda, 10.
    In the 1930 Census, Simon P. Bowers is listed as a 64-year-old paperhanger who owned a home on Jacobsburg Road in Bushkill Township.  He owned a radio.  Anna is listed as 60 years old.  The household also contained Meda’s family, which consisted of her husband Harold Sprague, a 24-year-old knitter in a hosiery mill; Ellen M., 2; and Loraine M., 11 months.  In addition, their grandson Charles Breidinger, 13, lived in the house.
    Simon died Feb. 4, 1940, in Bushkill Township.  His obituary provides a brief description of his life: “He was a painter and paperhanger by trade, and had worked at that occupation for 50 years, prior to his retirement 15 months ago. He was a member of the Evangelical Reformed Congregation of St. Peter's Church, Plainfield.” (4)
    Anna was active in her church, according to her obituary.  “Mrs. Bowers resided in the Belfast area for the last 52 years. She was one of the oldest members of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Plainfield Twp., and its Ladies Aid Society. She also was a member of the home department of the Belfast Evangelical and Reformed Sunday School.” (5)
    Anna died April 24, 1957, and her obituary notes, “She had been in failing health for the last year.”
    At the time of her death, she had a huge family.  In addition to her five sons and six daughters who were still living at the time, she had “34 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren,” according to the obituary.
    Simon and Anna are buried at Plainfield Cemetery, with is near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 226a.  Birth details appear at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage date comes from the 1900 Census of Plainfield Township.  Her birth dates is listed on her tombstone, available at Findagrave.com.  Her parents are named in her obituary, which appeared in the April 25, 1957, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (3) The children and their approximate birth years are listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses of Bushkill Township, Pa.  Exact dates appear at Findagrave.com and on sons’ draft registration cards for World War I, available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  The names of the daughters’ husbands are listed in the obituaries of Simon and Anna’s obituaries.  (4) Simon’s at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944,” and Findagrave.com. Simon’s obituary is in the Feb. 5, 1940, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  

JOSEPH and MARY BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel)
    Joseph Henry Bauer was born Sept. 27, 1842, in Northampton County, Pa., to Daniel and Sabina (Bruch) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary Elizabeth Kramer about 1866.  She was born Oct. 8, 1847, in Pittston, Pa., to Eli and Matilda (Kutz) Kramer. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Eugene K., born July 23, 1868.
    Anna, born about 1871.
    Elemanda, born about 1873.
    Lizzie, born about 1874.
    Jennie, born about 1876.
    Cora M., born about March 1885.
    John Thomas, born Feb. 1, 1888.
    George Franklin, born March 17, 1890.
    Joseph grew up in Bushkill Township, Northampton County, where his appears in his father’s household in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
    When Joseph registered for the Civil War draft in 1863, he was listed as a 20-year-old shoemaker living in Bushkill Township. (4)
    It appears that the family might have lived in Plainfield Township briefly after they married.  Eugene’s death record notes that he was born there in 1868.  By 1870, the family had moved to East Allen Township in Northampton County.
    In the 1870 Census, Jacob Bower is listed as a 27-year-old shoemaker who owned personal property valued at $500.  His family included Mary E., age 22, and Eugene R., 2.The family appears to have been living on the same property as a blacksmith named Jacob Benner.
    During the 1870s, the family moved to the town of Bethlehem, which also is in Northampton County.   In the 1880 Census, Joseph Bauer is listed as a 39-year-old cobbler.  His family included March, age 33; Eugene, 11; Anna, 9; Elemanda, 7; Lizzie, 6; and Jennie, 4.   The census notes that Mary could not read or write.
    At some point during the 20 years between the 1880 Census and the 1900 Census, Joseph quit making shoes and the family moved to Moore Township, Northampton County.  Joseph Bauer is listed as a 57-year-old farmer who rented a farm there.  His family included Mary E., age 52; Cora M., 15; John T., a 12-year-old farm laborer; and George, a 10-year-old farm laborer.  The census notes that Mary had given birth to 12 children but only nine were still alive at the time.  The names of only eight children appear in census records.  It’s unknown whether any of these died young.
    It’s likely that the family worshipped at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Bushkill Center.
    In the 1910 Census, Joseph Bauer is listed as a 67-year-old farmer who rented a “general farm” in East Allen Township.  His family included Mary E., age 64; George F., a 20-year-old farm laborer; and John T., a 22-year-old farm laborer.  Joseph’s household also included his cousin William Mandell, a 60-year-old farm laborer.  Again, it is noted that Mary gave birth to 12 children and nine were surviving.
    Joseph and Mary’s son George served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War I.  He was killed in France in 1918, and is buried at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. (5)
    In the 1920 Census, Joseph H. Bauer is listed as 77 years old and retired.  He rented a house at 444 N. Main St. in Bethlehem.  Mary is listed as 73. 
    Although Joseph is listed as retired in the census, which was taken in January, he seems to be listed as a confectioner in Bethlehem’s city directory for that year.  A Joseph H. Bauer who was married to a Mary E. Bauer is listed as a confectioner at 436 Main. (6) Interestingly, Joseph’s death certificate, which was filed the following year, says he lived at 440 N. Main St. and that he was a shoemaker.  Although it seems likely that a mistake was involved in the directory, it is possible that the Bauers ran a candy store for a time. 
    Joseph died of bronchial pneumonia on March 15, 1921. 
    Mary died of cerebral apoplexy on Feb. 21, 1923.  The information on her death certificate was provided by Mrs. Howard Fritchman, of 38 W. Spruce St. in Bethlehem.  It’s very likely that Mrs. Fritchman was one of Mary’s daughters.  The 1920 Census lists a Matilda Fritchman, age 39, who lived at 39 Spruse St. and was married to a man named Howard.  It’s possible she was Cora M. or that she was the ninth surviving child referred to in earlier census records.
    Joseph and Mary are buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Bath.
    (1) “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. II,” page 187a.  Also in death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage year appears in the 1900 Census of Moore Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Mary’s parents are listed in her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3) The children and their approximate years of birth are listed in the 1880 Census of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pa., and 1900 Census of Moore Township.  Eugene’s birth information appears on his Pennsylvania death certificate.  John and George’s appears on his World War I draft registration cared at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  However, George’s birth year is listed as 1890 on his baptismal record at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  It’s difficult to determine which is accurate.  (4) Registration information is at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865.”  (5) His death date and place are noted at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”   His burial spot appear at Findagrave.com.  He moved to Michigan before the war, which is why it is listed as his home state.  (6) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”

HERMAN BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel)
    Herman Franklin Bauer was born Oct. 29, 1848, in Northampton County, Pa., to Daniel and Sabina (Bruch) Bauer. (1)
    Herman grew up on his parents’ farm in Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  His is listed in his father’s household there in the 1850 Census.
    In the 1860 Census, Herman Bauer, age 11, is listed in the household of a close neighbor named Simon Siegel, who was a farmer in Bushkill Township.
    From this point onward, Herman’s path is uncertain.  It seems likely that additional research in Easton, Pa., would prove helpful.
    It seems likely that he was the Herman Bower who is listed as a 21-year-old farm laborer in the Household of Simon Worman (or Norman), who was a farmer in East Allen Township, Northampton County.  This location is not far from Bushkill Township.
    It’s possible that Herman got married and moved across the Delaware River during the 1870s.  A Herman Bauer appears in the 1880 Census in Franklin Township, Warren County, N.J.  The details of this Herman match up well with those of Daniel and Sabina’s son.  He was 31 years old and had been born in Pennsylvania.  And he was a shoemaker, which had been Daniel’s occupation and was a trade that was often passed down from father to son.  Herman’s household consisted of wife Amanda, age 28; and his children Howard, 6; Ada, 3; and William, 9 months.
    This Herman moved farther east into Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, during the late 1800s.  He appears there in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.  He died in that area in 1911 and is buried in Somerville, according to Findagrave.com. 
    (1) Herman’s birth date and parents are listed in “Church Record of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. Vol. I,” page 165.

GEORGE V. BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel)
    George V. Bauer was born Dec. 21, 1858, in Northampton County, Pa., to Daniel and Sabina (Bruch) Bauer. (1)
    George grew up in Bushkill Township, Northampton County, where he is listed in his father’s household in the 1860 and 1880 censuses.  He’s also probably the 11-year-old Valentine who’s listed in the household in the 1870 Census.  In 1880, he is listed as 31-year-old farm laborer.
    In the 1900 Census, George V. Bauer is listed as a 41-year-old foreman in a manufacturing company.  He was a border in the household of Sabina Messinger in Palmer Township, Northampton County. 
    It’s uncertain what happened in the intervening years but George V. Bauer is listed as a 71-year-old “guest” at the Malta Home in Granville, Mifflin County, Pa., in the 1930 Census.  No occupation or other information is listed.
    In the 1940 Census, George Bauer, age 81, is listed as the uncle of Daniel Beitel and a member of his household in Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County.
    George died June 23, 1941, of cancer..
    (1) Parents and birth information are listed in death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.” 

ERWIN and SARAH BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles)
    Erwin F. Bauer was born July 11, 1858, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Sarah (Myers) Bauer. (1)
    Married Sarah Alice Young about 1881.  Sarah was born July 11, 1862, in Pennsylvania to Daniel and Mary (Miltonberger) Young. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Winfield Scott, born Sept. 2, 1881.
    Sarah, born January 1883.  Married William H. Matthews.
    Charles, born April 1889.
    Edwin Clarence, born March 15, 1891.  Died in 1909.
    Arlene Lillian, born June 13, 1900.
    Erwin spent his early childhood in the town of Bath in Northampton County, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1860 Census.  It’s uncertain where the family lived at the time of the 1870 Census.  It’s possible that he is listed in the 1880 Census in Allen Township, Northampton County.  An Irvin Bower, age 20, is listed as a servant in the household of Francis Fenicle, who was a farmer in that township.
    In the 1900 Census, Irwin Bauer is listed as a 41-year-old laborer in a stone quarry.  He rented a house on Limestone Street in the town of Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pa.  His family included Sarah, age 38; Sarah, 17; Winfield, an 18-year-old laborer; Charles, 11; and Eddie, 9.  The census indicates that Sarah had given birth to seven children but only five were still alive.
    In the 1910 Census, Irwin F. Bauer is listed as a 50-year-old blaster in a cement quarry.  He rented a house at 413 Limestone St. in Catasauqua.  His family consisted of Sarah A., age 47; and Arlene L., 9.  The household also contained the family of his daughter, listed as Salle E. Matthews, age 29 – actually Sarah.  Her husband was William H. Matthews, 41, and her daughter was Marrian A., 8.  The census indicates that the elder Sarah had given birth to four children and all were still alive.  This conflicts with the 1900 Census and is definitely incorrect since Edwin had died in 1909.
    At some point before 1920, Erwin and Sarah moved to the town of Northampton, which is also in Northampton County.  In that year’s census, Irvin Bauer is listed as a 60-year-old laborer in the building industry.  He rented a house at 958 Lincoln Ave.  Sarah was 57.  Their household also included Sarah’s father Daniel Young, an 85-year-old widower.
    Sarah died of apoplexy on Jan. 20, 1921.
    At some point after Sarah’s death, Erwin moved in with her daughter Arlene.  In the 1930 Census, Ervin Bauer is listed as a 70-year-old widower living in the household of Edwin and Arlene Michael at 217 Church St. in Catasauqua.
    Edwin died May 19, 1931, of pneumonia. . 
    Erwin and Sarah are buried at Allen Union Cemetery in Northampton.
    (1) Parents and birth information are listed in death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage year appears in the 1900 Census of Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pa.  Sarah’s parents are listed in her Pennsylvania death certificate.   (3) The children’s approximate birth years come from the 1900 and 1910 censuses of Catasauqua.  Winfield’s birth information is listed in baptismal records found at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  Charles’ information is on his Pennsylvania death certificate.  Sarah’s husband was living in the Bauer household in the 1910 Census.  Arlene’s birth date comes from her burial information at “Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  Her husband is identified in the 1930 Census of Catasauqua.

ALLEN and ELLEN BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles)
    Allen Daniel Bauer was born Sept. 10, 1868, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Sarah (Myers) Bauer. (1)
    Married Ellen C. Wambold about 1891.  She was born October 1869 in Pennsylvania. (2)  It’s possible that she was the 8-month-old Ellen C. Wambolt who appears in the 1870 Census in the household of Thomas and Mary Wambolt in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pa.
    Children: (3)
    Herbert Clarendon, born March 6, 1892.
    Russell Franklin, born June 26, 1899.
    Paul D., born Dec. 30, 1902.  Died of diphtheria Sept. 24, 1906.
    Allen appears in his father’s household in the 1880 Census of Allen Township, Northampton County.  He was 11 years old.
    In the 1900 Census, Allen D. Bauers is listed as a 31-year-old fireman at a cement works.  He rented a house on South Broad Street in the town of Nazareth in Northampton County.  His family consisted of Ellen C., age 30; Herbert C., 8; and Russell F., 11 months.  Ellen had given birth to two children.
    By 1906, the family moved to Allentown in Lehigh County.  Allen D. Bauer is listed as a wire worker living at 713 New St.  His family included Ellen C., Russel F. and Paul D., according to the Allentown directory. (4)
    In the 1910 Census, Allen D. Bauer is listed as a 41-year-old blacksmith at Bethlehem Steel.  He owned the house on New Street.  He had been out of work for eight weeks during 1909.  His family consisted of Ellen C., age 40; Herbert C., an 18-year-old machine apprentice; and Russel F., 11.  The census indicates that Ellen had given birth to three children but only two survived.  Paul, who was mentioned in the 1906 directory, died of diphtheria that same year.
    Allen died Dec. 9, 1917, of cerebral apoplexy in Fountain Hill in Lehigh County.
    For several years after Allen’s death, Ellen and her son Russel stayed in the house on New Street.  In the 1920 Census, Ellen C. Bauer is listed as a 50-year-old widow who owned the house.  Her household included Russel, a 20-year-old clerk in a machine shop, and Mary Strohl, a 51-year-old boarder.
    The following year’s Allentown directory indicates that Ellen had moved to 215 N. West in that city.  Her son Russell also is listed at that address.  In 1924, the city’s directory indicates that she lived at 1303 Hamilton.  Again, Russell is listed at the same address.
    On June 14, 1924, Ellen married William H. Helfrich at Trinity Reformed
Church in Allentown.
    In the 1930 Census, William H. Helfrich, age 62, and his wife Ellen C., 60, are listed as owning a house at 1720 Greenleaf St. in Allentown.  The house was valued at $8,500.  William was a salesman at a coffee company.  They owned a radio. 
    William died on Oct. 21, 1939, after falling down his cellar stairs.  He died of a skull fracture and cranial hemorrhage. (5)
    After William’s death, Herbert and his family moved in with Ellen.  In the 1940 Census, Ellen Helfrich is listed as a 70-year-old widow who did baking at home.  She is listed as the owner of a house in Allentown.  Also living in her house were her son Herbert, his wife Carrier and their daughter June.
    In Allentown’s 1941 and 1949 directories, Ellen C. Helfrich is listed as living at 529 N. Law.
    Allen and his son Paul are buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Allentown, according to their death certificates.  Ellen’s burial place is unknown at this time.
    (1) Parents and birth information are listed in death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage year appears in the 1900 Census of Nazareth, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) Herbert and Russel’s birth dates are listed on their World War I draft registrations at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Paul’s birth and death dates are listed on his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (4) The city directories mentioned here are at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) William’s Pennsylvania death certificate.

CALVIN DAVID BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles)
    Calvin David Bauer was born Oct. 20, 1873, in Northampton County, Pa., to Charles and Sarah (Myers) Bauer. (1)
    Allen appears in his father’s household in the 1880 Census of Allen Township, Northampton County.  He was 6 years old.
    In 1900, Calvin was living with his mother and sister in West Bethlehem in Lehigh County.  His father had died in 1899.  In the 1900 Census, Calvin D. Bauer is listed as a 26-year-old ribbon weaver living in his mother’s house at 201 Vineyard St.
    Calvin has not turned up in the 1910 or 1920 censuses.  However, it’s possible that he was living in Missouri.  A Calvin David Bauer who was born on Oct. 20, 1873 was living in St. Louis when he registered for the World War I draft.  He was an unemployed laborer.  However, he identified his nearest relative as Mrs. Gus Lerch of Center Valley, Lehigh, Penn., which does not seem to be a name linked to his family.
    At the time of his death, Calvin was working as a silk weaver.  He was living with his brother Erwin at 958 Lincoln Ave. in Northampton, according to his death certificate. 
    Calvin died March 4, 1921, in Northampton of tuberculosis.  He is buried at Allen Union Cemetery in Northampton.
    (1) Parents and birth information are listed in death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”


SIXTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

GEORGE and PERMILLA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob)
    George Washington Bower was born in Feb. 22, 1859, in Luzerne County, Pa., to Jacob D. and Lucy Ann (Hawk) Bowers.  (1)
    Married Permilla Lesnett.  (See below.)
    Children: (2)
    Dell Detrick, born Nov. 1, 1880.
    Charles Leverne, born March 21, 1886.
    George received his first and middle names because he was born on the anniversary of the birthday of the first president.
    His parents moved the family from northeastern Pennsylvania to Caroline County, Md., in the late 1860s.  It was in Maryland that family named acquired an “s” at the end.  This is probably because a large number of Bowers families already lived in the area and record-keepers tended to add the “s” out of habit.  Although most records from this generation list the family name as Bowers, there was still a tendency among family members to spell it without the “s.”  For example, George and Permilla’s tombstone reads, “BOWER.”
    In the 1870 Census, George Bowers is listed as a 9-year-old attending school and living with his parents in Caroline County’s Second Election District, which was covered by the Greensborough post office.
    George married Permilla Lesnett on Dec. 18, 1879 in Ridgely, Md.  The Rev. Joseph Hannaberry, the pastor of the town’s Reformed church, performed the ceremony. (3)  Millie was born Feb. 14, 1859, in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa., to Dell W. and Emeline (Potter) Lesnett. (4)  The Lesnetts moved to Maryland during the 1870s and later moved back to Beaver County.
    For a while after their marriage, the couple lived with George’s parents.  The 1880 Census lists George W. Bowers and his wife Permilla as part of the household of Jacob D. and Lucy A. Bowers in Caroline County’s Second District.  George is listed as a 21-year-old working on a farm, presumably his father’s.  The couple’s marriage record also noted that George was a farmer.
    In 1881, George was taxed $4 for road work in Caroline County. (5)
    Around 1891, the family moved to Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa., where Permilla’s father owned land.  George farmed there and worked as a carpenter.
    On March 17, 1898, Permilla’s father, Dell Lesnett, sold his 105-acre farm to the Bowers family for $1,300. (6)
    According to family accounts, George had another son in addition to Charlie and Dell.  This child, Hosea, was born in December 1899 to Permilla’s sister, Olive, who had lived with the Bowers for a while.  Hosea grew up in the household of his grandfather, Dell Lesnett, and used Lesnett as his surname. (7)  In the 1920 Census, he is listed as the head of a household in Franklin Township that also included his mother and his uncle John.  Sometime after 1920, Hosea moved to Spokane, Wash., following his half-brother Dell.  Dell had moved to Washington sometime before George’s death in 1913. (8)
    The 1900 Census lists George W. Bower as a farmer who owned a farm free of mortgage in Franklin Township.  His household also contained Permilla, age 41; Dal D., a 19-year-old farmer laborer; Charls, age 14 and attending school.
    Family tradition maintains George was a nice man but Permilla was difficult to get along with.  Permilla always looked down on the Bowers family because her family was comparatively wealthy, especially after natural gas was discovered on her father’s property.  Permilla also didn’t like her son Charlie’s decision to marry Laura Moyer.  She said that Moyers – who traditionally had large families – were good for having children and nothing else.  George and Permilla’s marriage was always strained and Permilla threatened to leave George at one point.  She decided to stay after George built a new house for her.  Her grandchildren said she was “particular” and very stern.  She insisted that they remain seated in chairs during visits to her home because she didn’t want them to make a mess. 
    George died May 30, 1913, of Bright’s Disease, a kidney illness. (9)  The Connoquenessing Valley News reported, “Mr. Bower had been in declining health for several years.”  His funeral was held at home, with the Rev. A.P. Bittinger of Zelienople, a Presbyterian minister, conducting the service.
    Family tradition holds that Permilla refused to allow medical treatment because she was a Christian Scientist and believed in faith healing. However, even if she was a Christian Scientist in 1913, it should be noted that her funeral in 1934 was conducted by a Reformed minister.
    A few months after George’s death, Permilla and her son Charlie sold the farm in Franklin Township to her other son, Dell, for $1,500.  This sale occurred on Nov. 7, 1913. (10)
    Permilla married Ernest Wehman sometime before 1917, when Ernest J. Wheman and his wife Primilla are listed as living on Grandview near Milton in Zelienople in the Butler County directory. (11)  Ernest was born Oct. 22, 1856, in Germany.  It’s uncertain when he immigrated because of conflicting information in census records.  His first wife, Elizabeth (Bierman), had died Jan. 29, 1913. (12)
    In the 1920 Census, the Wehmans are listed as owning a house on New Castle Street in Zelienople.  Ernest is listed as a 64-year-old carpenter.  Permilla’s age is listed as 60. (13)
    On Jan. 22, 1921, the Beaver County court appointed Permilla guardian of the property of her brother John, who had “become so weak of mind and so mentally defective that he is unable to take care of his own property, and in consequence thereof is liable to dissipate or lose the same and to become the victim of designing persons.” (14)  It’s uncertain what John’s disability involved.  Family tradition says that he and his sister Olive were deaf, but that isn’t indicated in census records.  However, John’s World War I draft registration indicates he was “decrepit” and an “imbecile.” (15)  John was killed in 1923 when a barn collapsed during a storm. (16)
    In the 1930 Census, Ernest F. and Wehman are listed as owning a house worth $7,500 on East New Castle Street in Zelienople.  It says Ernest was a carpenter who was born in Germany and immigrated in 1871.
    Ernest died April, 6, 1931, in Zelienople.  He suffered from chronic bronchitis and died of lung congestion, according to his death certificate.
    Permilla died Nov. 7, 1934.  The New Castle News reported that she died of a heart attack. The Butler Eagle reported: “Mrs. Permilla Wehman, aged 75, widow of Earnest Wehman, died at the family residence in New Castle street, Zelienople, at 6:25 o’clock today after a lingering illness.  Her husband preceded her in death two years.”  Her funeral was held at her home with the Rev. Milton May, pastor of Grace Reformed Church of Harmony, conducting the service. (17)
    Family tradition says that she left everything to her son Dell except for an umbrella because she thought Charlie was unwise with his money.
    Permilla and George are buried under the same headstone at the English Lutheran cemetery in Zelienople.
    (1) Much of the information in this item came from interviews in 1889 and 1990 with George and Permilla’s grandchildren Edward Bowers and Velma (Bowers) Holfelder and Edward’s wife, Mary (Nye) Bowers.  Since George died when Velma was very young, the ultimate sources of most of the information were Charles Bowers and his wife Laura (Moyer).  The birth date and parents appear on George’s death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  However, the death certificate lists Maryland as his birthplace, which is incorrect.  His correct birthplace is listed in his obituary in the Connoquenessing Valley News, June 5, 1913.  The association with Northeastern Pennsylvania is confirmed by the family listing in the 1860 Census of Hollenback Township, Luzerne County, Pa.  George’s year of birth is incorrectly stated as 1858 in the listing for the English Lutheran cemetery in “Butler County Cemetery Inventory, Vol. 4,” by the Butler County Historical Society.  The actual tombstone at Zelienople Cemetery, Butler County, Pa., says “1859.”  (2) Dell’s birth date comes from his draft registration card for World War I, dated Sept. 9, 1918.  Charlie’s comes from his obituary from an undated, unnamed newspaper.  (3) “Caroline County Marriages, Births, Deaths – 1850 to 1880,” page 54.  Also, Denton Journal, Dec. 20, 1879.  (4) Permilla’s parents are listed on her death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  In addition, she is listed as Dell’s daughter in his will in Beaver County Will Book T, page 163. Records that mention her birth are inconsistent.  Her birth date is listed as Feb. 14, 1858 on her tombstone.  Her death certificate only says “Feb. 14” and skips the year.  However, her exact age is listed and subtracting that from her date of death seems to indicate that she was born Feb. 15, 1859.  Census records – which are highly unreliable but would seem to be helpful in this case – consistently indicate that Permilla was more likely to have been born in 1859 instead of 1858.  “Genealogy of Conrad and Elizabeth (Borger) Hawk,” page 271, says she was born Feb. 14, 1859.  It’s uncertain how that date was obtained, but it seems the most likely when all factors are considered.  (5) Denton Journal of Denton, Md., Aug. 20, 1881.  (6) Beaver County Deed Book 163, page 367.  (7) Documents proving this connection have not turned up but the family memory of the situation was very strong when interviews were conducted in the 1980s.  In the 1900 Census, Hosea is listed as the 4-month-old grandson of  Dell W. Lesnett in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa.  It lists his birth month as December 1899.  Olive J. Lesnett, age 30, also lived in the household.  (8) George’s death noticed in the Connoquenessing Valley News lists his son Dell’s home as Spokane.  When Dell registered for the draft during World War I in 1918, he was a gas engineer for Lincoln County.  He was single at the time, but later married Effa D. Osborne, according to “Washington State Death Certificates: 1908-1960.”  They couple had no children, according to family tradition. Dell died in Spokane on March 18, 1946.  (9) Date of death from death certificate and Beaver County Register’s Docket No. 11, page 115.  The cause of death is noted in death notices in the June 2, 1913 editions of The Butler Citizen and The Butler Eagle, both of which list his name as “George Bowser.” (10) Beaver County Deed Book 240, page 401.  (11) The Butler County directory for 1917 is at Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.  (12) Ernest and Elisabeth’s death certificates are available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (13) Records for the Wehmans are often difficult to locate in computer databases because the name is often spelled Weyman or badly transcribed.  Census records for the Wehmans seem to contain more errors than is usual.  For example, the census taker in 1920 indicated that Ernest and his parents were born in Pennsylvania and Permilla’s were born in Germany while the opposite was true. And the 1930 Census states that Ernest was 43 years old and Permilla was 41, ages that are about 30 years off.  (14) Beaver County docket for March Term, 1921, page 117.  (15) United States, Selective Service System, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.  (16) Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (17) The Butler Eagle, Nov. 7, 1934.

JOHN and ROSIE BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob)
    John Wesley Bowers was born Nov. 11, 1856, in Pennsylvania¸ probably in Luzerne County.  His parents were Jacob D. and Lucy Ann (Hawk) Bowers. (1)
    Married Rose B. Green in November 1884 in Ridgely, Md.  Rosa was born about 1861 or 1862 in Pennsylvania Miles and Susan A. Green. (2)
    Adopted child: Beatrice Passwater, born about 1897. (3)
    John’s family moved to Caroline County, Md., during the 1860s.  The boy – who was often referred to as Wesley in records – is listed in his parents’ household in the county’s second election district in the 1870 Census.  In the 1880 Census, John W. Bowers is listed as a 22-year-old working on a farm and living in his parents’ home.
    In the 1900 Census, John W. Bowers is listed as a 42-year-old who owned a house in Ridgeley, Caroline County.  His occupation appears to be listed as “Fireman.”  Rosa B. was 36.  The census indicates that she had given birth to a child and that it survived.  However, no children are listed in the household.
    The 1910 Census lists John W. Bowers as a 52-year-old carpenter who owned a house on Central Avenue in Ridgely.  Rosie B. is listed as 48.  This time, the census says that she had never given birth.  Wesley’s parents also lived in the household.  Jacob D. Bowers is listed as 76 years old and having his “own income.”  Lucy A. Bowers was 73.  The household also contained Beatrice Passwater, who is listed as a 12-year-old boarder.  Beatrice was actually Rosie’s niece, whom Wesley and Rosie adopted several years later.
    Rosie apparently became ill in 1916.  The May 6 edition of the Denton Journal states: “Mrs. Wesley Bowers went Salisbury on Wednesday and Baltimore on Thursday to consult specialists in surgery.”
    The May 27, 1916, edition of the paper reported: “Mrs. Wesley Bowers returned Wednesday evening after spending some weeks at the Hebrew Hospital, where she underwent an operation.  Miss Beatrice Bowers made the trip to Baltimore to accompany her aunt home.” 
    In early 1917, the Denton Journal lists several relatives who came to the Bowers home to care for Rosa.
    Rosie died about Feb. 25, 1917, when her will was proved in Caroline County.  Her obituary in the Denton Journal provides a brief description of her life.  “Mrs. Wesley Bower died on Sunday evening.  … Mrs. Bowers was about 54 years old, and had been in failing health for several months past.  She was a useful member of the Reformed Church, and will be much missed by the people of that congregation and by many others.  She was been a resident of Ridgeley for about 25 years past. … She had no children, but brought up her niece, Miss Beatrice Bowers.” (4)
    In the 1920 Census, Wesley Bowers is listed as a 62-year-old house carpenter who owned a house in Ridgely.  Beatrice is listed as his 22-year-old daughter and a primary school teacher.  Lucy Bowers is listed as Wesley’s 80-year-old “mother-in-law,” instead of his mother.  Also included in the household was Amanda Benscoter, age 77, who is woman identified as Wesley’s “sister.”  However, she was actually Rosa’s aunt, according to an item in the Feb. 3, 1917, edition of the Denton Journal, which said she was one of the relatives who cared for Rosa during the final months of her illness.
    The kind of carpentry work that Wesley did is indicated in the Sept. 9, 1922, edition of the Denton Journal, which states: “Messrs. Wesley Bower, George Wooters, Fred Koenemann and Arthur Richards, who are employed in the building of the big new sanitarium at Henrytown, spent the week-end at their home here [Ridgely].”  He also worked on the Ridgely Playhouse, which burned to the ground in April 1923, just before it opened.  The April 7 edition of the Denton Journal notes that Wesley lost of set of tools in the blaze, which was blamed on arson.
    Relatives in Beaver County, Pa., said that Charles L. Bowers had an uncle who was a preacher.  Wesley was Charles’ only uncle on the Bowers side and he appears to be listed as a fireman in the 1900 Census and as a carpenter in 1910 and 1920.  The tradition seems to refer to the Rev. Thomas J. Bower, a brother of Jacob’s who served a parish in Frackville, Pa., and would have been Charles great-uncle.  However, Wesley does seem to have had some additional connection with the Reformed church in Ridgely.  The social notices in the March 12, 1927, edition of the Denton Journal say that “Mrs. And Mrs. Preston, of Philadelphia and Mr. Glessner, of Lancaster Theological Seminary, were guests over the week-end at the home of Mr. Wesley Bower and Miss Beatrice.”  On the Nov. 23, 1929, edition states: “The pulpit of the Reformed Church was occupied last Sunday by Lee Gable, of Lancaster Theological Seminary.  He was a guest at the home of Mrs. Wesley Bowers.”  Similar notices appear in 1929 and 1931.  It seems likely that Wesley hosted the visitors because he was active in his church and lived nearby.
    In the 1930 Census, John W. Bower is listed as a 73-year-old house carpenter who owned a house at 63 Central Ave. in Ridgely.  R. Beatrice Bower is listed as his 31-year-old niece.  No occupation is listed for Beatrice.
    The Jan. 18, 1931, edition of the Denton Journal reported that Wesley’s home was hit by a thief.  “A thief recently entered the house of Mr. Wesley Bower and carried away everything eatable on hand, except one pint of milk.  Twenty glasses of jelly were among the loot.”
    In 1932, Wesley became caretaker of Ridgely cemetery.  The June 4, 1932, edition of the Denton Journal says, “A new section is being added to Ridgely cemetery, a gift of Dr. Herr.  Mr. Wesley Bowers has been engaged as a caretaker and will keep the cemetery in good order.  All lot holders are requested to pay Mr. Bowers two dollars per annum.”
    In the 1940 Census, J. Wessley Bower is listed as 83-year-old widower who owned a home in Ridgely valued at $1,000.  He had completed four years of schooling.  Beatrice is listed as his 42-year-old daughter.  She had completed one year of college and was working as a supervisor.
    Wesley apparently moved to a nursing home in the last year of his life.  The Jan. 23, 1948, edition of the Denton Journal reports: “Wesley Bowers is boarding at the Stewart Rest Home, Greensboro.”  The March 18, 1949, edition reports: “Mr. Wesley Bowers, of Ridgely, is quite ill at the Steward Nursing Home in Greensboro.”
    Wesley probably died soon afterwards. (5)
    Rosa’s obituary notes that she was buried at Ridgeley cemetery.  It seems likely that Wesley was buried there too.
    (1) Parents are identified in the 1860 Census of Hollenback Township, Luzerne County, Pa.  The Nov. 15, 1946, edition of the Denton Journal notes that Wesley Bower celebrated his 90^th birthday on Nov. 11 of that year.  Some details about Welsey’s family are listed in “Genealogy of Conrad and Elizabeth (Borger) Hawk,” by Atwood James Shupp, page 271.  Some of the information appears to disagree with the records I have checked, but it also seems to rely on records that I have not yet found.  The book says Wesley was born Nov. 11, 1856, and died March 23, 1949.  It says he married Rosa B. Green on Nov. 11, 1884.  Rosa was born July 28, 1864, and died Feb. 25, 1917.  The Hawk book also says that they adopted Roselyn Beatrice Bower, who died single on Nov. 20, 1960.  (2) Marriage to Rosa is listed in “Caroline County, Maryland, Marriage Licenses 1865-1886,” compiled by Dorothy H. Baird and Louisa A. Scott, found at Caroline County Library in Denton, Md., page 18.  Rosie’s age is listed as 23 in her marriage license. The later possible date and place of birth comes from the 1910 Census of Ridgely, Caroline County, Md.  Rosie’s mother was Susan A. Green, according to Susan’s will in “Caroline County, Maryland, Wills Liber RJ#9, 1908-July 1913,” abstracted by Leslie and Neil Keddie,” page 13. Susan was the widow of Miles, according to the Nov. 4, 1905, edition of the Denton Journal.  (3) Beatrice was actually Rosie’s niece.  Her adoption is mentioned in the will of Rosie B. Bower, Caroline County, Md., Estate No. 1917-217-D.  Beatrice acted as a witness to the death certificate of Lucy Ann Bowers in 1920.  The 1920 Census lists Beatrice as a teacher.  She died in 1960 and is buried in Ridgely near Thomas and Nancy Bower, Jacob’s parents.  (4) The obituary is in the March 3, 1917, edition of the Denton Journal of Denton, Md.  (5) The Hawk book says he died March 23, 1949.  Wesley is no longer mentioned in the Denton Journal after the notification on March 18.

CALVIN and KATIE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Thomas)
    Calvin Oswald Bower was born May 9, 1872, in Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, Pa., to Thomas J. and Mary Jane (Readler) Bower. (1)
    Married Katie E. Leinbach about 1897.  Katie was born in December 1874 to Celia A.  Leinbach.  Celia’s husband is unknown. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Thomas Leinbach, born in Oct. 4, 1897.
    Ida May, born about 1912.
    Calvin grew up in Luzerne County.  His family moved to Schuylkill County around 1890.
    After marrying around 1897, Calvin and Katie settled in Schuylkill Haven.  In the 1900 Census, Calvin O. Bowers is listed as a 28-year-old carpenter who rented a house at 34 Dock St.  His household included Katie E., a 25-year-old dressmaker; Thomas L., 2; and Katie’s mother Celia Leinbach, a 48-year-old widow.
    At some point during the 1910s, the family moved to Glassboro in Gloucester County, N.J.  The 1920 Census lists Calvin O. Bower as a 47-year-old collector for a gas company.  He rented a house at 18 Even St. in Glassboro.  The household also included Katie E., a 45-year-old dressmaker who worked at home; Thomas L., 22, who worked for an auto tire company; and Ida, 8.
    In the 1930 Census, Calvin O. Bowers is listed as a 57-year-old foreman at a service station.  He rented a house at 340 Main St. in Glassboro.  The household also included Kathryn E., age 55, and Ida May, 18.  Thomas and his family lived just down the street.
    In the 1940 Census, Calvin O. Bower is listed as a 67-year-old bar tender who rented a home on Main Street in Glassboro.  Katie was 65 years old.  They each completed eight years of education.
    Katie died May 14, 1949.  Calvin died July 11, 1951. (4)
    (1) Birth date is from “Church Book of the Nescopeck Congregation.”  Parents are identified in the 1880 Census of Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, Pa.  (2) The approximate marriage date comes from the 1900 and 1910 censuses of Schuylkill Haven in Schuylkill County, Pa. (3) Thomas’ full name and birth date comes from Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Ida’s birth year is listed in the 1920 and 1940 censuses of Glassboro, Gloucester County, N.J.  (4) Calvin and Katie’s death is listed in Ancestry.com, “New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971.”

DAVID and JESSIE BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad)
    David Calvin Bowers was born Aug. 11, 1873, in Linn County, Iowa, to Conrad and Lenora (Paul) Bower. (1)
    Married Jessie R. Staab on June 6, 1896, in Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa.  She was born in 1878 in Greenfield Township, Jones County, Iowa, to Frederick and Sophia (Hunfy) Staab. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Earl Paul, born Feb. 9, 1898.
    Ruth Lenora, born in April 1900.  Married Harry McFarland and later Clayton Wilson.
    George C., born Dec. 7, 1902.
    Ralph H., born about 1904.
    David spent much of his childhood in Linn County, Ohio.  He appears in his father’s household there in the U.S. 1880 Census and the 1885 Iowa census.
    After David and Jessie married, they appear to have settled temporarily in Greenfield Township, Jones County, where Earl was born in 1898.
    By 1900, they had moved to Pioneer Township in Cedar County.  In that year’s census, 
David C. Bowers is listed as a 26-year-old farmer.  His family included Jessie, age 21; Earl, 2; and Ruth, 1 month. They rented their farm.  The census indicates that Jessie had give birth to three children but only two were still alive.
    At some point before 1905, the family moved back to Greenfield Township, where they appear in that year’s Iowa state census. (4)
    In the 1910 Census, David C. Bowers is listed as a 37-year-old farmer who owned a “general farm” in Greenfield Township.  His family is listed as Jessie, age 32; Earl P., 12; Ruth L., 10; George C., 7; and Ralph H., 4  The census indicates that Jessie had give birth to five children and four of them were still alive.
    The family moved back to Pioneer Township by 1915.  In that year’s Iowa state census, David Bowers is listed as a 41-year-old farmer who had earned $1,000 from his occupation in 1914.  He had 11 years of “common education.”  He was affiliated with a Reformed church.  Jessie’s listing indicates she was 36, had eight years of school and was affiliated with a Reformed church.
    At some point in the next two years, the family moved to a farm in RFD 1 in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa, according to David’s World War I draft registration card.  The card notes that David was of medium height and build, had dark brown eyes and gray and brown hair.
    The family again appears in Pioneer Township in 1920.  In that year’s census, David C. Bowers is listed as a 45-year-old farmer who owned a general farm.  His household contained Jessie, age 40; George, a 17-year-old farm laborer; and Ralph, 15. 
    In the 1925 Iowa state census, D.C. Bowers is listed as 51 years old.  His household contained Jessie, age 47; George, 22; and Ralph, 20.  The census notes that David owned his home.  He attended a rural school and had completed eight years of education.  Jessie attended a grade school and completed eight years of education, as did George and Ralph.
    In the 1930 Census, David C. Bowers is listed as a 56-year-old farmer who owned a general farm in Pioneer Township.  His family included Jessie R., age 50; George C., 29; and Ralph R., 25.  The sons are listed as partners in a general farm.  The family owned a radio.
    At some point during the early 1930s, David and Jessie moved to Franklin Township, Linn County.  They are listed in that township in the 1940 Census, which indicates that they lived in the same place, but not necessarily the same house, in 1940 as they did in 1935.
    In the 1940 Census, David C. Bowers is listed 66-year-old farmer who rented a farm.  Jessie is listed as 61 years old.  Both had completed eight years of schooling.
    Jessie died in 1947 and David died in 1956.  They are buried at Andre Cemetery in Lisbon. (5)
    (1) David’s birth date is listed on his World War I draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents and birthplace are listed in his married record at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (2) Jessie’s information comes from her marriage record.  (3) Earl’s birth date is listed at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1857-1947 .”  Ruth’s birth information appears in the 1900 Census of Pioneer Township, Cedar County, Iowa.  Her first spouse is listed in “Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992,” index, FamilySearch.  Her second spouse is listed in her obituary, which is available at Findagrave.com.  George’s birth date is listed at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” FamilySearch.  Ralph’s information is listed in his Iowa marriage record.  (4) Each of the Iowa state censuses is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (5) Findagrave.com.

JACOB and ARRHELDA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad)
    Jacob Franklin Bower was born March 16, 1876, in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa, to Conrad and Lenora (Paul) Bower. (1)
    Married Arrhelda Piefer on Feb. 24, 1898, in Lisbon.  She was born about September 1878 in Lisbon to Henry and Susanna (Kohl) Piefer. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Paul P., born July 4, 1901.
    True Marie, born Oct. 17, 1903.
    Max L., born June 29, 1907 and died before 1910.
    Donald Clair, born Aug. 17, 1909. 
    Robert Lynn, born Nov. 24, 1920.
    Jacob grew up in Linn County, where he appears in his father’s household in Linn Township in the U.S. 1880 Census and Iowa’s 1885 census. (4)
    After the Bowerses were married in 1898, they moved with Jacob’s parent to Pioneer Township in Cedar County.  In the 1900 Census, Jacob Bowers is listed as a 24-year-old farm hand living on the farm owned by his father Conrad Bowers.  Arrhelda is listed as 21 years old.
    In the 1910 Census, Jackob F. Bowers is listed as a 34-year-old farmer who owned a “general farm” in Pioneer Township.  His family consisted of Arrhlda U., age 32; Paul M., 8; True M., 6; and Donald C., 7 months.  “Arrhlda” had given birth to four children but only four were still alive.  Apparently, Max had died by this time.
    At some point in the next few years, the family moved to Franklin Township, Linn County.  In the 1915 state census, Jacob F. Bowers is listed as a 39-year-old dairyman.  He had earned $500 from his occupation in 1914.  There was a $6,000 encumbrance on his farm, which was valued at $20,000.  He had completed six years of common school, 2 years of grammar school and two years of high school.  He was affiliated with a Reformed church.  The census noted that Arhelda U. Bowers was 36, was affiliated with a Reformed church and had the same amount of education as her husband.
    When he registered for the World War I draft in 1918, Jacob was a self-employed farmer with an address of Lisbon. He was described as medium height and build, with gray eyes and black hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Jacob F. Bowers is listed as a 43-year-old farmer who owned a general farm in Franklin Township.  His household contained Arrhelda W. Bowers, age 41; Paul P., 18; True M., 16; and Donald C., 10.
    In Iowa’s 1925 census, Jacob F. Bowers is listed as a 48-year-old who owned property in Franklin Township that was valued at $25,000.  His family consisted of Arrhelda, age 46; Paul, 23; True, 21; and Donald, 15.  Jacob and Arrhelda had each completed 10 years of education.
    In the 1930 Census, Jacob F. Bowers is listed as a 54-year-old farmer who owned a dairy in Franklin Township.  His family consisted of Arelda U., age 51; Donald C., a 20-year-old farm laborer; and Robert L., 9.  The family owned a radio.
    During the mid-1930s, Donald got married.  His family moved in with Jacob and Arrhelda and Donald became co-owner of the dairy.
    In the 1940 Census, Jacob F. Bowers is listed as a 64-year-old co-owner and dairyman of a retail dairy in Franklin Township.  Arrhelda was 61 and a dairy helper.  The household also contained C. Donald Bowers, age 30, who was the other co-owner of the dairy.  His family consisted of his wife Mabel C., age 33; Donna Mae, 3; and Betty, 1.  In addition, Robert L., a 19-year-old dairy helper.
    Interestingly, the census notes that Jacob’s “Language spoken in home in earlier childhood” was German.
    Jacob died in 1954 and Arrhelda died in 1956.  They are buried at Lisbon Cemetery. (5)
    (1) Jacob birth date is listed on his World War I draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents and birthplace are listed in his married record at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (2) Marriage information, as well as Arrhelda’s birth place and parents are listed in “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  Her approximate month of birth appears in the 1900 Census of Pioneer Township, Cedar County, Iowa.  (3) The birth information for Paul, Donald, Max, True and Robert is available at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” FamilySearch.  (4) The Iowa state censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (5) The death and burial information is available at Ancestry.com, “Web: Iowa Gravestones Index.” 

JEROME and JANE BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad)
    Jerome Daniel Bowers was born in Sept. 13, 1886, in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa, to Conrad and Lenora (Paul) Bower. (1)
    Married Jane Auracher on June 3, 1908, in Lisbon.  She was born about July 29, 1886, to John and Alice (Siders) Auracher. (2)
    Child: Mary Jane, born about 1917. (3)
    Jerome’s family moved from Linn County to Pioneer Township, Cedar County, Iowa, at some point before the 1895 Iowa state census was taken. (4)  In the U.S. 1900 Census, Jerome Bowers, age 13, is listed in his parents’ household in Pioneer Township.  The family apparently moved back to Lisbon at some point before 1905, when the Iowa state census again lists them in that town. 
    Jerome attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.  Jerome Daniel Bowers of Lisbon appears as a member of the “third year academy” in the college’s 1899-1900 catalog.  His future wife is listed as a freshman and part of the conservatory of music in the same edition. (5)
    Soon after Jerome married Jane in 1908, the couple moved to Omaha, Neb.  In the 1910 Census, Jerome D. Bowers is listed as a 23-year-old passenger agent for a railroad.   Jane A. Bowers is listed as 23 years old.  They were renting a home at 2616 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha.
    When he registered for the World War I draft in 1917, Jerome Daniel Bowers lived at 2968 Poppleton in Omaha.  He was an insurance agent for Travelers Insurance Co. and had a wife and child.  The registration card indicates he was of medium height and build and had gray eyes and dark brown hair.
    At some point during the next three years, the family moved to St. Louis, Mo.  In the 1920 Census, Jerome D. Bowers is listed as a 33-year-old manager with an insurance company.  His family consisted of Jane, age 33, and Mary Jane, 3.  The family rented at 5863 Plymouth, which seems to have been an apartment building since many families are listed at that address.
    The family moved again before 1929.  The city directory of Des Moines, Iowa, indicates that Jerome D. Bowers was a division manager of Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada.  He lived at 21 Glenview Dr.  (6)
    In the 1930 Census, Jerome D. Bowers is listed as a 43-year-old branch manager for an insurance company.  He rented a home at 215 Foster Dr. in Des Moines, Iowa.  Jane A. was 43 and Mary J., was 13.  The 1930 Des Moines directory shows that he was still a division manager of Sun Life.
    The Des Moines directories show that the family moved around within the city and that Jerome apparently switched jobs during the 1930s.  For example, Jerome is list as a branch manager for Sun Life still living on Foster Drive in 1932 and 1933.  In 1934, he is again listed as a Sun Life branch manager, but living at 724 55^th.  He is listed as a salesman for Sun Life and living at 4341 Grand Ave., apartment 1, in 1935 and 1936.  In 1938, he is listed as a salesman living at 3420 Kingman Blvd.  It’s not known whether these apparent changes in position were related to company reorganization or simply different ways of denoting his occupation in the directory.
    Between 1938 and 1940, the family moved back to Linn County, Iowa.  In the 1940 Census, Jerome D. Bowers is listed as a 53-year-old general agent for an insurance company that appears to be named Mutual Guarantee.  He earned $1,200 per year.  He rented a home at 312 5^th Ave. N, in Mount Vernon.  Jane was listed as 52.  Her mother, Alice Auracher, age 87, also lived with the couple.  The census also indicates that Jerome had completed two years of college and Jane had completed four.
    Jane died in November 1966 in St. Louis.  Jerome died in May 1975 in Hillboro, Jefferson County, Mo. (7)  It’s likely that they are buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bel-Nor, St. Louis County, Mo. (8)
    (1) Jerome’s date of birth appears on his World War I draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents and place of birth are listed on his marriage record at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (2) The marriage date and place as well as Jane’s parents and birthplace are listed on the marriage record.  Her birth date appears in Social Security records at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  The maiden name of Alice is uncertain.  It is spelled Siders, Sidus and Sidens in various transcriptions.  The only original record I have found – the 1925 Iowa census – uses the spelling I have used here.  (3) Mary’s approximate birth date appears in the 1920 Census of St. Louis, Mo.  (4) The Iowa state censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census, 1895.”  (5) “Catalogue of Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1899-1900,” page 85, 93 and 101, which is available at Google Books.  (6) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (7) “U.S. Social Security Death Index.”  (8) Findagrave.com.  A Jerome D. Bowers and Jane A. Bowers are buried together at the cemetery.

WILSON and CULA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Ephraim)
    Wilson Henry Bowers was born Aug. 4, 1874, in Northampton County, Pa., to Ephraim and Susan (Gradwohl) Bowers. (1)
    Married Cula M. Graver about 1916.  She was born April 3, 1889, in Stockertown, Northampton County, to William and Mary J. Graver. (2)
    Child: Edith Mary, about November 1919.  Married Harry M. Johnson, Jr. (3)
    Wilson grew up near Easton and is found in that town in the early 1900s.  In the 1900 Census, he is listed as a 25-year-old carpenter in his father’s household at 718 Cattell St.  In the 1910 Census, he is listed as a 35-year-old pattern maker at a machine shop.  He was living in his father’s household at 523 Lafayette St.
    Wilson married Cula about 1916 and the couple moved into Ephraim’s household.  In the 1920 Census, Wilson H. Bowers is listed as a 45-year-old house carpenter in Ephraim’s household on Lafayette Street.  Cula was 30 years old and Edith M. was 2 months old.
    Between 1925 and 1927, Wilson and Cula moved to their own house at 821 McCartney St. in Easton.  They lived there until at least 1941. (4)
    In the 1930 Census, Wilson Bowers is listed as a 56-year-old building contractor who owned a home valued at $18,000 on McCartney Street.  He owned a radio.  The household included Cula M., age 40, and Edith M., 10.
    In 1940, the census lists William H. Bowers as a 65-year-old home-building contractor.  He owned his house, which was valued at only $7,000 in this census.  Cula May is listed as 50 years old and Edith May was a 20-year-old nurse in a dentist’s office.  Wilson and Cula had each completed eight years of education. 
    Cula died May 10, 1941. 
    Wilson died March 12, 1957.
    They are buried at Forks Cemetery in Forks Township.
    (1) Parents named in 1880 Census of Forks Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Birth date comes from “Tombstone Inscriptions and Interment Records from Forks Church.”  His middle name appears on his wife’s death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The approximate marriage year comes from the 1930 Census of Easton, Pa.  Her birth information and parents’ names are listed on her death certificate.  (3) Approximate birth date is from the 1920 Census of Easton, Pa., which says she was two months old when the census was taken on Jan. 2.  Her husband’s name was listed in her obituary in the Aug. 21, 2010, edition of The Express Times of Easton.  (4) Easton directories for 1925 and 1927 are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”   The address is listed on Cula’s death certificate.  (5)

ROBERT and MARY BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Joel)
    Robert Jacob Bowers was born June 7, 1866, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Joel and Edna (Heller) Bowers. (1)
    Married twice.  (See below.)           
    Child: Charles Franklin, born March 12, 1896. (2)
    Robert grew up in Northampton County.  He is listed in his father’s household in Plainfield Township in 1870 and in Easton in 1880.  In 1880, Robert J. Bower is listed as a 13-year-old working in a brickyard.  He was also attending school.
    About 1891, Robert married Mary Houk.  She was born April 13, 1869, in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pa., to James and Henrietta (Kerkeslayer) Houk. (3)
    It seems likely that the couple lived in Schuylkill Haven for a while because the town is listed as their son’s birthplace. (4)
    By 1900, the family had moved to Easton.  Robert J. Bowers is listed as a 33-year-old carpenter.  His household included Mary, age 31, and Charles F., 4.  Robert rented a house at 531 Berwick St.  He had been unemployed for two months in the previous year.  Mary had given birth to one child.
    At some point before 1908, the family moved to 527 Centre St. in Easton.  The Easton directory for that year lists Robert Bowers as a letter carrier who lived at that address. (5)  They lived at the address for the rest of their lives.
    In the 1910 Census, Robert J. Bowers is listed as a 43-year-old letter carrier for the government.  He owned his house.  His family included Mary, age 41, and Charles F., 14.
    At some point before 1920, Robert’s mother moved into his household.  In that year’s census, Robert J. Bowers is listed as a 53-year-old mail carrier for the government.  His household included his wife Mary, age 50, and his mother Edna C., 78.
    In the 1930 Census, Robert J. Bowers is listed as a 63-year-old mail carrier for the U.S. government.  Mary was 60.  They owned their house, which was valued at $5,000.  They owned a radio.
    On March 27, 1934, Mary died at Easton Hospital in Wilson Township.
    At some point in the late 1930s, Robert married a woman named Nellie.  She was born about 1880 in Pennsylvania, according to the 1940 Census of Easton.
    In 1940, the census lists Robert as a 73-year-old retired mail carrier.  He owned his house, which was valued at $3,300.  He completed seven years of education.  His wife Nellie is listed as 60 years old.  She had completed four years of high school.
    Robert died Feb. 28, 1941, in Easton of coronary artery heart disease.
    Robert and Mary are buried at Hay’s Cemetery in Easton.
    A Nellie Bowers who lived from 1879 to 1956 is also buried at the same cemetery.  It seems likely that she was Robert’s second wife.
    (1) Robert’s death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) Charles’ birth date is listed in his veteran’s burial card, which is at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  The link to his parents is in the 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.  (3) The approximate year of marriage is listed in the 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.  Mary’s birth and parents’ information is available on her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (4) Charles’ World War II draft registration card lists his birthplace.  It’s available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (5) The directory is at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) Their burial place is noted on their death certificates.

ALBERT and NELLIE  BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Joel)
    Albert Joseph Bowers was born April 13, 1868, in Luzerne County, Pa., to Joel and Edna  (Heller) Bowers. (1)
    Married twice. (See below.)
    Child: Beulah B., born Dec. 12, 1895 and died Jan. 1, 1902. (2)
    Albert grew up in Northampton County, Pa.  He appears in his father’s household in the 1870 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County.  He also appears in his father’s household in Easton the 1880 Census.
    On Sept. 12, 1889, Albert married Nellie Weiss at Christ Methodist Church in Easton.  Nellie was born Sept. 22, 1866, in Easton to Daniel and Mary Ann (Deemer) Weiss. (3)
    Albert and Nellie lived in Easton.  In the 1900 Census, Albert J. Bowers is listed as a 32-year-old foreman for a blacksmith.  He owned a house at 512 Wilkes-Barre St.  His family is listed as his wife Nellie, age 33, and daughter, Bulah B., 4.  Nellie had given birth to one child.
    In the 1910 Census, Albert J. Bowers is listed as a 42-year-old blacksmith for a railroad.  He owned his house at 613 Wilkes-Barre St.  Nellie is listed as 42.  The census indicates that she had not given birth to any child other than Beulah, who had died five years earlier.
    The 1912 Easton directory indicates that Albert worked at the Easton Knitting Co. (4)
    The 1920 Census lists Albert J. Bowers as a 51-year-old clerk in a grocery story.  He owned his home.  Nellie was 53.
    Nellie died Dec. 26, 1928, in Easton.
    In the 1930 Census, Albert J. Bowers is listed as a 61-year-old widower.  He was living alone in the house he owned on Wilkes-Barre Street.  He apparently didn’t have a job because “none” is listed in the occupation column.  It seems likely that he had retired by this point because his death certificate, which was created four years later, lists him as a retired foreman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
    At some point in the early 1930s, Albert married again.  His second wife was Gertrude King, who was born Oct. 21, 1876. (5)
    Albert died Aug. 4, 1934, of coronary thrombosis.
    Gertrude died March 29, 1962.
    Albert, Nellie, Beulah and Gertrude are all buried at Hay’s Cemetery in Easton.   
    (1) Albert’s birth information and parents are listed in his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) Beulah’s parents are listed in the 1900 Census of Easton, Pa.  Her birth and death dates appear on her tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.  (3) The marriage information is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  Nellie’s birth information and parents come from her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (4) Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Gertrude is identified as Albert’s wife on his death certificate.  Her birth and death dates appear on her tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.

HARRY and MARGARET BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Joel)
    Harry E.  Bowers was born March 14, 1870, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Joel and Edna (Heller) Bowers. (1)
    Married Margaret E. Slowey on Aug. 22, 1894, in New Bedford, Mass.  She was born about September 1870 in Phillipsburg, N.J., to John and Rose (Giffney) Slowey. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Harry Edward, born Sept. 13, 1896.
    Edna R., born 1898.
    Irene, born Nov. 11, 1900.  Married Andor Wester.
    John, born 1903.
    Beatrice, born 1907.
    Gladys, born 1909.
    Harry grew up in Northampton County.  He appears in his father’s household in Plainfield Township in 1870 and in Easton in 1880.  In 1890, Harry is listed as a carpenter living with his parents on Berwick Street in Easton. (4)
    At some point between 1890 and 1894, Henry moved north to New Bedford, Mass.  Henry was living there when he married Marget E. Slowey in 1894.  At the time, he was working as a carpenter and she was working as a glassblower.
    Before 1900, the couple moved to Phillipsburg, N.J., which is just across the Delaware River from Easton.  In that year’s census, Harry Bowers is listed as a 30-year-old cabinetmaker who rented a house at 236 Mercer St.  The household also included Maggie, age 29; Harry E., 3; and Edna R., 1.
    The 1910 Census lists Harry Bowers Sr. as a 40-year-old machinist in a drill works.  He owned his house at 889 Green St. in Phillipsburg.  His family included Maggie, age 39; Harry, Jr., 13; Edna, 11; Irene, 9; John, 8; Beatrice, 3; and Gladys, 11 months.  The census notes that Maggie had given birth to seven children but only six survived to that point.
    Maggie died sometime between 1910 and 1920 because Harry is listed as a widower in the 1920 Census.
    In the 1920 Census, Harry Bowers is listed as a 49-year-old machinist in the steel works.  He still owned the house on Green Street.  The household contained Irene, age 19; John, a 17-year-old laborer in a pump works; Beatrice, 13; and Gladys, 11.
    In 1930, the census indicates that Harry E. Bowers lived alone in a house he owned at 549 Arlington St. in Phillipsburg.  He was a 60–year-old machinist at an iron and steel mill.
    Harry died Dec. 8, 1937, in Easton Hospital of coronary thrombosis. His last address was listed as Mill Street in Phillipsburg.
    (1) Harry’s birth date and parents are listed in his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  His birth place is listed in his marriage record at Ancestry.com, “Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915.”  (2) The marriage information and Margaret’s information appears in the marriage record from New Bedford.  Her approximate birth date is listed in the 1900 Census of Phillipsburg, N.J.  (3) Harry’s birth information is recorded in his World War I draft registration record at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Irene’s birth information is in her death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  The rest of the children and their dates appears in the 1910 Census of Phillipsburg, N.J.  (4) “Census Directory of Northampton County, 1890,” page 107.

GEORGE and MINNIE BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Aaron)
    George Jacob Bowers was born March 16, 1873, in Northampton County, Pa., to Aaron Henry and Mary (Hentzler) Bowers. (1)
    Married a woman named Minnie about 1894.  She was born about June 1876 in Pennsylvania.  It’s possible that her maiden name was Brown since that was the middle name of her first son. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Robert Brown, born Jan. 10, 1896.
    Frank, born about November 1899.
    George grew up in Easton, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1880 Census.
    Even after he married, George appears to have remained in his parent’s household.  In the 1900 Census, George and his family are listed in the same house as Aaron and Mary on River Side in West Easton.  George is listed as a 27-year-old bookkeeper.  His family included Minnie, age 23; Robert, 4; and Frank, 7 months.
    The family might have worshiped at St. Mark’s Reformed Church in Easton, where Robert was baptized in 1896.
    Easton’s city directories for 1906 and 1908 list George and Minnie as living at 505 Northampton, which was also his parents’ address.  George was listed as a “typewriter at Ingersoll” in 1906 and as a stenographer in 1908. (4)
    At some point after the 1908 directory was compiled, George and Minnie got divorced.  In the 1910 Census, George is listed as divorced and Minnie and their sons seem to disappear from the census records.
    The 1910 Census lists George as a 37-year-old bookkeeper for a furniture story.  He was living with his mother at 15 S. Sixth St. in Easton.  Aaron had died earlier in the year so Mary was the head of the household.  In addition to George, Mary’s household contained her other son William, a 35-year-old barber, and four boarders.
    George died of tuberculosis on March 14, 1916.  His death certificate lists his occupation as clerk and his address as 715 Ferry St. in Easton. (5)
    He was buried at Easton Cemetery.
    (1) George’s birth information and parents are listed in his baptismal record at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  (2) The approximate year of marriage and Minnie’s approximate birth date is listed in the 1900 Census of West Easton, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) Robert’s birth information is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  Frank’s information appears in the  1900 Census of West Easton.  (4) The Easton directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”

WILLIAM and EMMA BOWERS 
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Aaron)
    William Edgar Bowers was born Oct. 27, 1874, in Easton, Pa., to Aaron Henry and Mary (Hentzler) Bowers. (1)
    Married Emma C. Noll about 1897.  Emma was born about November 1873 in Pennsylvania to Harry and Angaline J. (Sandt) Noll.  William may have married a woman named Lillian late in life. (2)
    Child: Harry Aaron, born Feb. 13, 1897. (3)
    William grew up in Easton, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1880 Census.
    William usually worked as a barber and is listed as one in the 1894 Easton directory.  At the time, he was living at 679 Walnut, which was the same address as his parents. (4)
    After William and Emma were married, they settled in Easton.  In the 1900 Census, William is listed as a 25-year-old laborer in a distillery.  He rented a house at 635 Wilkes-Barre St.  Emma was 26 and Harry was 3.  Emma had given birth to one child.
    It appears that William and Emma separated by 1910.  William was living with his mother at 15 S. Sixth St. and Emma was living with her parents at 741 Wilkes-Barre St.  Both are listed as married.  Harry, age 13, was living with Emma.  William was 35 and again working as a barber with his own shop.  Emma was 37 years old and working as a “sales lady” in a dry goods store.
    Starting in 1912, Emma had her own listing in the Easton directory.  Until 1927, she is always listed as Mrs. Emma Bowers, living at 741 Wilkes-Barre.  In most cases, she’s listed as a clerk.
    William doesn’t appear in the directories as consistently.  It seems that he moved around a lot and it’s likely he sometimes lived outside the city limits.  He is listed in the 1916 directory as a barber who had a shop at 25 Centre Square and a home at 331 Ferry.  And in 1918, he listed as a barber who resided at 156 Northampton.
    When he registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his address as 331 Ferry, but said he was a machinist employed at Wm. Warton Jr. & Co. Inc. in Easton.  He is listed as being of medium height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes.
    The couple seems to have gotten divorced sometime before 1920.  In that year’s census, Emma is listed as 45 years old and divorced.  She was still living with her mother on Wilkes-Barre Street and working as a clerk in a department store.  Harry, age 22, was also living there while working as a machinist in a machinery shop.
    William has not yet turned up in the 1920 Census.
    In the 1930 Census, William appears to have been renting a room in Easton.  An Edward W. Bowers is listed as a roomer in the household of Matilda Gellocks at 327 Snyder in Easton.  He is listed as 55 years old, divorced and working as a baker.  Quite a bit of this information doesn’t quite match our William, but quite a bit does.  In addition, the address is the same address that appears on William’s death certificate 11 years later.
    In 1930, Emma is listed as living at 1009 Berwick St. in Easton.  She was listed as 57 years old and divorced.  No occupation is listed.  She owned her house, which was valued at $5,000.  Harry still lived with her.  He is listed as a 30-year-old machinist in a belt factory.
    It appears that William moved to the town of Tatamy in Northampton County sometime before 1935.  In the 1940 Census, he is listed a 65-year-old lodger in the household of Charles H. Young on Broad Street and had lived in the same house in 1935.  The census also indicates that William E. Bowers was a barber who had his own shop, was a widower and had completed one year of high school.
    It seems likely that Emma moved to the Northampton County Almshouse in Upper Nazareth Township by 1940.  That year’s census lists an Emma Bowers who was 66 years old and was divorced, which matches very well with our Emma. 
    William died Nov. 10, 1941 in Easton.  At the time of his death, his address was listed as 327 Snyder St. in Easton.  His son Harry Bowers served as the informant for the certificate and indicated that he lived at the same address.  William still had his own barber shop.
    William was buried at Easton Cemetery.
    Emma’s final records have not been located yet.
    (1) William Edgar’s parents and birth information appear on his death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The marriage is listed in “Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950,” FamilySearch.  Her parents are listed in the Pennsylvania death certificate of her sister Anna E. Eynon, who died April 14, 1925.  Emma served as the informant for the certificate, in which she is listed as “sister.”  The only record found so far that mentions Lillian is William’s death certificate from 1941.  The 1940 Census of Tatamy, Northampton County, Pa., indicates that he was widowed.  The reference to Lillian seems to be an error.  (3) Harry’s birth date comes from his World War I draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  He is listed as William and Emma’s son in the 1900 Census of Easton.  (4) The Easton directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.” 

WALTER and GRACE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Walter Scott Bower was born April 3, 1878, in Sulphur Springs, Ohio, to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married Grace H. Wilson about 1914.  She was born March 13, 1891, in Michigan to George and Anna Wilson. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Chester W., born 1915.
    Elizabeth, or Betty, born 1917.
    Edwin S., born 1920.
    John Hamlen, born July 23, 1924, and died April 26, 1930.
    Sometime between 1886 and 1889, Walter’s parents moved from Ohio to Petoskey in Emmet County, Mich. (4)  Walter appears in the 1900 Census as a 22-year-old pharmacist living in his parents’ household in Petoskey.  His father was a druggist and his brother Roy was also listed as a pharmacist.
    At some point between 1910 and 1913, Walter moved to Detroit.  He is listed in Detroit’s 1913 directory at working with “drugs” at 986 W. Warren Ave., and living at 986½ on the same street. (5)  Walter appears at the same place in the 1914 directory.  In addition, his brother Roy appears and is listed as the proprietor of Bower’s Drug Store.  It’s possible that Roy moved into the city and purchased a drug story in 1913, but it’s also possible that there was a mistake and he was left out of the 1913 directory.
    After marrying Grace, Walter moved, but worked at the same location.  When he registered for the World War I draft, he lived at 1012 West Warren.  He was a druggist with his own business, still at 986 West Warren.  He was described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and medium build, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. (6)
    In the 1919 Detroit directory, Walter is listed as vice president of Bower & Pitcher Drug Co. at 986 W. Warren Ave.  He lived at 1012 W. Warren Ave.
    The 1920 Census indicates that the family lived at the same address as in 1917 and owned the house.  Walter is listed as a 41-year-old proprietor of a drug store.  His family included Grace, age 28; Chester, age 4 years; and Betty, 2 years.  The household also contained Walter’s sister-in-law Elsie Moore, age 31, and her daughter Jessie, 8 years, 10 months.  Elsie had been born in Canada, where the Wilson family lived before Grace’s birth. (7)
    At some point before 1928, there seems to have been some sort of shakeup at the Bower’s Drug Stores.  By this point, there were two stores, one at 10158 E. Jefferson Ave. and another at 3000 W. Warrant Ave.  In that’s year’s directory, Walter still has “drugs” after his name, but Roy is listed as manager of Ferndale Pharmacy.  The listing for the Jefferson Avenue Bower’s Drug Store lists Wm. Elkin as branch manager while the West Warren Avenue store has the name “A. Eearl Bower” after it.   Walter S. Bower is was living at 3236 W. Warren Ave.  The family might have moved but it’s also possible that the houses were renumbered.
    In the 1930 Census, Walter is listed as a 52-year-old druggist in a drug store.  He owned a house valued at $12,000 at 3342 W. Warren Ave.  The family owned a radio.  Walter’s family consisted of Grace W., age 39; Chester, 14; Betty, 12; Teddy (Edwin), 10; and John, 5.  The census information was taken April 10 and John died a little more than two weeks later.
    In Detroit’s 1931 and 1934 directories, Walter S. Bower is listed as working with “drugs” at 3236 West Warren and he and Grace are listed as living at 3342 West Warren.  It’s unclear whether Walter was working at a branch of Bower’s Drug Store.  Their son Chester also appears in the 1934 directory.  The directory says he was a clerk at Bower’s Drug Store and lived with his parents.
    In the 1940 Census, Walter is listed as a 62-year-old proprietor of a retail drug store.  The census indicates that he had completed three years of college.  Grace W., was 49 and had completed two years of high school.  They still owned the house on West Warren, which was valued at $2,800.  There seems to have been some confusion.  Chester was originally written in and then his name was crossed out and Elizabeth’s name added.  That would seem to indicate that he no longer lived in the household.  Elizabeth, is listed as a 22-year-old sales clerks at a retail drug story.  She had completed two years of college.  Finally, Edwin S., is listed as a 20-year-old who had completed a year of college and was still attending school.
    Walter died June 5, 1941, in Detroit.
    Grace died Oct. 22, 1980, in Detroit.
    (1) Walter’s parents, birth date and birthplace appear on his death record, which is available at “Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” at FamilySearch. (2) The approximate marriage year comes from the 1930 Census of Detroit.  Grace’s maiden name is listed on her son John’s Michigan state death certificate.  Her parents are identified in the 1900 Census of Detroit.  Her birth date appears on her death record, which is available at Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records, “Michigan, Deaths, 1971-1996,” via Ancestry.com.  (3) The approximate birth years of the three oldest children are indicated in the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Detroit.  John’s birth and death dates appear on his Michigan state death certificate.  (5) The Detroit directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) The draft registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (7) The 1920 Census actually lists the children’s ages in years and months.  Unfortunately, the months can be difficult to decipher.  The transcription at Ancestry.com indicates that Chester was 4 years, 4 months, and Betty, 2 years, 4 months.  Since their census information was taken on Jan. 17, 1920, that would make Chester’s approximate time of birth roughly September 1915 and Grace’s September 1917.  However, it’s also very possible that the listing actually says that Chester was 4 years, 9 months old, which would put his birth time around April 1915.  That would correspond with a Chester W. Bower who appears in other Detroit records later in life.

ROY and BERYL BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Roy Markley Bower was born June 27, 1881, in Columbus, Ohio, to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married three times but only one union produced a child.  First, Roy married Anna L. King in 1907.  After they divorced, he married a woman named Beryl A. in 1917.  After they divorced, he married a woman named Margaret M. in the 1930s.
    Child of Roy and Beryl: Roy Jr., born about October 1917. (2)
    Sometime between 1886 and 1889, Walter’s parents moved from Ohio to Petoskey in Emmet County, Mich.  Roy appears in the 1900 Census as an 18-year-old pharmacist living in his parents’ household in Petoskey.  His father was a druggist and his brother Walter was also a pharmacist. (3)
    By 1903, Roy had moved to Detroit, where he is listed in the city directory as a clerk living at 290 W. Kirby Ave. (4) 
    On Jan. 1, 1907, Roy married his first wife, Anna L. King, in Petoskey. (4)
    Roy files for divorce from Anna on May 18, 1912, complaining of cruelty.  The divorce was granted on Dec. 19 of that year.  The divorce record says they had no children. (5)
    Roy married his second wife, Beryl A., on May 12, 18914. (6)
    In Detroit’s 1914 directory, Roy M. Bower is listed as proprietor of Bower’s Drug Store.  He lived at 1525 Hamilton Blvd.  His brother Walter is listed as working in “drugs” at an establishment at 986 W. Warren Ave., which is likely the location of Bower’s Drug Store.  In the following year’s directory, Roy and Walter are listed among the city’s druggists.
    When Roy registered for the World War I draft, he listed his residence as 284 Clairmont and his place of work as 1525 Hamilton Blvd.  It’s uncertain whether the listing in the 1914 directory was incorrect, or he lived above the drug store.  He was a self-employed pharmacist.  He is described as being medium height and weight and having brown eyes and brown hair. (7)
    In the 1920 Census, Roy M. Bauer is listed as a 38-year-old proprietor of a drug store.  He was renting a home at 511 Philip Ave. in Detroit.  His family consisted of Beryl A., age 25, and Roy J., 2 years, 3 months.  The household also included Lena Rakowski, a 29-year-old housemaid.
    At some point before 1928, there seems to have been some sort of shakeup at the Bower’s Drug Stores.  By this point, there were two stores, one at 10158 E. Jefferson Ave. and another at 3000 W. Warrant Ave.  In that’s year’s directory, Roy is listed as manager of Ferndale Pharmacy and living with Beryl at 501 Eastlawn Ave. in Detroit.  The listing for the Jefferson Avenue Bower’s Drug Store lists Wm. Elkin as branch manager while the West Warren Avenue store has the name “A. Eearl Bower” after it.  Roy’s brother Walter was still listed among the city’s druggists.
    Roy seems to have left the pharmacy business altogether by 1930.  In that year’s census, Roy is listed as 47-year-old automobile salesman.  His household consisted of Beryl A., age 34, and Roy Jr., 12.  The family was renting a house at 14052 Northlawn Ave.  They owned a radio.
    Roy and Beryl are listed at the same address in the 1931 directory, but no occupation is listed after Roy’s name. 
    On Sept. 27, 1933, Roy filed for divorce on grounds of desertion.  The divorce, which was uncontested, was granted June 18, 1934.
    In 1934, Roy doesn’t appear at all in the Detroit directory.
    At some point after 1934, Roy married a third time, to a woman named Margaret M.
    In that year’s census Roy Bower is listed as a 58-year-old pharmacist for a retail drug store.  The family was renting a house at 13164 Ohio Ave. in Detroit.  His household contained his wife Margaret M., age 49, and his stepson John B. Katrieb, 17, who was a salesman at a retail drug store.  Roy had completed two years of college and had an income of $2,600 the previous year.
    When Roy registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was living at 12620 Ilene in Detroit.   The registration card describes him as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 172 pounds, with hazel eyes, gray hair and a ruddy complexion.  Roy listed his employer as L.B. Dickhoul of 12924 Grand River in Detroit.  He also listed Dickhoul as a person who would always know how to contact him.  Most men listed their wives, which raises the question of whether Margaret had died in the previous two years or the couple had split up.
    Roy died Nov. 6, 1947 in Detroit. (8)
    (1) Roy’s parents, birth date and place are listed in his birth records at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  (2) Roy’s approximate birth year appears in the 1930 Census of Detroit.  He was 2 years, 3 months old when the census was taken on Jan. 9, 1920.  (3) The Detroit directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  The 1911 directory lists a Roy Bower was worked as a locksmith and lived at 472 Trumbull Ave.  Although this is the only Roy appearing in the directory, the job doesn’t seem to be a good fit.  However, it’s certainly possible that Roy got sidetracked.  (4) The marriage is recorded in Ancestry.com, “Web: Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012.”  (5) The divorced appears in Ancestry.com, “Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952.”  (6) The marriage to Beryl is recorded in the divorce record at Ancestry.com, “Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952.”  (7) The registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (6) Roy’s World War II draft registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (8) Roy’s death information is available at “Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” at FamilySearch.

ARCHIE and FRANK BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Archie Earl Bowers born Oct. 13, 1885, in Ohio to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married twice, but only one union produced children.  In 1909, Archie married Mae Zoe Hardy.  After they divorced, he married a woman named Frank Pack in 1921.
    Children of Archie and Frank: (2)
    Ferrell B., born March 9, 1922.
    A daughter who was born about 1926.
    While Archie was a child, his family moved from Ohio to Petoskey in Emmet County, Mich.  In the 1900 Census, Archie is listed as a 14-year-old schoolboy in his parents’ household in Petoskey.
    On April 14, 1909, Archie married Mae Zoe Hardy in Detroit.  Mae was born in 1884 in Canada to John R. and Charlotte (Battrem) Hardy. (3)
    In the 1910 Census, Earl A. Bower is listed as a 24-year-old “cost keeper” for an auto manufacturing company.  He was renting a house at 1379 McKinley Ave. in Detroit.  In addition to May Z., age 26, his household included his brothers Ray E., a 20-year-old house carpenter, and Clyde K., an 18-year-old office worker for an insurance company, who was also attending school.  In that year’s city directory, A. Earl Bower is listed as a bookkeeper for Gemmer Manufacturing Co.
    An Archie E. Bower is listed in Detroit’s 1915 directory as a clerk for W.H. Bower and living at 1227 W. Warren. (4)
    When he registered for the World War I draft in 1917, Archie was living at 1855 Mack Ave. in St. Clair Heights in Wayne County.  He was working as a self-employed confectioner working from his own home.  He was described as being of medium height and stout build, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
    On Aug 6, 1919, Archie filed for divorce from Mae, claiming extreme cruelty.  The divorce was granted in Detroit on Sept. 9. (5)
    After the divorce, Archie moved to Lansing in Ingham County, Mich.
    In the 1920 Census, Archie is listed as a 36-year-old watchman for a contractor.  He was living as a boarder in the household of Joe Colby on Moore’s River Drive in Lansing.
    On Feb. 14, 1921, Archie married a woman named Frank M. Pack.  She was born about November 1894, in West Virginia to William and Charlotte (Ferrell) Pack. (6)
    Archie died May 12, 1929, in Detroit. (7)
    In the 1930 Census, Archie’s family was renting a home at 1499 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit.  His widow is listed as Henretta Bowers for some reason.  She was 32 years old and had no occupation.  Her children are listed as Farrrell, age 8, and a 4-year-old daughter.  The household also contained two boarders, Hilbert and Bertha McCafferty.
    About 1932, Frank married Francis G. Rice.
    In the 1940 Census, Frank M. Rice, age 45, is listed as living with her husband Francis G. Rice at 5926 Stanton Ave. in Detroit.  Francis was an “exper engineer” at an automobile plant.  The household contained Archie’s children, listed as Farrel B. Bougher, 18, and a 14-year-old daughter.  In addition, Francis and Frank had a 7-year-old son.
    Archie’s first wife also shows up in the 1940 Census.  May Bower is listed as a 56-year-old house cleaner living at 881 Paennett in Ferndae, Oakland County, Mich. She was living with her mother, Charlotte C. Hardy, age 77.  Interestingly, the census indicates that Mae was widowed, rather than divorced.
    (1) Archie’s parents are indentified in his marriage records, which are available at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  His birth date appears on his draft registration card at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (2) The children are identified in the 1930 Census of Detroit, which lists their parents and approximate birth dates.  Ferrell’s birth date appears in his Social Security death record at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  (3) Mae’s parents are named in her marriage record.  Her birth date and place are listed in the 1910 Census.  (4) The Detroit directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) The divorce is found at Ancestry.com, “Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952.”  (6) The marriage as well as Frank’s birthplace and parents’ names are listed at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  Her approximate date of birth is listed in the 1900 Census of Moundsville, Marshall County, W.Va.  (7) His death is listed at “Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” at FamilySearch.  He is listed as Arthur Earl Bower, son of Ruben T. Bower and Josephine Keller, born 13 Oct 1885.  Although His first name and his mother's maiden name are incorrect, there's no doubt that this is the correct man.

RALPH and GRACE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Ralph Dwight Bower was born Dec. 31, 1886, in Damascus Township, Henry County, Ohio, to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married twice.  Ralph married Grace A. Prescott in 1906.  After she died in 1936, he married Jessie Greer.
    Children of Ralph and Grace: (2)
    Ruth Markley, born May 2, 1907.  Married John Camp.
    Hollis, born about 1909.
    Hubert R., born about 1915.
    A daughter born about 1922.
    While Ralph was still a child, the family moved from Ohio to Petoskey in Emmet County, Mich.   Ralph is listed as a 13-year-old schoolboy in his father’s household at 215 W. Mitchell St. in Petoskey.
    The family moved to Detroit at some point before 1903 when his father appears in the city’s directory as a druggist.  In the 1905 directory, Reuben’s drug store is listed at 1167 W. Warren Ave.  The family lived at 1304 24^th.  Ralph and his brother Ray as listed as helpers, presumably at the drug store. (3)
    Ralph married Grace A. Prescott on June 12, 1906, in Detroit, Mich.  Grace was born Nov. 12, 1884, in Michigan, to Louis C. and Julia (Smith) Prescott.  (4)
    In the 1909 Detroit directory, Ralph is listed as a box maker living at 1330 McKinley Ave.
    At some point between the birth of Hollis in 1909 and Hubert in 1915, the Bower family moved to Florida.  In the 1920 Census, R.D. Bowers is listed as a 33-year-old farmer with a truck farm in Starke, Bradford County, Fla.  He owned the farm on Kingsley Lake Road.  His household included Grace, age 34; Ruth, 12; Hollis, 10; and Hubert, 5.
    Between 1920 and 1925, the family moved to Gainesville in Alachua County, Fla.  In the 1925 city directory, Ralph D. and Grace Bower as living at 342 W. Court.  Ralph is listed as a shipping clerk for “Baird Hdw Co.”  Hollis E. Bower is also listed as a student living at the same address.
    When the 1930 Census was taken, Ralph and Grace appear to have had a full house, with Ruth and her husband also living at 204 W. Arredondo St. in Gainesville.  Ralph is listed as a 43–year-old house carpenter.  Ralph’s family included Grace, age 45; Hollis, a 21-year-old house carpenter; Hubert, 15; and an 8-year-old daughter.  Ruth was 22 and her husband John Camp was a 26-year-old university instructor.  In addition, a George Camp – probably John’s brother – lived in the household.
    Between 1930 and 1935, Ralph and Grace moved from Gainesville to Tampa.  In the 1935 Tampa directory, Ralph D. and Grace A. Bower lived at 404 E. Francis Ave.  Their son Hubert R. lived at the same address.  Ralph worked for Wonder Oil Station and Hubert was a serviceman for Fletcher Radio Sales and Service. (5)
    The 1935 Florida state census also lists the family at 404 E. Francis.  The household contained Ralph D. Bower, age 48, whose occupation is listed as “Motor oil”; Mrs. Ralph D., 50; Hubert R., 20, whose occupation is listed as “Radio”; and a 13-year-old daughter, who was a student. The family rented their home.
    Grace died Feb. 15, 1936 in Tampa. She is buried at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. (6)
    In the 1936 Tampa directory, Ralph is listed as working in “oils” at a company on 6807 Nebraska Ave. and living at 603 W. Warren Ave.  Hubert is listed as a serviceman and living at the same address as his father.
    On March 27, 1937, Ralph married Jessie Greer in Hillsborough County, Fla.  It’s likely that Jessie was the Jessie Florence Greer who is listed in the 1930 Census in the household of John B. Greer of Tampa and in the 1910 Census in DeView, Woodruff County, Ark.  This Jesse was born about 1904 in Arkansas. (7)
    In the 1940 Census, Ralph is listed as a 53-year-old station supervisor for an oil company.  He rented a house at 104 Giddens in Tampa.  His family included Jessie, age 36, and an 18-year-old daughter.  Ralph had completed the second year of high school.  Jessie had completed her second year of high school and worked as a bookkeeper for a telephone company.
    In the 1945 Florida state census, 58-year-old R.D. Bower and his 41-year-old unnamed wife are listed as living at 201 W. Curtis in Tampa.  Both had attended high school and worked as clerks.
    Ralph died July 7, 1981, in Hillsborough County, Fla. (8)
    (1) Ralph’s birth information and parents are listed in his birth records, which are available at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  Some records say he was born in the village of McClure, which falls within Damascus Township.  (2) Ruth’s birth date, parents and husband are listed in her obituary, which is available at Ancestry.com, “United States Obituary Collection.”  Hollis’ approximate year of birth is listed in the 1930 Census of Gainesville, Fla.  It’s possible that he is the Hollis Eberly Bower who is listed in the “Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” at Ancestry.com.  That man was born Jan. 23, 1909, and died April 20, 2008 in Pasco, Fla.  Hubert and Jean’s approximate birth years also appears in the 1930 Census of Gainesville.  (3) The city directories are at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) The marriage is listed in the Michigan marriage records at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  Grace’s birth information and parents are listed in “Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939,” at FamilySearch.  (5) The state censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Florida, State Census, 1867-1945.”  (6) Grace’s tombstone, which can be seen at Findagrave.com.  (7) The marriage to Jessie is listed at “Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993,” at FamilySearch.  Jessie’s year of birth is listed on her tombstone at Findagrave.com and her place of birth is listed in the 1940 Census of Tampa, Fla.  (8) Ralph’s death is listed in Ancestry.com, “ Florida Death Index, 1877-1998.”

RAY and LELA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Ray Elwood Bower was born July 10, 1889, in Petoskey, Emmet County, Mich., to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married Lela M. Hoskin on July 23, 1919, in Detroit.  Lela was born about 1889 in Canada, the daughter of Charles W. Hoskin.  Lela had moved from Canada to the United States in 1914. (2)
    Children: The couple had daughters who were born about 1918, 1921, 1922 and 1924. (3)
    At some point before 1903, the family moved from Petoskey to Detroit.  In that year, Ray’s father appears in city’s directory as a druggist.  In the 1905 directory, Reuben’s drug store is listed at 1167 W. Warren Ave.  The family lived at 1304 24^th St.  Ray and his brother Ralph as listed as helpers, presumably at the drug store. (4)
    In the 1909 directory, Ray is listed as a carpenter and still living at his parents’ home on 24^th.
    In the 1910 Census, Ray and Clyde moved in with their brother Archie and his wife.  They lived at 1379 McKinley Ave. in Detroit.  Ray is listed as a 20-year-old house carpenter.  It appears Ray changed jobs and homes partway through the year.  In that year’s city directory, Ray is listed as a clerk who roomed at 1145 Concord Ave.
    Ray enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on July 19, 1911. (5)  He spent the bulk of his enlistment assigned to the battleship USS Connecticut.  Ray E. Bower appears on the list of privates on the July 1911 muster roll of the officers and men assigned to the Marine Officers School at Port Royal, S.C.  In November 1911, he was transferred to the USS Connecticut.  He is listed as a private and marksman aboard the battleship until he was promoted to corporal in October 1913.  After serving aboard the battleship for several years, he was assigned to the Marine Barracks at the Charleston Navy Yard in South Carolina.  In July 1915, the barracks muster roll notes that Cpl. Ray E. Bower was being discharged.  He had served his full enlistment and displayed excellent character.
    After his discharge, Ray returned to Detroit. 
    In Detroit’s 1917 directory, Ray is listed as a confectioner living and working at 1885 Mack Ave.  When he registered for the World War I draft in that year, he indicated that he was a self-employed storekeeper at that address.  He mentions that he had already served in the Marine Corps for four years.  He is described as tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair.
    It seems that Ray had some sort of connection with the U.S. Army during World War I.  The 1918 Detroit directory lists “USA” after his name, but he’s listed as still living at 1855 Mack Ave.  But in 1919, Ray is again listed as a confectioner at that address.
    In the 1920 Census, Ray E. Bower is listed as a 30-year-old druggist in a drug store.  His family included Lela M., age 23, and a daughter who was 1 year and 10 months old.  They lived at the home on Mack Avenue.  In Detroit’s 1920 directory, Ray and his brother Clyde appear to be in charge of one branch of Bower’s Drug Store, while his brother Roy is in charge of another branch.
    In the 1930 Census, Ray is listed as a 41-year-old prescription clerk in a drug store.  His family consisted of Lela M., age 34, and daughters who were 12, 10, 9 and 7.  They were renting a home at 10038 Monica Ave. in Detroit.
    In the following year’s Detroit directory, Ray is listed as the store manager of Morris & Travis Drug Co. Inc.  At some point during the 1920s, there was some sort of shakeup at the Bower’s Drug Stores.  The stores are listed under other managers and the brothers are seen at other stores.
    In the 1940 Census, Roy is listed as the 50-year-old owner of a retail drug store.  His family consisted of Lela M., age 44, and daughters who were 22, 19, 18 and 16.  The family lived at 2674 Tuxedo Ave. in Detroit, which was the same house where they had lived in 1935.  Roy had completed two years of college.
    When Ray registered for the World War II draft, he listed his address as 2640 Glynn in Detroit.  The registration mentions that he was in business with Clyde K. Bower, who was listed as a contact.  Their business was at 10251 Linwood.  Ray is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall and 130 pounds.  He had hazel eyes, gray hair and a light complexion. (6)
    In the 1954 directory of East Detroit, Ray is listed as a pharmacist at Collins Drug Store.  He and Lela were living at 14989 Veronica.  In 1957 East Detroit directory, Ray was still connected with the Collins Drug Store.
    Ray died in July 1964. (7)
    (1) Ray’s birth information and parents are listed at “Michigan, Births, 1867-1902,” FamilySearch.  (2) The marriage information and Lena’s approximate birth year, birthplace and parents are listed in the record of her marriage to Ray, which is available at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  The moved to the United States is noted in the 1920 Census of Detroit.  (3) The daughters’ approximate birth years are listed in the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Detroit.  (4) The city directories are at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Ray’s World War I draft registration card mentions that he had served in the Marines for four years.  The USS Connecticut muster rolls appear at   The registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (6) The draft information is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (7) His death is recorded at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”

CLYDE and ALICE BOWER
 (Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Clyde Keller Bower was born April 29, 1891, in Petoskey, Emmet County, Mich., to Reuben Thomas and Josephine (Markley) Bower. (1)
    Married Alice Millspaugh on Dec. 10, 1919, in Detroit.  Alice was born about 1896 in Michigan to Theodore and Mary (Foxon) Millspaugh. (2)
    Children: The couple had sons who were born about 1922 and 1928. (3)
    Clyde spent much of his childhood in Petoskey, where he appears in the 1900 Census as a 9-year-old schoolboy living in his father’s household at 215 W. Mitchell St. in Petoskey.  At some point before 1903, his family moved to Detroit. In that year, Clyde’s father appears in city’s directory as a druggist.
    In Detroit’s 1909 city directory, “Claude Bower” is listed as a student living at 1304 24^th St., which was his parents’ address.  (4)
    Over the next few years, Clyde moved around quite a bit, often living with his siblings and working as a clerk.
    Clyde is actually listed twice in the 1910 Census.  Although unusual, it happened when a family moved during the census-taking period.  In an entry made April 19, Clyde and his brother Ray are listed in the household of their brother Archie and his wife at 1379 McKinley in Detroit.  Clyde was an 18-year-old office worker for an insurance company.  On May 4, Clyde is listed as a 19–year-old bookkeeper for a life insurance company and residing at 158 Windemere Ave. in Highland Park, Hamtramck Township, Wayne County.  He was living in the household of John Fielding, who was the husband of his sister Myrtle.  John was an architect with his own office.  In addition, the household contained Myrtle and Clyde’s sister Clara, who was a 26–year-old working in a real estate office.
    In Detroit’s 1910 directory, Clyde K. Bower is listed as a clerk at Commercial Blue Printing and Draughting Co. and living at 158 Windemere Ave.  Clara E. Bower was listed as a stenographer for Lambrecht, Kelly & Co. and living at the same address.
    In the 1912 directory, Clyde is listed as a clerk living at 984½ W. Warren Ave.  In the following year’s directory, his listing is the same, but it’s revealed that the address is the same as his parents’.
    In the 1915 directory, Clyde is listed as a druggist living at 1028 Merrick Ave.  From this point on, Clyde is associated with drug stores.
    In the 1919 directory, Clyde was the branch manager of Bowers & Pitcher Drug Co.  He lived at 2231 Cahalan Ave.  His brother Walter is listed as the vice president of the company at 986 W. Warren Ave.
    In the following year’s census, Clyde is listed as a 38-year-old druggist in a drug store.  He and his new wife Alice, age 23, were renting a home at 834 Lillibridge Ave. in Detroit.
    In Detroit’s 1920 directory, Ray and his brother Clyde appear to be in charge of one branch of Bower’s Drug Store, while their brother Roy is in charge of another branch.
    In 1928, the directory lists Clyde and Alice living at 11115 Mack Ave. and Clyde working as a druggist at the same address.  In directories from the early 1930s, their listing remained basically same, though their surname was spelled “Bowers” in the 1930 directory.
    In the 1940 Census, Clyde is listed as a 48-year-old druggist in a drug store. His family included Alice, age 43, and sons who were an 18-year-old drug store clerk and 12 years old.  They owned their home at 10933 Mack Ave., which was valued at $8,000.  Clyde and Alice had each completed two years of high school.  Robert was in his first year of college.
    When Clyde registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he lived at 10933 Mack Ave. and was self-employed with a business at the same address.  He is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 180 pounds.  He had blue eyes, blonde hair and a light complexion.
    In the 1951 directory of East Detroit, Clyde is listed as being in charge of Bower’s Drug Store at 21301 Gratiot Ave.  He and Alice lived at 15308 Troester.
    Alice died in 1953. (5)
    In the 1954 East Detroit, Clyde’s information is basically the same except Alice is not included in the listing.
    In 1957, he appears in the Detroit telephone directory.
    Clyde died in 1958.
    Clyde and Alice are buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit.
    (1) Clyde’s birth date and place are listed in his World War II draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  His parents are identified in the 1900 Census of Petoskey, Mich.  (2) The wedding information as well as Alice’s approximate birth year, birthplace and parents are listed in the marriage record, which is available at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  (3) The sons and their approximate birth years are listed in the 1940 Census of Detroit.  (4) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com., “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  Another Clyde K. Bower is listed in this directory and several others, which sometimes makes identification difficult.  (5) Alice and Clyde’s death years and burial locations can be found at Findagrave.com.

HOMER and DELIA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John)
    Homer Andrew Bower was born Sept. 4, 1870, in Crawford County, Ohio, to John Henry and Mary Ann (Hess) Bower. (1)
    Married Delia Irene Hall on Oct. 11, 1893, in Decatur, Van Buren County, Mich.  Delia was born April 17, 1871, in Decatur, Mich., to William and Marian (Watson) Hall. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Lisle Guy, born Aug. 28, 1895.
    Lynn Allen, born Feb. 10, 1897.
    Carlyn Homer, born Nov. 28, 1902.
    Mary M., born 1910.
    Ruth M., born 1911.  Married a man named Kahler.
    While Homer was young, his family moved to Pokagon Township, Cass County, Mich., where he is listed as a 9-year-old living in his parents’ household.
    At the time Homer and Delia were married, he was a telegraph operator and she was a teacher.
    After they were married, the couple appears to have moved in with Delia’s mother, Marian Hall, in Decatur.  In the 1900 Census, Homer is listed as a 29-year-old telegrapher living in Marian Hall’s household.  His family included Delia, age 29; Lisle, 4; and Lynn, 2.  The household also included Marian’s sons – Henry, Louis and Frank – and a servant named Ralph Ketcham.
    During the first decade of the twentieth century, the family moved to California.  In the 1910 Census, Homer is listed as a 40-year-old telegrapher for a railroad.  He was living on Tulane Street in Delano, Kern County, Calif.  His family consisted of Delia, age 38; Lisle G., 14; Lynn A., 13; Carlyn H., 7; and Mary M., 7 months.  In addition Henry F. Hall, age 51, lived with the family and was a farmer.  The census also indicates that Delia had given birth to five children but only four were still alive.
    About this time, Homer served in government office.  The California State roster of government and military records indicates that Homer served as a trustee in Delano in 1909 and in city government in 1911. (4)
    In the 1911 city directory for Bakersfield, Calif., Homer A. Bower is listed as an agent for SP Co. living in Delano. (5)
    In 1920, the census lists Homer as a 49-year-old cashier at a bank.  His family included Delia I, age 48; Carlyn H., 17; Mary M, 10; and Ruth M, 9.  They still lived on Tulane Street in Delano.  Lynn and has wife Jessie lived next door.
    In California’s 1920-1922 voter registration record, Homer A Bower is listed as an insurance agent in Delano.  Mrs. Delia I. Bower was registered there too.  He was a Republican and she was a Democrat. (6)  In a separate set of records from 1920-1922, Homer is listed as a cashier.
    In the 1930 Census, Homer is listed as a 59-year-old agent of some sort (the industry is not decipherable).  His family consisted of Delia, age 58; Marian, 20; and Ruth M, 19.  They lived at 1530 10^th Ave. in Delano.  Interestingly Mary (Marian) is also listed in the household of Homer’s brother Guy, who lived in Seattle, Wash.  While unusual, such double listings occurred when there was a gap of a few days between recorders’ visits and the person had moved.  The Seattle listing was made April 3 and the California listing was made April 16.
    In the 1940 Census, Homer is listed as a 69-year-old insurance man.  He owned a house at 1516 10^th Ave., which was valued at $2,500.  His household included Delia, age 69, and their daughter Ruth Kahler, 29.  The census indicates that Ruth was married and a bookkeeper in a metal shop.  Homer and Delia each had an eighth-grade education.
    In the 1942-1944 voter lists from Delano, Homer is listed as an insurance agent and a Republican.  Delia is listed as a housewife and a Democrat.
    Delia died Jan. 13, 1951, in Kern County.  Homer died May 17, 1953, in Marin County, Calif.   They are buried at North Kern Cemetery in Delano. (7)
    (1) Homer’s birth information and parents are listed in his birth records at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  (2) The marriage information is listed at “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  Delia’s birth information and mother’s maiden name are listed in her death record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  Her father is identified in her marriage record.  Her mother is presumably the Marian Hall who was the head of the household in which she lived in 1880 and 1900.  Delia is listed as her daughter and Lisle and Lynn are listed as grandsons.  (3) Lisle and Lynn’s birth dates are listed in their World War I draft records, which are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Carlyn’s birth information is available at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  The daughters’ approximate years of birth are indicated in the 1930 Census of Delano, Kern County, Calif.  (4) Graden, Debra, comp., “California State Roster, 1911 Government and Military records,” which is available at Ancestry.com.  (5) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) The voter registration records are at Ancestry.com, “California State Roster, 1909 Government and Military records.”  (7) Homer and Delia’s death records are available at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  The burials are noted at Findagrave.com.

RODERICK and PHOEBE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John)
    Roderick Burr Bower was born Oct. 10, 1872, in Crawford County, Ohio, to John Henry and Mary Ann (Hess) Bower. (1)
    Married Phoebe E. Settle on March 25, 1903, in Seattle.  Phoebe was the daughter of Simeon A. and Anna Marie Settle. (2)
    Roderick and Phoebe do not appear to have had any children.
    While Roderick was young, his family moved to Pokagon Township, Cass County, Mich., where he is listed as a 7-year-old living in his parents’ household in the 1880 Census.
    Roderick’s family moved to Seattle, Wash., before 1903, when he married Phoebe.
    After Roderick and Phoebe married, they appear to have moved in with John and Mary Ann Bower.  In the 1906 directory of Seattle, Roderick is listed as a barber conducting business at 801 Railroad Ave.  Mrs. Phebe E. Bower is listed as a clerk at Model Electric Laundry.  Both are listed as living at 118 W. Howe, which is the same address as Roderick’s father.  (3) 
    In the 1910 Census, Roderick is listed as a 37-year-old barber who worked in a shop and Phoebe as a 20-year-old bookkeeper in a laundry office.  They owned their home in Seattle (the address is unreadable).  The census indicates that Phoebe had not give birth to any children.
    During the late 1910s and 1920s, Roderick seems to have switched occupations several times.
    When Roderick registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he lived at 114 W. 48^th St. in Seattle.  He was working for a wholesale fish company called Alaska Fish Co., which was based in the Pioneer Building in Seattle.  He is described as being of medium height and build and having blue eyes and brown hair. (4)
    In the 1918 Seattle directory, Roderick and Phoebe are listed as the same home address but Roderick is again listed as a barber.
    In the 1920 Census, Roderick is listed as a 47-year-old proprietor of a shoe-repair shop.  Phoebe was the 39-year-old bookkeeper at the shoe shop.  They still lived owned the house on West 48^th Street.
    In Seattle’s directories for 1921 and 1922, Roderick is listed as a shoemaker or shoe repairer at 216 Union and living on 48^th Street.  In 1927, 1929 and 1930, Roderick is listed as a barber with a shop at 101 Cherry and again living at 114 W. 48^th.
    In the 1930 Census, Roderick is listed as a 57-year-old barber with his own shop.  Phoebe was 50.  Their house on 48^th Street was valued at $4,000.  They owned a radio.
    In Seattle’s 1933 and 1934 directories, Roderick is listed as a barber with a shop at 611½ 3^rd Ave. and living at the address on 48^th.
    At some point during the late 1930s, the couple moved to Lexington in Cowlitz County, Wash., and bought a grocery store.
    In the 1940 Census, Roderick was the 67-year-old proprietor of a retail grocery.  Phoebe was 60.  The household also contained Phoebe’s mother, Anna M. Settle, age 84.  They lived on west Side Highway in Lexington  The census indicates that Roderick had completed eight years of education and Phoebe had completed three years of college.
    Roderick died Sept. 20, 1942, in Kelso in Cowlitz County. (5)
    Phoebe died in Vancouver, Wash., on March 26, 1976.
    (1) Roderick’s birth information and parents are listed in his birth records at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  (2) The marriage record is available at Ancestry.com, “Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004.”  Phoebe’s parents are listed in the 1880 Census of Belleville, Republic County, Kan., and 1900 Census of Seattle, King County, Wash.  In addition, her mother lived with her in 1940, according to that year’s census of Seattle.  (3) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) The World War I draft records are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (5)  Roderick and Phoebe’s death records are available at Ancestry.com, “Washington Death Index, 1940-1996.”

GUY and NELLIE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John)
    Guy Haines Bower was born Sept. 27, 1874, in Ohio to John Henry and Mary Ann (Hess) Bower. (1)
    Married Nellie M. Buck about 1897 in Kent County, Mich.  Nellie was born in 1876 in Michigan to Eli S. and Eveline J. Buck. (2)
    Guy and Nellie do not appear to have had any children.
    While Guy was young, his family moved to Pokagon Township, Cass County, Mich., where he is listed as a 5-year-old living in his parents’ household in the 1880 Census.
    At some point before 1913, Guy and Nellie moved to Seattle, Wash.  In that year’s Seattle directory, the couple was listed as living at 1910 E. Fir.  Guy’s occupation is listed as “police.”
    When Guy registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was still living on Fir and serving as a police officer.  He is described as 5 feet, 10 ½ inches tall and stout, with gray eyes and light hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Guy is listed as a 45-year-old city policeman who owned a house at 211 W. 62^nd.  Nellie is listed as 43 years old.
    At some point before 1925, Guy moved and switched jobs.  In Seattle’s 1925 directory, he is listed as a contractor living at 4621 Sunnyside Ave.  The 1929 directory lists the same address for the couple but doesn’t list an occupation for Guy.
    In the 1930 Census, Guy is listed as 55 years old and Nellie was 53.  Guy was listed as having no occupation.  They owned their home on Sunnyside, which was valued at $5,500.  They owned a radio.  Their household included Mary M. Bower a 20-year-old niece who had been born in California.  Mary was the daughter of Homer Bower, guy’s brother.  Interestingly, Mary also appears in her parents’ census listing in Delano, Calif.  While unusual, such double listings occurred when there was a gap of a few days between recorders’ visits and the person had moved.  The Seattle listing was made April 3 and the California listing was made April 16.
    In the directories from 1931 to 1935, Guy continues to be listed without an occupation.  However, in 1936, he is listed as a salesman.
    In the 1940 Census, Guy is listed as a 65-year-old traveling salesman for “own auto concern.”  An additional listing at the bottom of the form says that his “usual occupation” was at an “auto store.”  He had attended school through the eighth grade.  Nellie is listed as a 63-year-old tailor with her own shop.  She attended one year of high school.  They still owned their home on Sunnyside.  
    Guy died Oct. 3, 1941, in Seattle.
    Nellie died in January 1957. (4)
    (1) Guy’s birth date appears on his World War I draft records, which are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents are listed in his death record at Ancestry.com, “Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960.”  (2) The marriage record is available at Ancestry.com, “Web: Kent County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1842-1929,” but it doesn’t give the date of marriage.  The approximate year of marriage comes from the 1930 Census of Seattle.  Her parents are identified in the 1880 Census of Paris Township, Kent County, Mich.  (3) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) Her death is listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”

ARCHER and ELLA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John)
    Archer A. Bower was born June 10, 1876, in Ohio to John Henry and Mary Ann (Hess) Bower. (1)
    Married twice, to Ella L. Johnson and to Adele E. Trujillo. (See below.)
    Children of Archer and Ella: (2)
    Roderick B., born in 1901.
    John A., born about 1907.
    William Harold, born about 1912.
    John E., born about 1914.
    While Archer was young, his family moved to Pokagon Township, Cass County, Mich., where “Arthur” is listed as a 4-year-old living in his parents’ household in the 1880 Census.  In the 1894 state census of Michigan, Archer appears as an 18-year-old in his parents’ household in Grand Rapids, Mich. (3)
    In the 1900 Census, Archer is listed twice.  Double listings are unusual but can occur when a person moved between visits by the census taker – or was mistakenly listed under a parent’s address.  In a listing made June 1, Archer A. Bower is listed as a boarder in an establishment operated by Henry Ross in Grand Rapids.  He was a student and a clerk.  In a listing made June 11, Archer A. Bower is listed as living in his parents’ home in Grand Rapids.  He was employed as a club manager.  In both listings, the approximate birth dates are listed as June 1876 and birthplaces of the parents match up.
    On Aug. 2, 1900, Archer married Ella L. Johnson in Grand Rapids.  Ella was born about 1878 in New York to Andrew B. and Jennie Johnson. (4)  At the time of their wedding, Archer was employed as a bookkeeper and Ella as a milliner.
    In the 1910 Census, Archer is listed as a 34-year-old bookkeeper for Traugher or Fraugher Co.  His family consisted of Ella, age 32; Roddrick, 8; and John A., 3.  Ella had given birth to two children.  In addition, Ella’s mother, Jennie E. La Pres, age 58, also lived in the household.  He has given birth to three children but only one was still alive.  They rented a home at 6051 2nd Ave. North West in Seattle.
    The 1910 Census also provides some clues about the family’s movements during the previous decade.  They moved away from Michigan after 1901, when Roddrick was born.  And they apparently lived in Alaska around 1907, when John was born.
    In Seattle’s 1910 directory, Archer is listed as a bookkeeper for the Arctic Club. (5)
    The following year, Archer is listed as a bookkeeper for Globe Transfer & Storage Co., living at 211 W. 62nd.  The family lived at that address until at least 1918.  In 1914, he was a bookkeeper for R.E. McConaghy Transportation and Storage Co.  In 1916, he was a manager for Commercial Creditors Association.  In 1917, Archer appears in the listing of “agents” in the Seattle directory, with an office at 201 Lyon Building.
    Soon after this, it seems that Archer and Ella separated. 
    When Archer registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his address as 118 W. Howe in Seattle, which was his mother’s address.  In addition, he listed him mother as his nearest relative.  He worked as a self-employed public accountant.  He was described as tall with a medium build, blues eyes and light hair. (6)
    In Seattle’s 1918 directory, Archer is listed as a manager at Commercial Creditors Association at 648 New York Building.  Ella is still listed as his spouse and 211 W. 62nd is still listed as his address.  However, this might indicate that the separate had not yet been formalized.
    The couple was divorce at some point before the spring of 1920.
    Archer married his second wife, Adele Eloisa Garriott, on April 15, 1920. (7)  Adele was born about 1890 in New Mexico and had married Ora A. Garriott at some point before 1910.  She appears in the 1920 Census in Seattle as a 30-year-old saleslady at a dry goods store who rented a home at Roanoke.  She had a daughter named Leora D., age 11.  The form seems to indicate that she was divorced. (8)
    In the 1920 Census, Ella and the children are listed as living in a rented house at 2602 1st Ave. North in Seattle.  Ella is listed as 41 years old and divorced.  Her family consisted of Roderick B., 22; John, age 12; and Harold W., 8.  Each member of the household has “none” listed in the occupation column on the form.
    The following year, Ella married for a second time.  She was wedded to James F. Border on June 1, 1921 in King County, Wash.  The 1920 Census indicates that James was 44 years old in that year, was employed as a streetcar conductor and was widowed.
    I have been unable to locate Archer in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses. However, his movements can be traced through city directories.
    In 1925, Archer and Adele were living at 118 W. Howe in Seattle along with his mother Mary.  Archer was a salesman for LC Allison.
    Soon after this, the Bowers moved to a small town near Olympia, Wash. In 1927, Archer A. Bower and his wife Adele E. appear in the Olympia directory within the portion covering the small town of Shelton.  It lists his occupation as a manager for Mrs. Jeanette O’Neill and his residence as Hillcrest.  Mrs. O’Neill is listed as the widow of Thomas and she dealt in general merchandise at 1st and Railroad Ave.
    In 1929, Archer served as the mayor of the town of Shelton.  That year’s directory lists him as having the same occupation and residence as the 1927 directory but also notes that he was the “mayor of Shelton.”  The directory gives a brief description of the town: “The county seat of Mason County, situated on the extreme southwestern arm of Puget Sound, is a prosperous and growing town.  Shelton was incorporated in 1890 and is governed by a Mayor and Council consisting of five members.”  It notes that the town is “surrounded by magnificent forests of fir and cedar.  Logging and the manufacture of lumber and shingles are carried on extensively.”  It had a population of 2,000.
    In the 1930 directory, Archer is again listed as mayor and his residence is listed as the O’Neill Apartments.  He also is listed as operating Bower Super Service, an auto dealership at 1st and Railroad Ave., which was the same corner as the O’Neill business.
    In the 1930 Census, Ella and her children are listed in the household of her second husband.  James F. Border is listed as a 58-year-old streetcar conductor who owned a house at 1110 W. 75th in Seattle.  The household also contained Ella L., age 52; Roderick, a 28-year-old electrician in a department store; John A., 22-year-old laborer; and William H., an 18-year-old laborer for a toy manufacturer. The 1930 Census also includes a 16-year-old boy identified as a step-son named "John E. Bower," but relatives say there was no fourth Bower brother. It's uncertain who this person was or what his relationship with the family truly was. Census mistakes of this nature were alarmingly common.
    By 1934, Archer and Adele had moved back to Seattle.  Archer is listed as an agent for Great Northwest Life Insurance Co.  They lived at 420 Vine, apartment 203.  In 1936, A.A. Bower is listed as a salesman who lived with his wife at 1019 Terry Ave., apartment 112.
    It is unknown where or whether Archer is listed in the 1940 Census, but an Adele Bower is listed as living by herself at 1434½ Allesandro St. in Los Angeles and was working as a clerk.  She was 49 years old, married and had lived in Seattle five years before, which matches up well with the correct Adele Bower.  However, she was born in Colorado – instead of New Mexico – but it’s possible that a mistake was made.
    In the 1940 Census, Ella and two of her sons again appear in James Border’s household.  James was 66 and had no occupation listed.  Ella was 62.  They rented a house at 7721 11th Ave. North West.  Their family included R.B. (Roderick), a 37-year-old electrician, and John L., a 32-year-old laborer in road construction.  Although James doesn’t have an occupation listed in the 1940 Census, the 1941 Seattle directory indicates that he was a “trainman,” which probably indicates he was still a streetcar conductor.
    Ella died on Feb. 9, 1946 in Seattle.
    Archer reappears in the available records in 1949, when he is listed in the directory for Stockton, Calif.  Archer and Adele are listed as living at 537 E. Oak.  Adele also had a separate listing, which indicated she was manager of Kenwood Apartments.  The same information is provided in the 1950 directory.
    The 1952 directory lists A.A. and Adele Bower as living at 628 N. Sutter.  Adele again has a separate listing, which indicates that she was a saleswoman for The Wonder.  The same information is provided in the 1953 directory.
    Archer died Jan. 19, 1955, in San Joaquin County, Calif.  He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif.
    Adele died May 6, 1983, in Los Angeles.
    (1) Archer’s birth information and parents are listed in his death record at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  (2)  The children’s approximate birth years are listed in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses of Seattle, Wash.  Roderick’s birth year appears on his headstone at Findagrave.com.  (3) “Michigan, State Census, 1894,” at FamilySearch.  (4) The marriage is recorded in “Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925,” at FamilySearch.  The record also lists the ages, birthplaces and parents of the bride and groom.  Jennie Johnson’s maiden name is listed as  “Evans” in the marriage record and as “La Pres” in Ella’s death record at Ancestry.com, “Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960.”  It seems likely that “La Pres” was Jennie’s surname after a second marriage.  Additional research should be able to shed light on this.  (5) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) The draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (7) The records for Archer and Ella’s second marriages are available at Ancestry.com, “Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004.”  (8) The marriage record indicates Adele’s surname was Garriott.  Records referring to Adele are contradictory.  Her death record at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997,” indicates that she was born Sept. 20, 1889, in New Mexico to a man named Trujillo and a woman named Chavez.  However, the death record at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” indicates she was born Sept. 21, 1890.

ROBERT and MARY BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Josiah)
    Robert J. Bauer was born April 17, 1857, in Nazareth, Pa., to Josiah and Louisa (Warner) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary F. Leyshon about 1880.  Mary was born May 29, 1856, in Pittston, Pa., to Thomas and Sarah (Jones) Leyshon, who were immigrants from Wales. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Edward Allen, born Sept. 25, 1885.
    Theodore L., born Aug. 30, 1887.
    Helen, born in June 1889.  Married Charles H. Henwood.
    Florence M., born in June 1892.
    Robert spent his early childhood in Nazareth, where he appears as a 3-year-old boy in his father’s household in the 1860 Census.  By 1870, the family had moved to Slatington in nearby Lehigh County.  At some point in 1870s, the family moved to Scranton.
    In the 1880 Census, Robert is listed as a 23-year-old painter living in his mother’s household.
    Later that year, he married Mary and the couple settled in Scranton.
    Although Robert was listed in the 1880 Census as a painter, he was probably studying music at the time because he is listed as a musician in the Scranton city directory two years later. (4)
    In the 1882 Scranton directory, Robert is listed as a musician who lived at Prospect and Luce’s Alley in the city’s Hyde Park section.  In 1884 and 1885, he is listed as a musician living at 122 N. Bromley Ave.
    Robert appears to have had a very successful musical career because he became a music teacher and established a band and orchestra.
    In 1886, Robert is listed as a violin teacher and leader of Bauer’s Band, which was based at 117 Wyoming Ave.  He still lived on Bromley Avenue.  And from 1887 to 1891, he was listed as the leader of Bauer’s Band and a music teacher.  He lived at 118 N. Bromley Ave., near Jackson.
    In 1896, the directory lists Bauer’s Band and Orchestra, conducted by Robt. J. Bauer, at the Wyoming Avenue address.  The directory also says that Robert lived at 119 N. Bromley Ave.  Robert’s occupation and address remain pretty much the same for the rest of his life.
    In the 1900 Census, Robert Bauer is listed as a 43-year-old musician.  His family included Mary, age 43; E. Allen, age 14; Theodore L., 12; Helen L., 10; and Florence M., 8.  They owned the house on Bromley Avenue.  The census notes that Mary had given birth to eight children, but only four survived to that point.
    Several of the later directories include advertisements that describe Robert’s business.  For example, the 1906 ad says: “Robert J. Bauer; Leader of Bauer’s Band and Orchestra … Music furnished for Picnics, Balls, Parties, Processions, and all other occasions.”
    It’s possible that the family worshipped at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church in Scranton.  When Florence died March 18, 1908, her death is noted in the records there.  The record mentions she had “professed faith.” (5)
    In the 1910 Census, Robert is listed as a 52-year-old musician in a band.  His family included Mary F., age 52; Allen, a 24-year-old surveyor for a coal mine; Theodore L., a 22-year-old musician for a band; and Helen, 20.  The census notes that Mary had given birth to eight children but only three remained alive.
    On Aug. 8, 1919, Robert died of “cardio-renal disease.”  His death record mentions that he was a band master.  He was buried at Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton.
    After Robert’s death the children continued to live with Mary for a while.  In the 1920 Census, Mary is listed as a 63-year-old who owned the house on Bromley Avenue.  Her household contained Allen E., a 34-year-old civil engineer for the Highway Department; Theodore L., a 32-year-old musician in a theater; and Helen L., age 29.
    In Scranton’s 1921 directory, Mary and her children are listed at the same address on Bromley.  It says Edward A. Bauer was an inspector for the State Highway Department, Helen L. Bauer was a clerk for the DL&W Railroad Co. and Theodore L. Bauer was a violin teacher and director of Bauer’s orchestra, which was based at 119 Wyoming Ave.
    During the 1920s, Helen married and moved out of the household, but Edward and Theodore remained.  In the 1930 Census, Mary is listed as 73 years old and her home was valued at $4,000.  Edward A. was a 44-year-old secretary at a golf course.  And Theodore L. was a 43-year-old violin teacher.
    The 1939 directory continues to list Theodore and Edward at the same address as Mary.  Edward was employed as a caddy master and Theodore continued to work as a musician.
    It appears that Edward moved out of Mary’s home that year because he is not listed in the household in the 1940 Census.  That census lists Theodore as the head of the household.  He was a 52-year-old musician for a “Music Project.”  Mary was 85 years old.  Their home was valued at $3,000.
    Mary died on July 9, 1942, of cerebral apoplexy.  Her death certificate mentions that she also suffered from senility.
    (1) Robert’s death certificate lists his birth date and place.  It is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  Robert’s parents are listed in the 1860 and 1870 Census.  The death certificate lists his parents as James Bauer and Jennie Werner.  Robert’s wife was the informant for the information she probably provided the incorrect name for Robert’s father since he died before they were married.  (2) The approximate year of marriage is listed in the 1900 Census of Scranton, Pa.  Her birth date and place and parents are listed on her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3) Edward and Theodore’s birth dates appear on their World War II draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  Helen and Florence’s approximate birth dates appear in the 1900 Census of Scranton.  Helen’s husband is listed at “Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950,” FamilySearch.  (4) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) The death record is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”

BENJAMIN F. BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Josiah)
    Benjamin F. Bauer was born April 28, 1860, in Pennsylvania to Josiah and Louisa (Warner) Bauer. (1)
    Benjamin does not appear to have gotten married.
    Census records show Benjamin’s family lived in Nazareth in Northampton County when he was born.  And the family moved to Slatington in Lehigh County by the time he was 10 years old.
     In the 1880 Census, Benjamin is listed as a 20-year-old painter living in his mother’s household in Scranton, Pa.  His father had died in 1877.
    Benjamin appears in the Scranton city directories from 1882 to 1891. (2)  In the 1882 directory, Benjamin is listed as a painter who lived at Chestnut and Lackawanna Avenue in the city’s Hyde Park section. It appears that he was living with his mother, listed as Lucy, widow of J.H. Bauer.  In 1884 and 1885, he’s listed as a painter living at 1209 Lafayette.  In 1886, he was a painter living with his mother at 411 Chestnut in Hyde Park.  From 1887 to 1891, Benjamin lived with his mother lived at 121 N. Bromley Ave.  His brother Robert lived at 118 N. Bromley Ave.
    Benjamin died on April 14, 1893.  He is buried at Washburn Street Cemetery in Scranton.
    (1) Benjamin’s birth date is provided at Findagrave.com.  His parents are listed in the 1860 Census of Nazareth, Northampton County, Pa.  (2) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.” 

GEORGE and DIANTHA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, William)
    George P. Bower was born Dec. 5, 1861, in Pennsylvania to William Jacob and Susan (Werner) Bauer. (1)
    Married Diantha H. Brouse on March 25, 1886, in Medina, Ohio.  She was born Oct. 12, 1861, in Huntington, Ohio, to Elias and Elizabeth (Doolittle) Brouse. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Edgar Raymond, born July 31, 1887.
    Ethel Maud, born Nov. 18, 1891.  Married Roscoe A. Poling.
    During the 1860s, George’s parents moved from Northampton County, Pa., to Liberty Township in Crawford County, Ohio.  He is listed in his father’s household there in the 1870 Census.  During the next decade, the family moved to Norton in Summit County, Ohio.  In the 1880 Census of Norton, George P. Bowers is listed as a 19-year-old who’s “at home,” which probably means he was working on his father’s farm.
    It appears that George moved around during the next two decades.  In 1886, he and Diantha were married in in Medina County.  In 1887, Egdar was born in Doylestown in Wayne County, according to his death certificate.  And in 1891, Ethel was born in Copley in Summit County, according to her death certificate.  By 1900, he had settled in Akron, which is also in Summit County.
    In the 1900 Census, P. George Bower is listed as a 38-year-old railroad conductor.  He rented at house at 180 Wooster Ave. in Akron.  His family included Diantha, age 38; Edgar R., 12; and Ethel M., 9.  The census also indicates that Diantha had give birth to two children.
    In addition to moving frequently, George seems to have held a number of jobs.  In Akron’s 1903 directory, Geo P. Bower is listed as a carpet layer for U-B Co. and living with his wife Diantha at 791 Holloway.  The following year, George P. Bower is listed as a clerk at Upham-B Co.  He and his wife Diantha were living at 419 Pine. (4)
     It appears that the family moved briefly to Canton in Stark County, Ohio.  In the 1905 directory for that city, Geo P and Diantha H Bower are listed as living at 408 Hazlette Ave.  George was working as a clerk at Kenny Bros.  Edgar R. Bower is listed as a carpenter living at the same address.
    They moved back to Akron within a few years.  In Akron’s 1908 directory, George P. Bower is listed as a clerk at Yeager Co. and living with his wife Diantha H. at 165 W. Center.  In the 1909 directory, George P. Bower is listed as a “dealer in city and suburban real estate, also loans and investments,” an occupation he would follow until his death.  His wife was listed as Diantha H. and his office and residence was at 165 W. Center.
    In the 1910 Census, George P. Bower is listed as a 48-year-old who worked in the real estate business.  He owned a house at 569 Carroll St. in Akron.  His family included Diantha, age 48, and Ethel M., 18.
    George died Oct. 17, 1912, of a fractured skull “as result of being thrown against curb of street in automobile collision” in Akron.
    In Akron’s 1914 directory, Mrs. Diantha H. Bower, widow of George P., lived at 219 Rhodes Ave.  She lived there until her death.
    In the 1920 Census, Diantha Bower is listed as a 58-year-old widow who owned the house on Rhodes Avenue.  Her household contained her daughter Ethel M., 27; her son Edgar, who’s listed as a 32-year-old widower who was a tire finisher in a rubber shop; Edgar’s daughter Helen, age 6; and a lodger named Lee B. Inman, who also worked in a rubber shop.
    In 1930, Diantha’s household contained a selection of family members and boarders.  That year’s census lists Diantha H. Bower as a 68-year-old widow.  She owned the house on Rhodes Avenue, which was valued at $8,000.  Her family members were her granddaughter Helen E. Bower, age 16; her son-in-law Roscoe A. Poling; and her daughter Ethel M. Poling.  Three lodgers are also listed.
    Diantha died June 1, 1939, of heart disease in Akron.
    George and Diantha are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wadsworth, Medina County. (5)
    (1) George’s parents and birth information is listed at “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," FamilySearch.  (2) The marriage date comes from “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” at FamilySearch.  Diantha’s parents and birth information are listed at “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” at FamilySearch.  (2) Edgar’s birth information is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  Ethel’s is available at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  Her husband is identified at Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  (4) The directories were available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Findagrave.com.

JOSEPH and MARY BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, William)
    Joseph Wesley Bauer was born June 7, 1875, in Medina County, Ohio, to William Jacob and Susan (Werner) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary A. Heineman on May 1, 1902.  She was born Feb. 28, 1880, in the Alsace region of France to Joseph and Mary (Brookley) Heineman.  Her family immigrated to the United States when she was young. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Esther M., born Jna. 31, 1903.  Married Albert J. Kline.
    Helen M., born 1905.
    Lillian Gertrude, born 1909.  Married Clarence D. Swearingen.
    Mildred A., born April 2, 1918.  Married Frank J. Ispan.
    Joseph grew up in Summit County, Ohio.  In the 1880 Census, he appears in his father’s household in Norton.
    In the 1900 Census, Joseph W. Bowers is listed as a 24-year-old blacksmith.  He was living as a boarder in the home of David Harphan, another blacksmith.
     Two years later, Joseph married Mary A. Heineman, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, a German-speaking region that is now part of France, but was part of Germany between 1870 and the end of World War I.  The 1900 Census of Akron, states that her parents and she were born in Germany and that the rest of her siblings – starting with Fred, who was born January 1884 – were born in Ohio.  It also states that her father had arrived in 1870 and her mother in 1880 but these dates seem unlikely if Mary was born in Europe in 1880.  In 1910, the census states that Mary was born in France, spoke German and immigrated to America in 1882.  In 1920, the census notes that Mary was born in Alsace-Lorraine, spoke German, immigrated in 1883 and was naturalized in 1902.  In 1930, the census says she was born in France and immigrated in 1890.  Interestingly, this census indicated that she spoke French.  While possible, it’s seems likely that her “mother tongue” was German.  The exact location of Mary’s birth seems to have been a mystery even to her.  On her marriage license, her birthplace is listed as “(Place unknown in) France.” 
    After Joseph and Mary married, they settled in Akron.  In the 1910 Census, Joseph W. Bauer is listed as a 34-year-old horseshoer.  He rented a house at 209 W. State St. in Akron.  His family is listed as Mary A., age 30; Esther M., 7; Helen M., 5; Lilian G., 10 months; and his mother Susan, 73.  The census also indicates that Mary had given birth to four children but only three were still alive.
    When he registered for the World War I draft, Joseph listed his job as an assistant foreman.  He is described as being medium height and build, with brown eyes and dark hair. (4)
    In the 1920 Census, Joseph W. Bauer is listed as a 44-year-old foreman at a rubber shop.  He rented the house on State Street. His household included Mary A., age 39; Esther M., 16; Helen M., 15; Lillian G., 10; and Mildred A., 9 months.
    In the 1930 Census, Joseph W. Bauer is listed as a 53-year-old builder in the truck industry.  His family included Mary A., age 50 and working as a typist in a factory office; Lillian G., 20; and Mildred A., 12.  The family owned a house, valued at $5,800, in Akron’s District 55.  The address appears to be something like 418 Fess or Tess Ave.
    Joseph died Oct. 17, 1937, of toxemia, which was caused by bladder cancer. (5)
    His death certificate says that he had been a blacksmith W.E. Wright Co., but had not worked there for 10 years.  He lived at 94 Fir Hill in Akron.
    Mary died Jan. 24, 1948, of heart disease. (6) 
    On her death certificate, Mary’s occupation is listed as a house mother for the Lone Star Fraternity.  Her address was listed as 94 Fir Hill in Akron.
    Joseph and Mary are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Akron, according to his death certificate.
    (1) George’s parents and birth information is listed at Ancestry.com, “Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.”  (2) The marriage as well as Mary’s parents and birth information are listed at Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  The marriage record states that Joseph was born June 27, 1876.  Mary’s birthplace is uncertain.  (3) Esther’s birth dates are listed on their death record at “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” at FamilySearch.  Her  husband is listed in the 1930 Census of Akron, Ohio.  Helen’s approximate birth year is listed in the 1910 Census of Akron.  Lillian’s birth date and father are listed at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  Her husband is listed at Ancestry.com, “West Virginia, Marriages Index, 1785-1971.”  Mildred’s birth information is at Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007.” Her husband is listed in the Summit County marriage records.  (4) The registration is at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”   (5) Joseph’s death record is at “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.  (6) “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch

ROBERT and GERTRUDE BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, William)
    Robert Werner Bauer was born Jan. 11, 1881, in Wayne County, Ohio, to William Jacob and Susan (Werner) Bauer. (1)
    Married Gertrude La Vier on March 25, 1903, in Summit County, Ohio.  She was born March 8, 1884, in Akron, Ohio, to Frank and Elizabeth (Doler) La Vier. (2)
    Robert grew up in Summit County and appears in his father’s household in the 1900 Census.  Robert W. Bauer is listed as a 19-year-old farm laborer in Copley Township.
    After Robert and Gertrude were married, they settled in Akron, which is also in Summit County.  In the 1910 Census, Robert W. Bauer is listed as a 29-year-old tire maker in a rubber works.  He rented a house at an address that looks like 209 Linden Ave. in Akron.  Gertrude is listed as 25 years old and had not given birth to any children.  Two others are listed as boarders at the same address: Gus A. Sasch and Frank Scramm, who were both German immigrants.
    In the 1920 Census, Robert W. Bauer is listed as a 38-year-old salesman of automobile tires.  He owned a house at 935 Boulevard St. in Akron.  Gertrude is listed as 34.  Her mother, Elizabeth Levier is listed as a 59-year-old widow.  She had been born in Germany and immigrated to America in 1870.  The household also included John Baggott, 52, and Lloyd Billingslee, 24, who are listed as roomers.
    In the 1930 Census, Robert W. Bauer is listed as a 49-year-old who worked at tire repair at a supply store.  He still owned the house on Boulevard Street, which was valued at $5,000.  His household included Gertrude, age 45, and a lodger named George Ed Morris.
    In the 1940 Census, Robert W. Bauer is listed as 59 years old and Gertrude, 55.  Both worked as popcorn manufacturers in their own private shop.  They still owed the house on Boulevard Street, which was valued at $3,000.  Each had completed eight years of schooling.  Their household included Gertrude’s mother, Elizabeth Lavier, age 79; and a boarder named Thomas P. McQuillan, who also worked in the popcorn business.
    On his World War II draft registration form, Robert Werner Bauer is listed as self-employed and still living on Boulevard Street. (3)
    In Akron’s 1943 directory, Robt W. Bauer is listed as a popcorn manufacturer who lived at 935 Boulevard. (4)
    Robert died July 6, 1963, in Akron. (5)
    Gertrude died Jan. 23, 1965, in Akron.
    Robert and Gertrude are buried at Glendale Cemetery in Akron. (6)
    (1) George’s parents and birth information is listed in his death certificate at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The marriage as well as Gertrude’s parents and birth information are listed at Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  (3) The registration form is at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (4) The directory is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Robert and Gertrude’s death records are found at Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007.”  (6) Findagrave.com.

ALVIN HAYES BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Abraham)
    Alvin Hayes Bauer was born March 10, 1877, in Ohio to Abraham and Elmira (Eisenhauer) Bauer. (1)
    Married Cora M. Sanderson in 1900.  They divorced at some point before 1915.  Married Katherine E. Schuster in 1915. (See below.)
    Children, all born to Cora: (2)
    Doris Ellen, born March 13, 1901.  Married William L. Schriner and later a man named Pasler.
    Dorothy May, born June 18, 1902.  Married Rutherford Share.
    Ralph L., born about 1903.
    Marian Elizabeth, born about 1906.  Married Vernon W. Warfield, Clyde E. Ringler and Oscar Carl Suhr.
    Alvin spent his early childhood in Crawford County, Ohio.  In the 1880 Census, Alvin Bowers, age 3, appears in his mother’s household in the village of New Washington.
    Alvin’s father died in the early 1880s and his mother moved to Pennsylvania, where the family originated.  It’s uncertain where Alvin lived during this time. However, in the Iowa state of 1895, Alvin H. Bauer, age 17, appears in Eldorado Township, Benton County.  He appears in the household of Enos and Louisa Young.  Luisa was a cousin on the Bauer side. (3)
    When the Spanish-American War erupted three years later, Alvin joined the 49^th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.  He served as a private in Company C. (4)  The 49^th Infantry was still in Florida when the war ended, but it was deployed to Cuba to serve as part of the occupation force until mid-1899. (5)
    Alvin married Cora M. Sanderson on April 9, 1900 in Marengo, Iowa.  Cora was born September 1879 in Blairstown, Iowa, to daughter of Levi and Rosette (McElroy) Sanderson. (6)
    The 1900 Census was taken June 9 and the newlyweds were living in the village of Luzerne, which is within Iowa Township in Benton County.  A.H. Bower is listed as a 22-year-old barber who rented a house on Iowa Street.  Cora M. was 20 years old.
    Doris and Ralph were born in Blairstown and Dorothy was born in Belle Plaine.  Both locations are in Benton County.
    At some point before 1906, Alvin moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  It seems likely that his marriage to Cora had fallen apart by this point.  Alvin H. Bauer is listed as a barber for C.D. Gaunt who roomed at 107 N. First.  It seems unlikely that someone who still had a family would be renting rooms. (7)
    It seems like the family was scattered during the breakup.  In the 1910 Census, a Cora M. Bauer, age 30, is listed as a widow who is working as a servant.  She was renting a home on Washington Street in Marengo in Iowa County.  She had given birth to four children and four were still alive.  This seems like a very close match for the Cora who was married to Alvin.  Also, Doris Bower, age 9, was “taken to raise” by Enos and Louisa Young in Union Township, Benton County.  This is the same couple whom Alvin had stayed with in 1895.  And Marian E. Bauer, age 4, is listed as living with her grandparents, Levi and Rosett Sanderson, in Leroy, Benton County.  It’s likely that the other two children are the Ralph Leslie Bauer and Dorothy Mae Bauer who are listed at the Iowa Soldiers Orphan Home in Davenport, Iowa.  However, both of the children are listed as 9-year-olds who were born in Germany.  While this information would seem to preclude them from being Alvin and Cora’s children, their names would be very unusual for German children.
    Since Cora is listed as a widow, two of the children lived in an orphanage and two lived with relatives when the 1910 Census was taken, it has to be wondered whether it was believed that Alvin had died.  It’s interesting that he has not turned up in the 1910 Census so far.
    In any case, Alvin married his second wife, Katherine E. Hoag on Feb. 17, 1915. (8)
    Katie was born May 1, 1877, in Hopton, Iowa, to Christopher and Elizabeth (Rickets) Schuster.  Katie’s marriage to Alvin was her second.  Katie’s married W.W. Hoag on March 12, 1895, at Strawberry Point, Iowa. (9)  Katie and Wiley Hoag had at least three children: Hazel, Grace and Harold, who are listed in the 1910 Census of Cedar Rapids.
    Cora also remarried at some point during the 1910s.  The 1920 Census lists Cora Schrader, the wife of Henry, living in Belle Plaine, Benton County.  Henry’s household included the children of Cora and Alvin Bauer: Doris, age 18; Dorothy, 17; Ralph, 16; and Marian, 14.  In addition, the household included a child identified as Carl Bauer, a 10-month-old “stepson.”  Since Henry and Cora’s marriage date is unknown, it’s uncertain whether Carl was born before or after they were wed.  Henry Schrader was a 34-year-old section foreman on a railroad and he owned a house at 609 Sixth St.
    Alvin and Katie remained in Cedar Rapids.  In the Cedar Rapids directory for 1917, Alvin H. Bauer and his wife Catherine are listed as living at 412 S. Sixth St.  Alvin worked as a meter reader for the water works. (9)
   When Alvin registered for the World War I draft, he was employed by Douglas Starch Co. and living at 414 S. 6^th St. in Cedar Rapids.  He was of medium height and slender build.  He had dark eyes and hair.  
    In the 1921 Cedar Rapids directory, Alvin is listed as a foreman at Quaker Oats.  In the 1922 and 1923 directories, Alvin H. Bauer is listed as working for Quaker Oats.  He and his wife Katherine are listed as living at 414 S. 6^th St. in each of these.
    It appears that Alvin and Katie were divorced around 1923.  The following year, Katie remarried her first husband.  On May 12, 1924, W.W. Hoag married Kate E. Bauer.  Comparing the names of the parents listed on the marriage certificate indicates that these were the same people who married in 1895.  The couple then lived in Garden Grove, Iowa, where Katie died Feb. 5, 1937. (10)
    After this, Alvin is difficult to locate in records available on Ancestry.com so it’s uncertain where he lived between 1923 and his death.
    Alvin died April 18, 1966.  He is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown, Iowa.
    (1)  Alvin’s birthday is listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (2) Doris and Dorothy’s birth dates are listed in “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” at FamilySearch.  Ralph and Marian’s approximate birth years appear in the records of their marriages at “Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934,” at FamilySearch.  The spouses of the women appear in the Iowa marriage records.  (3) The Iowa census is at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (4) His service is recorded in Ancestry.com, “U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers, 1898.”  (5) The history of the 49^th Iowa Volunteer Infantry is available online at www.spanamwar.com/49thiowadeparts.htm.  (6) The marriage records is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (7) The city directory is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (8) The wedding date, place and Katie’s parents are listed in “Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934,” FamilySearch.  The surname of Katie’s mother, Elizabeth, spelled Picketts and Ricketts in transcriptions of the marriage record.  The record of her third marriage definitely says Rickets.  (9) Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (9) The city directories are at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  The address in the 1917 directory is likely to be incorrect.  Alvin’s World War I draft registration and the 1922 and 1923 directories also say “414.”  (10) The residence appears in 1930 Census of Garden Grove, Decatur County, Iowa.  The dead is listed in “Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992,” FamilySearch.  (11) His grave is recorded at National Cemetery Administration. “U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006,” available at Ancestry.com.

FRANCIS and CARRIE BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Franklin)
    Francis Franklin Bauer was born July 1, 1888, in Kresgevillege, Monroe County, Pa., to Franklin and Elizabeth (Serfass) Bauer. (1)
    Married Blanche Bowman and, after Blanche died, he married Carrie M. Miller.
    Children of Francis and Blanche: (2)
    Margaret J., born about 1913.
    Luther F., born about 1916.
    Children of Francis and Carrie:
    Evelyn Frances, born July 28, 1920.  Died March 13, 1921.
    A daughter who was born about 1923.
    Francis does not appear in his parents’ household in the 1900 Census.  It’s likely that the 12-year-old boy was living with a relative since one of his sisters was living with their grandparents when the census was taken.
    In the 1910 Census, Francis F. Bauer is listed in the household of his sister, Sarah, who was married to Douglas George.  Francis F. Bauer is listed as a 21–year-old and working for a furnace.  The household was on Centre Street in Parryville, Carbon County.
    At some point during the next few years, Francis married Blanche Bowman.  She was born April 3, 1890 in Bowmanstown to Albert and Jeanetta (Anthony) Bowman. (3) 
    When Francis registered for the World War I draft in June 1917, he listed his address as Lentz Avenue in the town of Lehighton, Carbon County.  He worked as a trainman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Lehighton.  He claimed exemption from the draft because he had a wife and two children.  He was medium height and build, with gray eyes and brown hair.
    Blanche died on Oct. 29, 1918, of influenza followed by pneumonia.
    In the following year, Francis married Carrie M. Miller, according to the 1930 Census.
    Carrie was born about 1888 in Pennsylvania.  It’s likely that her parents were the David and Mary Miller who had a 12-year-old daughter named Carrie M. in the 1900 Census of East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pa. (4)
    In the 1920 Census, Francis and Carrie lived with Carrie’s sister and brother-in-law in Lehighton.  The head of the household at 328 Cypress Street was Victor LaRose, a 40-year-old locomotive engineer, and his wife was Mamie V., age 38.  Carrie M. Bauer, age 32, was listed as Victor’s sister-in-law.  Francis F. Bauer is listed as a 31-year-old railroad brakeman.
    Neither of Francis’ children were listed as living with him when the census was taken.  Luther Bauer was living with Henry and Erma Walp, who lived on Third Street in Leighton.  Luther is listed as Henry’s nephew.  It seems likely that Erma was a sister of Blanche.  He was 3 years, 11 months old.  And Margaret J. Bauer, age 7, is listed in the household of her grandparents Albert and Janetta Bowman.  The Bowmans lived on Lentz Avenue, which is the street where Francis lived when he registered for the World War I draft. 
    In the 1930 Census, the family appears together at the same address.  Francis F. Bauer is listed as a 42-year-old trainman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad.  He owned a house valued at $7,000 at 502 Coal St. in Lehighton.  His family considered of Carrie M., age 42; Margarete J., 17; Luther F., 14; and a 7-year-old daughter.  The family owned a radio.
    The census indicates that Francis and Carrie were married when they were both 31 years old.
    In the 1940 Census, Francis Bauer is listed as a 51-year-old trainman.  He still owned the house on Coal Street.  His family consisted of Carrie, age 52, and a 17-year-old daughter.  Francis had completed fourth grade and Carrie had completed the eighth grace, according to the census.
    Francis died July 19, 1941, at Palmerton Hospital of uremia.
    (1) Francis’ parents and birth information are listed on his death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  (2) The children are listed in the 1930 Census of Lehighton, Carbon County.  Evelyn’s information appears on her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (3) Blanche’s information appears in her Pennsylvania death certificate.  (4) Carrie’s maiden name is listed in the Pennsylvania death certificate of her daughter Evelyn.  Her approximate birth year and location are listed in the 1930 Census of Lehighton, Carbon County. 

WARREN and SARAH BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Warren Henry Bower was born Dec. 23, 1890, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bowers. (1)
    Married Sarah A. Paff about 1910.  Sarah was born May 31, 1892, in Forks Township, Northampton County, to Jacob H. and Arminda Paff. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Anna A., born March 6, 1911.  Married Russell Pysher.
    Ralph T., born Sept. 24, 1913.
    Arlene M., born Dec. 9, 1916.  Married John W. Groner.
    Warren grew up in Plainfield Township, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1900 Census.  During the early 1900s, the family moved to nearby Bushkill Township, where Warren is listed as a 19-year-old house painter living in his father’s household.
    After Warren and Sarah were married, they settled in Stockertown, where they lived the rest of their lives.
    When Warren registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was a self-employed painter living in Stockertown.  He had a wife and three children.  He is described as short and medium build with blue eyes and brown hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Warren is listed as a 29-year-old laborer in a pencil mill.  His family consisted of Sarah, age 27; Anna A., 8; Ralph; and Arleyne, 3.  It appears that Ralph’s age was first listed as 7 and then changed to 10.  They rented a home on the Stockertown and Wind Gap Road.
    In the 1930 Census, Warren is listed as a 39-year-old independent painter and paperhanger.  His family consisted of Sarah A., age 37; Anna A., a 19-year-old winder in a coil works; Ralph T., a 16-year-old knitter in a hosiery mill; Arlene M., 13.  The family rented a house valued at $4,600 on Main Street in Stockertown.
    In the 1940 Census, Warren is listed as the 49-year-old proprietor of a retail paint store.  Sarah is listed as 47 years old.  They owned a home valued at $1,600 on Main Street in Stockertown.  Both Warren and Sarah had completed eight years of education. 
    When Warren registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was a self-employed painter and paperhanger living on Main Street in Stockerton.  He is described as 5 feet, 2½ inches tall and weighing 128 pounds.  His eyes were hazel, his complexion was light and he was bald. (4)
    Warren retired from painting in 1951, according to his obituary.
    Sarah died on Dec. 29, 1961. (5)
    Sarah’s obituary mentions that she was active in her church.  It says: “She was a member of Forks Salem Lutheran Church and the Home Department of its Sunday School. She formerly was a member of the Missionary Society.”
    Warren appears to have been a member of a different church, at least later in life.  His obituary says, “He was a member of Forks Salem United Church of Christ, Forks Township, and a 50 year member of Aluta Lodge, IOOF.”
    Warren died July 22, 1970. (6)
    Warren and Sarah are buried at Forks Cemetery in Stockertown.
    (1) Warren’s birth date and place are recorded at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents are listed in his obituary, which appeared in the July 23, 1970, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  His parents are also listed in the 1900 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., and the 1910 Census of Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  (2) The approximate year of marriage comes from the 1930 Census of Stockertown Northampton County, Pa.  Sarah’s birth information and parents are listed in her obituary in the Dec. 30, 1961, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (3) The children’s birth dates are listed in their Social Security death records at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  Anna’s husband is listed in her obituary, which appeared in the Dec. 12, 1986, edition of the Easton Express, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  Arlene’s husband is listed in her obituary, which appeared in the Oct. 2, 1999, edition of the Allentown Morning Call.  The obituaries are available at Ancestry.com. (4) The World War II draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (5) Findagrave.com.  (6) Findagrave.com.

FREDERICK and LILLIE BOWERS 
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Frederick Earl Bower was born June 24, 1892, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bowers. (1)
    Married Lillie Mae Hearn about 1910.  Lillie was born Sept. 15, 1893, in Belfast, Northampton County, to John and Delilah (Warner) Hearn. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Earl H., born Dec. 19, 1910.
    Hilda Mae, born May 15, 1913.  Married Vance Siegfried.
    Stanley F., born June 9, 1914. 
    Caroline A., born March 10, 1916.  Married a man named Graybill and later a man named Shimer.
    Ray W., born Aug. 17, 1917.  Died Sept. 4, 1918.
    Mildred I., born Aug. 14, 1918.  Married a man named Metz.
    Gladys P., born Feb. 7, 1920.  Died April 12, 1924.
    Kenneth S., born May 3, 1921.  Killed in action in World War II in 1942.
    A daughter who was born about 1925.
    Ethel J., born July 9, 1926.  Married Claude Baltz.
    Marian M., born about 1928.  Married Ferman Simms.
    Lester R., born Jan. 7, 1930.  Died April 1, 1930.
    Shirley, born Aug. 8, 1931.  Married Donald Metz.
    Fred grew up in Plainfield Township, where he appears in his father’s household in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.  In 1910, Fred is listed as a 17-year-old house painter. 
    When Fred registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was a bartender employed by Harry W. Farber in Stockertown.  He was married and had four children.  He is described as medium height and slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Fred is listed as a 27-year-old laborer in a pencil mill.  His family consisted of Lillie, age 26; Early, 9; Hilda, 7; Stanley, 5; Caroline 2; and Mildred, 1.  They rented a home on the Stockertown and Wind Gap Road in Stockertown.
    Fred started working for the Hercules Cement Corp. in Stockertown in 1927, according to his obituary.
    In the 1930 Census, Fred is listed as a 38-year-old repairman at a cement mill.  His family is listed as Lilly M., age 38; Earl H., a 19-year-old house painter; Stanley F., 15; Caroline A., 14; Mildred I., 11; Kenneth S., 8; a 5-year-old daughter; Ethel J., 3; Marian M., 2; Lester R., 2 months.  In addition, Lilly’s mother, Delila Hearn, age 58, lived in the household.  They rented a home in Upper Nazareth Township.  They owned a radio.
    In the 1940 Census, Fred is listed as a 47-year-old repairman at a cement mill.  His family included Lilly, age 46; Stanley, a 25-year-old laborer in a cement mill; Mildred, 21, who was employed in “homework”; Kenneth, 18, a “new worker”; a 15-year-old daughter; Ethel, 13; Marian, 12; Shirley, 8.  The household also included two of Fred’s adult children and their own children.  Earl is listed as a 29-year-old painter.  His son Earl, age 9, and daughter Mae, 7, are also listed.  Carolyn Graybill is listed as a 23-year-old examiner in a hosiery mill.  Her daughter Dolores Graybill, age 2, is also listed.  In addition, Richard Bowers, age 3, also is listed as a grandson.  The family rented in Upper Nazareth Township.
    When Fred registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was employed by Hercules Cement in Stockertown.  He is described as 6 feet tall and 187 pounds.  He had gray eyes and gray hair and a ruddy complexion. (4)
    Fred and Lillie’s son Kenneth was killed in World War II.  Fred’s obituary says, “Pvt. Kenneth Bowers … was the first World War II casualty from the Nazareth area. The Bowers Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Nazareth is named for Pvt. Bowers.”  Kenneth served in Company D, 1^st Marine Raider Battalion, and was killed in action in the Solomon Island on Aug. 7, 1942.  He had enlisted on Jan. 14, 1942. (5) 
    In addition to Kenneth, four of Fred and Lillie’s children died relatively young.  Ray died from what appears to be listed as a cholera infection.  Gladys died of diphtheria in 1920.  Lester died of a bronchial infection in 1930.  And Hilda was hit and killed by a vehicle in 1936.
    Fred retired from Hercules Cement in mid-1952 because of failing health, according to his obituary.
    Fred died on Nov. 16 of that year.
    His obituary provides some details about his life.  It says, “He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Nazareth, and the United Cement Lime and Gypsum Workers International Union, AFL.”
    Lillie died May 1, 1968.
    Her obituary mentions, “She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Nazareth, and War
Mothers of World War II. She was a life member of the Kenneth S. Bowers Post 4363, V F W, Nazareth which was named after her son who was killed in World War II.”
    (1) Frederikc’s birth date and place are recorded at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents are listed in his obituary, which appeared in the Nov. 17, 1952, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  His parents are also listed in the 1900 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., and the 1910 Census of Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  (2) The approximate year of marriage comes from the 1930 Census of Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Her birth information and parents are listed in her obituary, which appeared in the May 2, 1968, edition of the Easton Express Times, which is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  Her birth date and parents are mentioned in her baptismal records from Chapman Quarries United Methodist Church, which are available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  (3) The children are listed in the 1920 Census of Stockertown, Northampton County, and the 1930 and 1940 censuses of Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County.  Earl and Kenneth’s birth dates appear on their veteran burial card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  Ray, Gladys, Lester and Hilda’s birth and death dates are listed from their death certificates, which are available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944.”  Stanley, Caroline, Mildred, Ethel and Shirley’s dates come from their Social Security death listings at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  The husbands names are mentioned in various obituaries associated with the children’s profiles at Ancestry.com.  (4) The draft registration information can be found at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (5) Kenneth’s veteran burial card.

RAYMOND and HENRIETTA BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Raymond E. Bower was born Nov. 22, 1898, in Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bowers. (1)
    Married a woman named Henrietta about 1921.  Henrietta was born about 1904 in New Jersey. (2)
    Child: A daughter who was born about 1923. (3)
    Raymond grew up in Northampton County, where he is listed in his father’s household in Plainfield Township in the 1900 Census and in Bushkill Township in 1910.
    At some point before 1917, Raymond moved to Kenosha, Wis.  When he registered for the World War I draft in that year, he was living at 436 Bain Ave. in Kenosha.  He single and was employed by a hosiery company.  He was described as short and of medium build, with gray eyes and black hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Ray is listed as a 21-year-old knitter in a textile mill.  He was a lodger at 700 Howland Ave. in Kenosha.
    It seems very likely that Raymond moved from Wisconsin to New Jersey soon after the census was taken.  He and Henrietta – who was from New Jersey – were married about 1921. According to the 1930 Census.
    In 1927, Raymond and Henrietta are listed in the Morristown directory as living at 116 Berry in Dover, Morris County, N.J.  Raymond was working as a knitter. (4)
    In the 1930 Census, Raymond is listed as a 30-year-old knitter in a hosiery mill.  His family included Henrietta, age 25, and a 7-year-old daughter.  They rented a house at 116 Berry St. in Dover, Morris County, N.J.
    In the 1940 Census, Raymond is listed as a 42-year-old knitter in a silk hosiery mill.  His family consisted of Henrietta, age 36, and an 18-year-old daughter.  They owned their house at 219 Penn Ave. in Dover, which was valued at $6,000.  Raymond and Henrietta had each completed eight years of education.  The entry is smudged, but it appears that Muriel was in her first year of college.
    At some point before 1957, Raymond moved to Philadelphia, which is listed as his residence in his mother’s obituary. (5)
    Raymond died in May 1982. (6)
    (1) Raymond’s birth date and father are recorded at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His birthplace and mother are listed in the 1900 Census of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., and the 1910 Census of Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  (2) The approximate marriage year and Henrietta’s birth date and place are listed in the 1930 Census of Dover Township, Morris County, N.J.  (3) The approximate birth year appears in the 1930 Census.  (4) The city directory is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Anna Bowers’ obituary appeared in the April 25, 1957, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (6) His approximate date of death appears at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”

RUSSELL and VELMA BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Russell Thomas Bower was born April 9, 1900, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bower. (1)
    Married Velma Bray about 1923. (2)  Velma was born Jan. 5, 1903, in Pen Argyl, Pa., to John and Mary Jane (Hill) Bray.  After she died in 1974, he married Ida Flory. (3)
    Russell does not appear to have had any children with either wife.
    Russell grew up in Northampton County.  In the 1900 Census, he is listed in his father’s household in Plainfield Township, where he is mistakenly listed as John, 1 month old.  In the 1910 Census, he appears in his father’s household in Bushkill Township.
    When he registered for the World War I draft in 1917, Russell was a painter employed by his father.  He is described as medium height and build.
    In the 1920 Census, Russell is listed as a 19-year-old painter in his father’s household in Bushkill Township.
    In the 1930 Census, Russell is listed as a 29-year-old knitter in a silk mill.  They rented a house at 226 Fourth St. in Bangor, Northampton County, which was valued at $3,500.  They owned a radio.
    In the 1940 census, Russell is listed as a 39-year-old knitter.  Velma was 37 years old.  They owned their house at 642 S. Main St. in Bangor, which was valued at $3,000.  Russell had been unemployed for some time during 1939 since he worked for a total of 39 weeks in that year.  His income was $1,700.  Russell and Velma had each completed eight years of education.
    Russell’s obituary offers some information about his life.  “He was employed as a knitter by Kayser Hosiery Mills, Bangor and its subsidiary mills in New Jersey until retiring in1985. Before that he worked for the former Kraemer Hosiery Mills Nazareth, starting at the age of 14. … Mr. Bowers was a member of St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ, Bangor.”
    Velma died in April 10, 1974. (4)  At the time of her death, the couple lived at 761 Broadway in Bangor.  About 1975, Raymond moved to Nazareth and he lived at 5 S. New St. at the time of his death.
    After Velma’s death, Raymond married Ida, who then died Dec. 30, 1979.
    Russell died in March 1983.
    (1) Russell’s birth date and father are recorded at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His birthplace and parents are listed in his obituary in the March 22, 1983, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (2) The approximate year of marriage to Velma comes from the 1930 Census of Bangor, Northampton County, Pa.  Velma’s birth date appears at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  Her parents are listed in the April 8, 1974, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (3) The information on Ida appears in Russell’s obit.  (4) The dates for both wives appear in Russell’s obit.

HORACE and ELMA BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Horace Roosevelt Bower was born Sept. 19, 1903, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bower. (1)
    Married Elma Hawk about 1926. Elma was born about 1907 in Pen Argyl to Edwin E. and Cora Hawk. (2)
    Children: two daughters.
    While Horace was young, his family moved from Plainfield Township to Bushkill Township in Northampton County.  He is listed in his parents’ household there in 1910 and 1920 censuses.  In 1920, he was listed as a 16-year-old painter.
    In the 1930 Census, Horace is listed as a 26-year-old house painter.  Elma was 23 year old.  The couple rented a home on Jacobsburg Road in Bushkill Township, which was valued at $3,000.  The couple owned a radio.
    In the 1940 Census, Horace is listed as a 36-year-old painter.  His household contained Alma, age 33, and daughters age 4 and 6.  The owned a house in Bushkill Township that was valued at $1,800.  Horace had an eighth-grade education and “Alma” had a seventh-grade education.
    Horace’s obituary contains an extensive account of his activities.  “Horace ‘Hoss’ Bowers … was a self employed painter and paperhanger in the Lehigh Valley 50 years, retiring in1970. … He was a resident of Allentown for the past 16 years, formerly living in Belfast.
    “Mr. Bowers was a member of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Allentown; The Grassy Island Hunting Lodge; Plainfield Twp., Riding Club, and Aluta Lodge, IOOF, Bushkill Twp.
    “He was a tenor in the Lehigh Valley Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbar Shop Quartet Singing in America for the past 31 years.
    “He was an ardent fisherman and hunter.”
    Elma died in January 1964.  Her obituary mentions that she had been “in ill health for the last 10 years.”
    The obituary describes some of her activities.  “At one time she was employed by the Pen Argyl Shoe Factory.  She was a member of the Belfast United Church of Christ and its Woman's Guild and resided in Belfast for 38 years. She was a member of the ladies auxiliary of Belfast - Edelmans Sportsman's Association.”
    At some point after Elma died, Horace married Mabel Rosenberger.  Mabel was born Dec. 9, 1910, to William H. and Ella L. (Haiman) Rosenberger.  She was an elementary school teacher. (3) 
    Horace died October 1980 in Allentown, Pa.
    Mable died Sept. 8, 1996, in Allentown.
    (1) Horace’s birth date appears at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”   His birthplace and parents are listed in his obituary, which appears in the Oct. 6, 1980, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (2) The approximate marriage year comes from the 1930 Census of Bushkill Township, Northampton County, Pa.  Elma’s birthplace and parents are listed in her obituary, which appears in the Feb. 1, 1964, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (3) Mabel is listed in Horace’s obituary.  Her birth and death dates come from her Social Security death record.  Her parents are listed in her obituary, which appears in the Sept. 9, 1996, edition of the Allentown Morning Call and transcribed at Ancestry.com.

WILLARD and ESTHER BOWERS
(Diel, John, John, William, Simon)
    Willard S. Bower was born Jan. 26, 1907 in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Simon Peter and Anna R. (Sandt) Bower. (1)
    Married Esther Mae Schisler in April 1927.  Esther was born Feb. 3, 1907, to William F. and Cora E. (Washburn) Schisler. (2)
    Child: one daughter. 
    While Willard was young, his family moved from Plainfield Township to nearby Bushkill Township.  He is listed in his parents’ household there in 1910 and 1920 censuses.
    After they married, Willard and Esther settled in Nazareth in Northampton County.
    In the 1930 Census, Willard is listed as a 23-year-old painter with his own business.  Esther also was 23 years old.  The rented a home at 110 Mauch Chunk.  They owned a radio.
    In the 1940 Census, Willard is listed as a 33-year-old painter and paper hanger who had his own business.  Esther was 33 years old and worked with “labels” in a “Waist Mill.”  They had a 5-year-old daughter.  In addition, their household contained Beatine Rider, an 18-year-old housekeeper.  The family rented a house at 322 Madison St. in Nazareth.  Willard had completed the seventh grade.  Esther had completed the first year of high school.
    At some point, Willard changed occupation from painting to driving trucks.  His obituary reports: “He was a truck driver at Schoeneck Farms, Nazareth, for 38 years, retiring in 1971.”  Esther’s obituary describes her career, saying: “A member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, she was a sewing machine operator for the former Nazareth Waist Mill for 42 years before retiring in 1968.”
    Willard died Aug. 4, 1977.  At the time of his death, Willard lived at 442 Belfast Road in Nazareth. (3)
    Esther’s obituary also lists her activities.  “She was a member of St. Luke's United Church of Christ, Belfast. She was a member of the Nazareth and Wind Gap senior citizens and the Ladies of Retirement Age, Nazareth.”  Although Esther was a member of St. Luke’s UCC, Willard’s obituary says he was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth.  It’s possible she switched churches after Willard’s death.
    Esther died Feb. 2, 2004, at Gracedale in Upper Nazareth Township. (4)
    Willard and Esther are buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Bath. (5)
    (1) Willard’s birth date appears at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  His birthplace and parents are listed in his obituary, which appeared in the Aug. 5, 1977, edition of the Easton Express Times and is transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (2) The approximate date of marriage is listed in Willard’s obit.  Her birth date is listed in her Social Security death record.  Her parents and birthplace are listed in her obituary in the Feb. 4, 2004, edition of the Allentown Morning Call and transcribed at Ancestry.com.  (3) Willard’s date of death is indicated in his obit.  (4) Esther’s date of death is in the Social Security record and the place of death is listed in her obit.  (5) Their burial site is listed at Findagrave.com.

EUGENE and LAURA BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel, Joseph)
    Eugene K. Bauer was born July 23, 1868, in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., to Joseph Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Kramer) Bauer. (1)
    Married Laura O. Munson about 1896.  Laura was born about March 1874. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Carl S., born about 1906.
    Otto, born about 1909.
    Eugene grew up in Northampton County.  He is listed in his father’s household in East Allen Township in the 1870 Census and Bethlehem in the 1880 Census.
    After Eugene and Laura married, they moved to Renovo in Clinton County.
    In the 1900 Census, Eugene is listed as a 27–year-old brakeman.  Laura O. is listed as 26 years old.  They owned their house in Renovo.
    In the 1910 Census, Eugene is listed as a 40-year-old brakeman for a railroad.  Laura is listed as 37 years old.  According to the census, Laura had not given birth to any children.  They owned a house at 67 Stouts Hill in Renovo.  In addition, Laura’s sister, Hannah Munson, a 34-year-old tailoress for a clothing store, was living with the couple.
    The 1920 Census lists Eugene as a 50-year-old brakeman for a steam railroad.  Laura was 46.  They owned a house at 227 Champlain Ave. in Renovo.  Their family included Carl S., 14, and Otto S., 11.  The ages would seem to indicate that these sons were born before 1910, which would conflict with the census notation that said Laura had not given birth to any children up to that point.  It’s possible they were adopted.
    In the 1930 Census, Eugene is listed as a 61-year-old brakeman for a steam railroad.  Laura was 58.   Otto, age 21, also lived at home.  He is listed as attending school or college.  They owned a house at 722 Ontario Ave. in Renovo, which was valued at $2,300. 
    In 1940, the census lists Eugene as a 71-year-old retiree.  Laura was 68.  They still owned the house on Ontario Avenue.  Eugene and Laura had both completed a year of high school.
    Eugene died on June 25, 1941, of heart disease.  His death record says he had been a brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. (4)
    (1) Eugene’s birth information and parents are listed in his death certificate, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963.”  (2) The approximate year of marriage and Laura’s approximate birth date are listed in the 1900 Census of Renovo, Clinton County, Pa.  Laura’s maiden name is listed in Eugene’s death record.  (3) The birth dates for the sons are recorded in the 1920 Census of Renovo.  (4) Eugene’s death record is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963.”

JOHN and CARRIE BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel, Joseph)
    John Thomas Bauer was born Feb. 1, 1888, in Bethlehem, Pa., to Joseph Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Kramer) Bauer. (1).
    Married a woman named Carrie about 1918.  She was born about 1896 in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Children: Daughters born about 1925 and 1933 and a son born about 1933. (3)
    John grew up in Northampton County, where he is listed in his parents’ household in Moore Township in 1900 and in East Allen Township in the 1910 Census.  In 1910, he is listed as a farm laborer.
    When John registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was living at 138 S. Main St. in Bethlehem.  He was working as a machinist at Lehigh Machine Co. in Lehighton.  He claimed an exemption from the draft because of his employment in a munitions plant.  He was single.  He is described as tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and light hair.  He also was missing the little finger from his left hand.
    In the 1920 Census, John is listed as a 31-year-old laborer for a motor company.  Carrie was 23 years old.  They rented a house on Seidersville Road in Eastern Salisbury Township in Lehigh County, Pa.
    In the 1930 Census, John is listed as a 42-year-old millman in a steel mill.  His family consisted of Carrie, age 34, and Catherine, age 5.  They owned a house valued at $3,200 in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County.
    In the 1940 Census, John is listed as a 52-year-old mill man in a steel mill.  His family consisted of Carrie, age 44, a 15-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.  The family owned a house on Township Line Road in Lower Nazareth Township.  It was valued at $700.  John had an eighth-grade education and Carrie had a sixth-grade education.  He family had lived in the same house in 1935.
    When John registered for the World War II draft in 1942, John is listed as an employee at Bethlehem Steel Co.  His home was in Lower Nazareth Township.  He is described at 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds.  He had blue eyes, blond and gray hair and a light complexion.  He also had a scar on his neck.  Nothing is mentioned about the missing finger.
    (1) George’s birth date and parents are listed on his baptismal record from Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Bushkill Center, Northampton County, Pa.  His birthplace is noted on his World War I draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (2) The approximate marriage year and Carrie’s information appears in the 1930 Census of Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pa.  (3) The children are listed in the 1940 Census.

GEORGE FRANKLIN BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Daniel, Joseph)
    George Franklin Bauer was born March 17, 1890, in Northampton County, Pa., to Joseph Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Kramer) Bauer. (1)
    George did not marry or have children.
    George grew up in Northampton County, where he is listed in his parents’ household in Moore Township in 1900 and in East Allen Township in the 1910 Census.  In 1910, he is listed as a farm laborer.
    George appears to have moved to Michigan in the mid-1910s.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War I and at least one record indicates that he enlisted in Michigan.
    George enlisted on July 21, 1917. (2)  He spent his first eight months at boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and at the Marine Barracks at Washington, D.C., before being deployed to the war zone in France.
    From July through October, George is listed on the muster rolls of Company B at Marine Barracks Paris Island.  On Oct. 21, he left boot camp for assignment to the Marine Barracks in Washington.  On Oct. 22, he was entered onto the roll at the Washington barracks, where his name continues to appear without additional notations until the following February.  On Feb. 23, George was assigned to the 2^nd Replacement Battalion at Quantico, Va.  On Feb. 24, George appears on the muster roll of the 138^th Company, 2^nd Replacement Battalion, at Quantico.  The company’s March roll notes that George finished some qualifications on March 12.
    On March 13, Pvt. George F. Bauer began his journey to the front lines.  The 138^th Company took a train from Quantico to Navy Yard Philadelphia and then embarked on the USS Henderson.  The ship sailed on March 14 and arrived in Brest, France, on March 26.  The unit boarded a train in Brest on March 28 and traveled to the town of Champlitte, where they billeted for the rest of the month.
    In April, the rolls of the 138^th Company list George as “sick present” from the 16^th to the 23^rd and at “Base Hosp. #10” from the 24^th to the 30^th.  In May, George is listed as “sick Base Hosp #17” for the entire month.  In June, George was released from the hospital and was transferred from the replacement battalion to the 79^th (F) Company of the 6^th Regiment.
    The muster roll of the 79^th Company says that George joined the unit on June 11.  This was amid the month-long Battle of Belleau Wood, one of the most storied engagements in Marine Corps history.  By the time George arrived, the company had already participated in the capture of the town of Bouresches on June 6 and had been on the front line through June 10, according to its June muster roll.  The company was in reserve on June 11 and 12; in support at Belleau Wood from the 13^th to the 15^th; in reserve again from the 16^th to the 25^th; and on Hill 142 on the front line at Belleau Wood from the 26^th to the 30^th.
    According to the July muster roll, the company was in the trenches around Belleau Wood from July 1 to 6.  It was in reserve from the 7^th to the 9^th and in support from the 10^th to 14^th.  From July 15 to 18 it was en route to what became the Battle of Soissons.  On July 19, the “Command engaged in attack at Soissons Sector, Allied-Central Powers War.” 
    George appears to have been killed on July 19.  After his name, the July roster says, “1 to 18 Duty  19 to 31 Missing.”
    George’s official date of death is Sept. 7, 1918, the date when he was dropped from the company’s roll.  The report on George’s status at the end of the muster roll says: “Casualty cablegram 383/65 reported ‘7, missing in action’ (dated 12-28-18).  Casualty cablegram 481/17, dated Mar. 19, 19, reported buried, investigation being made to verify and determine cause and date of death. Now presumed to have been killed in action, Sep 7.  Disposition of remains not reported.  Death in line of duty, not the result of his own misconduct.  Had he been discharged he would have been awarded Character ‘EXCELLENT.’”
    George is buried at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Plot D, Row 32, Grave 20. (3)
    (1) George’s birth date and parents are listed on his baptismal record from Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Bushkill Center, Northampton County, Pa.  (2) George’s wartime records appear at Ancestry.com, “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958.”  (3) George’s death date and burial at listed at Ancestry.com, “WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings.”

WINFIELD and ANNA BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles, Erwin)
    Winfield Scott Bauer was born Sept. 2, 1881, in Pennsylvania to Erwin F. and Sarah Alice (Young) Bauer. (1)
    Married Anna Marie Binder on Feb. 4, 1913 in Hand County, S.D.  Anna was born about 1886.  Records that mention her origins are contradictory.  When considering all of the sources, it seems most likely that her parents were of Germanic descent and she was born in an area that was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Edwin J., born about 1916.
    Evangeline Frances, born about 1918.
    Evelyn M., born about 1918.
    A daughter who was born about 1921.
    A son who was born about 1923.
    In the 1900 Census, Winfield is listed in his father’s household in Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pa.  It says he was 18 years old and a laborer who did “any kind” of work.
    Winfield’s obituary states, “He served in the navy for nearly two years and served in the Spanish-American War.” (4)  However, the available evidence raises questions about this account.  First, Winfield was only 16 years old when war was declared in April 1898.  According to the National Archives, boys who joined the Navy at age 16 or 17 at that time had to enlist until their 21^st birthday.  If Winfield had enlisted in time to serve in the war, he would have remained in the Navy until well after the 1900 Census was taken, so he wouldn’t be listed in his father’s household. (5)  Second, he filled out a card for the 1915 South Dakota census that included a question asking whether he had served in the “Spanish” war, and he left that area blank.  Interestingly, he did claim service in the war when South Dakota’s 1925 census asked the same question.  However, the 1925 card was filled out by someone else and contains several obvious errors and conflicts with other sources. (6) 
    However, it seems very likely that he was the Winfield S. Bauer who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1900 and 1901.  The name is so rare that it seems highly unlikely that these records could refer to a different man.
    Winfield enlisted on July 20, 1900, and appears as a private on the muster rolls of the Marine Barracks at Annapolis, Md., from September 1900 to April 1901. (7)  During that time, he appears to have gotten into serious trouble.  Although most of the notations on his record are illegible, it is clear that Pvt. Winfield S. Bauer was tried at a general court-martial (called a “G.C.M.” in the records) in December 1900.  The January muster roll mentions something about “Desertion” on Jan. 17, possibly indicating that he was convicted on that date.  In April, the muster roll says that he was transferred “to Naval Prison Boston, Mass. Apr 22^nd.”  He appears in the muster rolls of the Marine Barracks at Navy Yard Boston, Mass., starting in April.  The first listing notes he was a “G.C.M . Prisoner joined from Annapolis, Md.”  Again, much of the description is illegible but it’s clear that something happened concerning a “Desertion” on “17 Jan. 1901.”  From May through September he’s listed as a “G.C.M. Prisoner.”  Then, the October 1901 muster roll indicates that he was discharged on the 2^nd, noting “unexpired portion of sentence remitted by Sec of Navy.”
    Because of the unpleasant nature of his discharge from the Marines, it seems likely that Winfield was vague when referring to his military service, which could explain apparent inaccuracies in some sources.
    Over the next few years, Winfield “saw a good deal of this country, working at odd jobs at different places. … He came to South Dakota in 1908 and settled in Greenleaf Township, where he has made his home ever since,” according to his obituary.  Either the obituary was inaccurate about the timing of his move to South Dakota or census takers missed him in 1910.  He is not listed in Greenleaf Township or in Miller Township in Hand County, S.D.  Nor does his name turn up in other locations in database searches.
    In 1913, Winfield married Anna Marie Binder, an immigrant of German descent.  She appears to have been the widow of John Binder and had a daughter named Katherine, who was born in Europe about 1907.
    It seems pretty certain that Winfield’s wife was the Anna Binder who immigrated aboard the S.S. Carolina, which sailed from Liverpool, England, on Aug. 23, 1910. (8)  The ship’s manifest of alien passengers indicates that Anna Binder was a 25-year-old housewife who was traveling with her 3-year-old daughter named Kata.  The record indicates that she had been born in Croatia and her nationality was German.  Her closest relative was her mother, whose name appears to be something like “Maria Bannon.”  Their destination was Milwaukee, where she was planning to join her husband John Binder, who lived at 499 15^th St.  The manifest lists the town where Anna Binder was born but it is difficult to read.  It looks something like “Palusbruh.”
    South Dakota’s 1915 state census confirms or expands on much of the information we know about Winfield and Anna.
   Winfield is listed as a 33-year-old farmer living in Greenleaf Township in Hand County.   He said that he was born in Pennsylvania and was of German descent.  He said his father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Ireland, perhaps because she was of Irish descent.  He had a “common” education, which usually referred to elementary school at that time.  He did not claim service in the Spanish-American War.  His wife’s maiden name was Annie Binder and they were married in 1913.  He was affiliated with a Catholic church.
    Anna’s card appears to have been filled out by Winfield, which might explain conflicts with other sources.  For example, it is the only source that says Anna and her father were born in Austria and her mother was born in Holland.  The card notes that Anna was both married and widowed, probably an indication that her first husband had died before her marriage to Winfield.  The card also seems to indicate that her maiden name was something like “Anna Bandt.”  The script is faded and difficult to read.
    When Winfield registered for the World War I draft in 1918, he was a 37-year-old farmer in Hand County.  Interestingly, he listed as “nearest relative” as his father in Northampton County, Pa.  Winfield was described as medium height and stout build, with black hair.  His eyes were described as “blue brown.” (9)
    In the 1920 Census, Winfield was listed as a 36-year-old farmer who rented a home in Greenleaf Township.  His family consisted of Anna M., age 33; Erwin J., 4 years, 11 months; Evelyn M., 2 years, 2 months; Evangeline F., 1 years, 9 months.  Katherine M., age 13, is listed as Winfield’s daughter even though she was Anna’s daughter from her first marriage.  In addition, the household contained a 21-year-old farm laborer named John I. Bender, who had been born in Slavonia and had immigrated in 1914.  Given his surname and birthplace, it seems possible that John was related to Anna’s first husband.
    In South Dakota’s 1925 census, Winfield is listed as a 43-year-old farmer living in Greenleaf Township.  It seems that the census taker was somewhat sloppy.  The card states Winfield’s father was born in Germany and his mother was born in Ireland, which is incorrect in both cases.  It says that he had a high school education, which conflicts with the 1915 census entry that says he completed “common” school.  The card is marked to indicate that he served in the “Spanish” war.  The maiden name of his wife is listed as “Anna Bender.”  It says his “color” was “Dark,” which is probably why he is listed as “black” in the transcription available at Ancestry.com. Anna’s card indicates that she was a 39-year-old farm wife.  It says that she and her parents were all born in Germany.  The extent of her education was common school. (10)
    Winfield died on June 22, 1926. (11)  His obituary describes his death.  “Mr. Bauer's death was caused by an accident. Monday he was fixing fence with his boy, when he overbalanced and fell from the wagon to the ground, which fall broke his spinal column. He lived only until Tuesday noon, having attained the age of forty four years and nine and one half months.”
    Winfield is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Ree Heights, Hand County. (12)
    In the 1930 Census, the Bauer family is listed as renting a house on Linden Street in the town of Miller in Hand County.  Mrs. Anna Bauer is listed as a 47-year-old widow who was a day laborer engaged in housework.  Her family consisted of Ervin, age 14; Evelyn, 12; Evangeline 11; a 9-year-old daughter; a 7-year-old son; and a 5-year-old who’s identified as a son.
    In the 1940 Census, Annie Bauer is listed as a 54-year-old cook for a Works Progress Administration dormitory.  The WPA was a federal program that provided jobs for those left unemployed during the Great Depression.  She rented a house in Miller.  Her family included Erwin, a 25-year-old assistant blacksmith; Evelyn, a 23-year-old clerk and typist; and a 15-year-old son.  The household also included a 4-year-old grandson but there’s no indication of whose son he was.
    (1) Winfield’s birth information and parents are listed in his baptismal record from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howertown, Northampton County, Pa., which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  (2) The marriage is recorded at Ancestry.com, “South Dakota Marriages, 1905-1949.”  Anna’s approximate birth date is listed in the marriage record.  The 1915 South Dakota census card that was signed – and probably filled out – by her husband Winfield says that she was born in Austria and was of German ancestry.  It also says that her father was born in Austria and her mother was born in Holland.  According to the 1920 Census of Greenleaf Township, Anna was born in Germany, had immigrated to America in 1911 and been naturalized in 1913.  It also notes that her father was born in Germany and her mother was born in Switzerland.  In addition, it notes that her 13-year-old daughter Katherine had been born in Slavonia, which is part of Croatia.  The 1925 South Dakota census says she and her parents were born in Germany.  The 1930 Census of Miller Township says that she immigrated in 1910.  It says that she and both of her parents were born in Germany.  Finally, the immigration record that appears to refer to her arrival, lists her as an ethnic German who had been born in Croatia.  Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I.  (3) The children’s approximate years of birth are indicated in the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Hand County, S.D.  (4) His obituary has been transcribed on Findagrave.com.  It is dated July 2, 1926, and appeared in an unidentified newspaper.  The item seems reliable.  The dates and events that can be checked against available records match up perfectly.  (5) National Archives and Records Administration, Prologue Magazine, Spring 1998, “Sailors, Soldiers and Marines of the Spanish-American War,” available online at www.archives.com.  (6) A photocopy of the card is available at “South Dakota, State Census, 1915,” at FamilySearch.  (7) The Marine records appear in Ancestry.com, “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958.”  (8) The immigration record is available at Ancestry.com, “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.”  (9) The draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (10) The 1925 census cards are available at “South Dakota, State Census, 1925,” at FamilySearch.  (11) Winfield’s date of death appars at Ancestry.com, “South Dakota Death Index, 1905-1955.”  (12) Findagrave.com. 

HERBERT and CARRIE BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles, Allen)
    Herbert Clarendon Bauer was born March 6, 1892, in West Bethlehem, Pa., to Allen Daniel and Ellen C. (Wambold) Bauer. (1)
    Married Carrie B. Farenkopf on July 11, 1911, in Delaware.  Carrie was born about April 1891 in Pennsylvania to F. Julius and Bertha (Kaup) Farenkopf. (2)
    Children: (3)
    Forrest Russell, born Feb. 6, 1917.
    A daughter born about 1925.
    Herbert spent his early childhood in Northampton County, where he is listed in his parents’ household in the 1900 Census of Nazareth.  At some point between 1900 and 1906, the family moved to Allentown in nearby Lehigh County.
    In 1906, Herbert is listed in the Allentown city directory.  Even though Herbert was only 14 years old, he is listed as a laborer.  His address – 713 Hill St.  – matches that of his father, Allen.  He is listed as a laborer in 1907 and 1908 as well.  In 1909, he is listed as a machinist, still living with his parents. (4)
    In the 1910 Census, Herbert is listed as an 18-year-old machine apprentice at a company called Hunniger.  He was still living with his parents.
    The following year, Herbert and Carrie were married.  Carrie also lived in Allentown at the time of the wedding.  From 1906 to 1910, the Allentown directories list Carrier as a knitter living with her parents at 436 Green St.  In 1911, Carrier and her family are listed at 811 N. 6^th St.
    The newlyweds appear to have moved in with Carrie’s parents after their wedding.  In the 1912 Allentown directory, Herbert is listed as a machinist living with Carrie at 811 N. 6^th St.  The Farenkopfs still lived at that address.
    The couple lived with the Frenkopfs in 1913 and 1915, but appear to have moved to Massachusetts for a time.  Forrest was born in Taunton, Mass., in early 1917. (5)
    When Herbert registered for the World War I draft later in 1917, he was again living at 811 N. 6^th St.  He was a toolmaker employed by Bonney Vise and Took Works Inc. in Allentown.  He claimed an exemption “for support of family,” which consisted of a wife and child.  He was of medium height and build and had gray-brown eyes and brown hair.
    Soon afterward, the family moved into their own house.  Herbert is listed as a tool maker living at 1020 Green St. in the 1918 Allentown directory.
    The family next appears in Philadelphia.  In the 1920 Census, Herbert is listed as a 27-year-old machinist at a paper manufacturing company.  His family included Carrie B., age 28; and Forrest R., 2 years and 10 months.  They rented a house at 2650 Coal St. in the city.
    The family’s moves continued when they migrated to New Jersey.  In the 1930 Census, Herbert is listed as a 38-year-old tool maker in a factory.  His family included Carrie, age 38; Forrest, 13; and a 5-year-old daughter.  The family owned a house valued at $2,500 at 800 Edgewater Ave. in Westville in Gloucester County, N.J.  They owned a radio.
    The family moved back to Allentown by 1935, according to the 1940 Census.
    In 1936, the Allentown directory lists Herbert as a tool maker living at 205½ S. St. Cloud.  The listing remained the same in 1937.  In 1939 and 1940, he was listed as a tool maker living at 1425 Liberty.
    In the 1940 Census, the Bauer family is listed as living with Ellen Helfrich, Herbert’s mother, at 624 10^th St. in Allentown.  Herbert is listed as a 48-year-old die maker for an auto manufacturer.  Carrie was 48 and a 15-year-old daughter.  Herbert and Carrie had each completed nine years of education and June was in her second year of high school.
    In the 1941 Allentown directory, Herbert and Carrie are listed at 423 Turner.
    When he registered for the World War II draft in 1942, Herbert was living at N. 134 12^th St. in Allentown.  He was employed by Mack Manufacturing Co., which was on South 10^th Street in Allentown.  He is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds.  He had brown eyes, gray hair and a ruddy complexion.
    It’s likely that Herbert and Carrie lived in Florida during the 1950s.  A Herbert C. Bauer who was married to a Carrie B. and worked as a tool and die maker appears in the 1955 Miami city directory.  They lived at 1782 NE 175^th St.
    Herbert died in May 1975.  His last residence was in Allentown.
    (1) Herbert’s birth date and place appears in his World War I draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents are identified in his marriage record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Delaware Marriage Records, 1806-1933.”  (2)  The marriage date and Carrie’s parents are identified in the Delaware marriage record.  Her approximate birth date is listed in the 1900 Census of Allentown, Lehigh County, Pa.  (3) Forrest’s birth is listed in his burial record, which is available at National Cemetery Administration, “U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006.”  June’s approximate birth year is available in the 1930 Census of Westville, Gloucester County, N.J.  (4) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) Forrest’s birth place is listed in Ancestry.com, “Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1901-1960 and 1967-1970.”  (6) The approximate date of death is listed in Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”

RUSSELL and EMILY BAUER
(Diel, John, Daniel, Charles, Allen)
    Russell Franklin Bauer was born June 26, 1899, in Nazareth, Pa., to Allen Daniel and Ellen C. (Wambold) Bauer. (1)
    Married Emily Krich about 1924. Emily was born about 1902 in Pennsylvania to Charles and Bertha Krich. (2)
    Children: The couple had two daughters who were born about 1921 and 1927 and a son born about 1937. (3)
    Russell grew up in eastern Pennsylvania.  He is listed as 11-month-old living in his father’s household in the 1900 Census of Nazareth.  At some point during the next few years, his family moved to Allentown, where his father appears in the city directory in 1906. (4)  Russell is listed as an 11-year-old schoolboy in Allentown in the 1910 Census.
    Russell starts appearing in the Allentown city directory in 1913, when the 14-year-old is listed as an errand boy living with his parents at 713 New St.  For some reason, this listing and most others over the next decade list his name as “Russell D. Bauer.”  His listing is the same in the 1914 directory.  From 1915 to 1919, he is listed as a salesman.
    When Russell registered for the World War I craft in 1918, he was working as a clerk at the Bonny Vise and Tool Works in Allentown.  He was still living with his mother on New Street.  (His father had died the previous year.)  He was described as medium height and stout build, with brown hair and light brown eyes. (5)
    Starting in 1920, Russell and his mother started moving frequently.  In that year’s directory, he is listed as a clerk living at 215 N St. West.  In the 1920 Census, Russell is listed as a 20-year-old clerk in a machine shop.  Ellen is listed as a 50-year-old widow at the same address on N St.
    In the 1921 directory, Russell is listed as a clerk still living on N Street.  In 1923, he is listed as a salesman living with his mother at 1315 Court. And in 1924, Russell is listed as a salesman living with his mother at 1303 Hamilton.
    Russell married about 1924 and moved yet again.  In the 1925 directory, Russell F. and Emily M. Bauer are listed as living at 21 N. Madison.  Russell was a salesman.  (In addition, Russell’s mother married her second husband in 1924.  Ellen and her husband William Helfrich were living at 43 N 13^th St. in the 1925 directory.)
    In the 1930 Census, Russell is listed as a 30-year-old clerk in a cigar store.  His household included Emily, age 28, a 9-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old daughter.  They lived in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County.
    In the 1936 Allentown directory, Russell is listed as a clerk at Whelan Drug Co.  He and Emily were living at 1339 Maple St.  The 1940 Census indicated that they lived at the same address in 1935.
    In the 1940 Census, Russell is listed as a 40-year-old clerk for a steel manufacturing company.  His family included Emily, a 38-year-old clerk at a department store; a 19-year-old daughter who was a clerk in a dry cleaning company, a 13-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.  The household included Emily’s parents: Charles A. Krich, age 61, and Bertha M., 58.  Neither had an occupation.  They still lived at the address on Maple Street.  Russell and Emily had each completed the eighth grade.  Margaret had completed high school.
    Russell appears to have changed addresses and jobs during the early 1940s.  Allentown’s 1946 directory lists him as a steel worker living at 619 Tilghman.  Directories say he was a “teel” worker in 1948, a clerk in 1949 and an officer worker in 1950.  His address remained the same in each case.
    Russell died in January 1971.  He was living in Orefield, Lehigh County, at the time of his death. (6) 
    It’s possible that Emily died in February 1978, when an Emily Bauer of Orefield died.
    (1) Russell’s birth information and parents are listed in his baptismal record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985.”  (2) The approximate year of marriage appears in the 1930 Census of South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pa.  Her birth year and parents are identified in the 1940 Census of Allentown, Pa.  (3) The children are listed in the 1940 Census.  (4) The city directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) The draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (6) Russell’s death record is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  Emily’s likely death record is from the same source.  If this is her death record, her birth date was Oct. 21, 1901.


SEVENTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

CHARLES and LAURA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob, George)
    Charles Leverne Bowers was born March 21, 1886, in Ridgely, Md., to George W. and Permilla (Lesnett) Bowers.  (1)
    Married Laura Estella Moyer.  (See below.)
    Children: (2)
    Velma, born Oct. 11, 1910.  Died July 9, 1994.  Married Harry Holfelder.
    Cleo Mildred, born Dec.  27, 1915.  Died April 6, 1937.  Married Roy Douthitt.
    Edward Charles, born May 16, 1919.  Died Aug. 8, 1996.
    Omar, born May 23, 1921.  Died June 14, 1997.
    Clyde, born July 9, 1926.
    About 1891, Charles’ parents moved from Maryland to western Pennsylvania, where his mother had been born and her family still owned a farm.  In the 1900 Census, Charls Bower is listed as a 14-year-old who was living with his family in Franklin Township, Beaver County.
    Family traditional remembers one escapade involving Charlie and his brother Dell.  When they were young, their parents once left them home alone.  The farm had rats and the boys decided to do something about it.  They poured kerosene on the tale of one of the rodents and set it on fire.  The rat then ran into the house and set the curtains on fire.  Fortunately, the boys were able to put out the fire before it caused extensive damage.
    On Jan. 27, 1909, Charlie married Laura Estella Moyer in the home of the Rev. H.  Meyers, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Zelienople, Pa.
    Laura was born May 8, 1889, in Beaver County, Pa., to Louis Edward and Mariah (Bellas) Moyer.
    Although most of the Moyers’ ancestors had lived in America for more than a century, the family still spoke German at home.  Laura couldn’t speak English very well when she started school, so the other children made fun of her.  This made her determined to improve her English and the family started speaking it more at home.
    Charles’ mother, Permilla, was very disappointed with his selection of a wife.  She looked down on the Moyers because they were relatively poor.  She also said that a Moyer wasn’t good for anything but having children – a reference to the large size of many Moyer families in the area.
    The 1910 Census shows the newlyweds living with Laura’s parents in Franklin Township.  Charles Bower is listed as a 24-year-old teamster. Laura is listed as 20 years old. (3)
    A 1917 directory of Beaver County farmers, lists C.L. Bower as a tool dresser.  He owned 18 acres but no crops are listed.  He also is listed as having two minor children and Bell Telephone service.  They lived off Highway 22 in Franklin Township in the Celia Post Office’s rural delivery area 1. (4)
    In 1918, Charles registered for the draft for World War I.  His registration card indicates that he lived in 1 RFD Fombell, which was the part of Franklin Township covered by the Fombell post office.  It also mentions that he was a self-employed farmer.  It describes him as being medium height and medium build with blue eyes and brown hair. (4a)
    The 1920 Census lists Charles Bower as a 35-year-old farmer living on Camp Run Road in Franklin Township.  His household also included Laura, age 33; Velma, 9; Cleo, 4; and Edward, whose age is listed as 0/12, although he would have been almost a year old at the time.
    In 1920, the census also shows that the family lived beside Hosey Lesnett, Charlie’s 20-year-old half-brother.  Also living with Hosey were his mother, Olive, and uncle, John.  Hosea was the son of George Bower and Olive Lesnett, Permilla’s sister.  John was deaf, but the 1900 and 1920 censuses note that he could speak English.  He also suffered from a mental disability, at least in later years.   
    On May 16, 1923, a hurricane swept through the Bowers farm.  It flattened the barn, killing John Lesnett and all the animals.  The Ellwood City Ledger reported:
    “One man was killed, scores of houses, barns and car stop stations, school houses and churches were blown down, cattle killed, electric lines torn to pieces and telephone communications cut off last night in a hurricane. 
    “The dead man was John Lessnet of Camp Run, a victim of the terrific wind who was buried beneath the ruins of the barn of his farm when it was torn from its foundation and scattered to the winds in pieces.  The farm is owned by Charles Bowers and farmed by the storm victim and his sister.” (5)
    The family later sold this farm and Charlie’s mother gave him money to help buy a new one, according to family members.
    Charles farmed and butchered until the Depression, when he lost his farm.  He had borrowed money so he could buy all the latest equipment.  When times got tough, he couldn’t make the payments and the bank foreclosed.
    After losing the farm, Charles got a job with the state highway agency.
    In the 1930 Census, Charles is listed as a 44-year-old laborer who held a job in road construction.  His household contained his wife, Laura E., age 41; Velma E., age 19; Cleo M., 14; Charles E. (Edward), 10; Omar D., 8; and Clyde L., 3 8/12.  The family lived on a farm in Franklin Township and their home was valued at $1,000.  They didn’t own a radio.
    Apparently, the family moved several times in the mid-1930s.  Personal notices in the New Castle News show that the family lived in North Sewickley Township until at least 1935 and in Fombell in 1936. 
    On June 26, 1937, Charlie and Laura purchased property on the Ellwood City/Zelienople Road – Route 288 – in Franklin Township. (6)
    According to family members, 1937 also brought some economic misfortune.  A political shakeup in that year led to layoffs for many road workers hired under the previous leadership.  Charles and his son Edward were among those who lost their jobs.  Charles suffered a nervous breakdown and Edward and his new wife, Mary, moved in so they could help out by paying rent.  When he recovered, Charlie borrowed money and bought a truck, which he used to haul glass to a factory.  He later worked as a watchman and a janitor.
    It seems possible that some of these events actually occurred – or spilled into – 1939 because the 1940 Census indicates that Charlie was unemployed for much of the preceding year.  It indicates that while he was employed as an equipment operator for the “State Highway,” he had worked for only 39 weeks in 1939, earning $900.  In the column indicating “duration of unemployment up to March 30, 1940,” 22 weeks is listed.  The census also asks whether the person was employed during the week of March 24-30 and Charlie answered “no” and indicated that he had not been assigned “emergency work” on the government payroll. He did indicate that he was seeking employment.
   It seems that very likely that the unemployment was caused by or led to health problems.  A notice in the New Castle News for March 18 says, “Charles Bowers is seriously ill at his home, on the Ellwood-Zelienople road.”  The April 1 edition says, “The many friends of Charles Bowers, who has been ill at his home on the Ellwood-Zelienople road for several weeks, will be sorry to learn that his condition remains unimproved.”
   The census says Charlie was age 53 and Laura was 50.  Both had completed eight years of schooling, which was a very typical amount of education in that area, according to the census.  His household included Omar, a 19-year-old paperhanger; and Clyde, a 13-year-old student.  It also contained Edward and his young family.  Ed was listed as a 20-year-old weight-master at a coal company.  Mary was age 20 and Theodore E. was 2.  The Bowers home was on Route 288 and was worth $3,000
    When the United States mobilized for World War II, virtually all men in the country were required to register for the draft. Charlie’s registration card shows that he was employed by Vance Coal Co. of Wampum, Pa.  It also indicates that he was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 155 pounds and had blue eyes and blonde hair and a ruddy complexion. (7)
    All three of the Bowers’ sons served in the military during the war.  Ed was a heavy machine gunner in the 60^th Infantry Regiment of the 9^th Infantry Division and served in Germany near the end of the war.  Omar was a medic with the 357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division, in Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army. Omar was wounded twice and also contracted trench foot, thus missing the Battle of the Bulge.  Clyde served in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Shangri La and later the carrier Antietam.
    Charlie is said to have been very quick with math.  When he would go out logging, he could calculate how much lumber a tree would produce before it was cut down.
    The Bowers were very active in the church.  They first attended North Sewickley Presbyterian Church, where Laura was a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. (8)  Decades later, each of her children remarked on her kindness and Christian values. 
    Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Laura was very active in the church’s Women’s Missionary Society and “Mrs. Charles Bowers” frequently appears in meeting notices in the New Castle News as hosting a meeting, leading in prayer or leading a discussion on topics such as stewardship, “rapid changes,” the young generation, China and “Spanish speaking America.” Charles also appears in several listings as working with the church’s youth or attending meetings of the presbytery.   The Oct. 2, 1934, edition of the paper states that Laura was elected a deaconess at the North Sewickley Presbyterian Church.
    After the Revised Standard Version of the Bible was published in 1952, the church ordered all Sunday school teaches to use it.  The Bowerses preferred the King James version, like many Evangelical Christians, believing some of the scholarship involved in the translation of the RSV was flawed.  They quit the Presbyterian church and joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Ellwood City.  Laura taught Sunday school for their new congregation.  A newspaper item about their 50^th anniversary celebration in 1959 notes: “The couple are members of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.  A retired trucker, Mr. Bowers is a member of the church board, serving for six years as chairman.  He is also a trustee of the church.  Mrs. Bowers has been teacher Sunday school for the past 30 years, working with the adult and youth classes.” (9)
    Their grandson, the Rev. Theodore E. Bowers, credited Laura with directing him toward a career in the ministry.  A newspaper reporter once asked who had influenced him the most.  Ted replied: “My grandmother – in terms of my faith and her love and support and prayers.  She never had a negative word to say about anybody and I admire her strength in holding the family and farm together during the tough times of the Depression and my grandfather’s poor health and as well as her faithfulness to God.” (10)
    Laura was also an avid quilter.  She apparently began quilting in February 1908.  The New Castle News reports in its Feb. 26 edition: “Miss Anna Nevin entertained the Q.Q.Q. club last Thursday at an all-day quilting. A sumptuous dinner and supper were served and in the evening the boys were invited in.  The members of the club are Misses Helen Kaufman, Jeannette Means, Florence and Elizabeth Nogel, Laura Moyer, Leona Koch, Alice Nogel and the hostess.  The girls are very proud, it being their first attempt at quilting and they entirely finished a quilt in one day.”
    She even had a room dedicated to the craft.  Family members said that a friend once fainted in the room and Laura dragged her out because she didn’t want anyone dying in her quilting room.  She also was an excellent cook.  While growing up, she frequently cooked for the Moyer family because she was the oldest daughter.
    Laura also enjoyed playing the piano, although she wasn’t very good at it.
    Charlie was very strong-willed.  His stubbornness extended to indoor-plumbing.  Until the 1950s, he refused to have an indoor toilet installed because he didn’t think it was proper to relieve yourself beside the kitchen.  He also loved to ride horses – neighbors called him the Lone Ranger.
    When television became popular, the Bowerses refused to get one.  When their grandson Ted bought a TV with money he had earned from delivering newspapers, Charlie told Ted’s parents they were going to hell because of “that sinful box.”  Although he didn’t want a TV in his house, Charlie wasn’t truly against watching it.  He enjoyed boxing and almost every Friday night visited the neighbors so he could watch the fights on TV.  After Charlie died, Laura’s sons got her a TV and she enjoyed watching the evening news.
    Charlie also enjoyed dancing.  Many people held dances in their barns and invited all the neighbors.  The entire family would go, but Laura didn’t like to dance.  She would sit out while Charlie danced with the young girls.
    During this generation, the family name was decisively changed to Bowers.  At one point, Laura Bowers added an “s” on the family mailbox, possibly in an effort to distance herself from the German language from which “Bower” derived and almost certainly in an effort to upset Permilla. However, Charlie still signed his name as “Bower” on some documents into the 1940s.
    Charlie died Dec. 13, 1962. (11)
    Laura lived in the family home for several years before moving to the Christian and Missionary Alliance Home in Carlisle, Pa., in 1969.  She died there Dec. 18, 1974, when she “succumbed to a three-week illness.” (12)
    The Bowerses are buried at North Sewickley Cemetery in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County.  They didn’t leave wills because they didn’t believe in them.
    (1) Most of this information comes from interviews with Edward, Mary and Theodore Bowers in 1989 and 1990, a letter from Omar in 1992 and interviews with Kenneth Bowers, Bill Nye and Ethel May Graff in 2004.  Information also comes from Laura and Charles’ obituaries and anniversary announcements in undated clippings from the Ellwood City Ledger.  Information from other sources is noted.  Charlie’s obituary also appears in the Dec. 14, 1962, edition of the New Castle news and Laura’s obituary appears in the Dec. 15, 1974, edition of the newspaper.  Charlie’s birth dates and parents are named in his obituary and the 1900 Census Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa.  Laura’s are named in her obituary and the 1910 Census of Franklin Township.  Charlie’s date and place of birth are noted in his World War II draft registration. (2) Dates from Velma Holfelder’s family Bible.  (3) Living with parents and occupation is recorded in 1910 Census of Franklin Township.  (4) “1917 Beaver County Farm Directory,” reprinted for the Tri-State Genealogical Society, page 78.  (4a) Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (5) Ellwood City Ledger, 50-years-ago item from May 16, 1973.  (6) Beaver County, Pa., Deed Book 441, page 101, as reported in Deed Book 940, page 403, which records the sale of the property by Laura on Aug. 6, 1968.  The 1940 Census notes that the family lived in the “same place” in that year as they had on April 1, 1935. This indicates that they lived in the same municipality. They purchased the property they lived on in 1940 in 1937 and newspaper items from 1936 mentioned that they lived in nearby Fombell.  (7) Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (8) “History of Ellwood City,” page 277.  (9) The information comes from an undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper.  (10) The Evening Sun of Hanover, Pa., May 30, 1987.  (11) The date was provided by Mary (Nye) Bowers.  Beaver County, Pa., Deed Book 940, page 403, says that Charlie died May 13, 1961.  I have not had the chance to check for his death certificate, but this date seems unlikely.  The December 1962 date comes from family sources, but it also agrees with Charlie’s obituary.  Although no date appears on the newspaper clipping, it mentions that he and Laura “would have been married 54 years next month.”  Their 54^th anniversary would have been in January 1963.  (12) The date was provided by Mary Bowers.  The information on the “three-week illness” is contained in Laura’s obituary in an undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper.

DELL DETRICH  BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob, George)
    Dell Detrich  Bower was born Nov. 1, 1880 in Caroline County, Md., to George W. and Permilla (Lesnett) Bower. (1)
    Married Effa D. Glander on July 22, 1935.  It was her second marriage.  Her maiden name was Effa Dora Osborne and she was born about  1876 in Kentucky. (2)
    Around 1891, Dell’s family moved to Franklin Township, Beaver County,
Pa.  In the 1900 Census, his father’s household includes Dal D. Bower, a 19-year-old farm laborer.
    Dell moved to, Spokane, Wash., sometime before 1910.  Dell Detrich Bowers is listed as a 29-year-old living as a lodger at an establishment at 30 Main Ave. in Spokane.  He was single and a common laborer.
    In Spokane’s 1916 directory, Dell D. Bowers is listed as a machinist living on W803 Second Ave. (3)
    When Dell registered for the World War I draft in 1918, he was a gas engineer for Lincoln County. 
    After Del and Effa married, they moved to hN614 Ash, where they are listed in the 1936 Spokane directory.
    In the 1940 Census, Dell D. Bowers is listed as 59 years old.  Nothing is listed in the occupation column so it seems likely he was retired.  He owned his home N. 3718 Calispel St. in Spokane, which was valued at $3,000.  Effa D. is listed as 64 years old.  Both had completed eight years of education. 
    In 1942, Dell Detrich Bower registered for the World War II draft and his card indicates that he was retired and still lived on Calispel Street.
    Dell died March 18, 1946, in Spokane.  Effa died soon afterward, on May 31, 1946.
    (1) Birth date comes from his draft registration card for World War I, dated Sept. 9, 1918.  Parents names come from 1900 Census of Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa. Death records for Dell is recorded in “Washington State Death Certificates: 1908-1960.”  (2) The marriage information is available at Ancestry.com, “Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004.”  Additional information is available on her Washington death record.  Effa’s approximate birth year and location are from the 1940 census of Spokane.  (3) The Spokane directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) The World War II draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  This also lists Effa’s middle name.

THOMAS and SELENA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Thomas, Calvin)
    Thomas Leinbach Bower was born in Oct. 4, 1897, in Pennsylvania to Calvin Oswald and Katie E. (Leinbach) Bower. (1)
    Married a woman named Selena about 1925 in New Jersey.  She was born about 1897 in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Children: The couple had sons who were born about 1926 and 1929. (3)
    Thomas grew up in Schuylkill Haven in Schuylkill County, Pa., where he appears in his parents’ household in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.
    At some point before 1918, the family moved to Glassboro in Gloucester County, N.J.  When Thomas registered for the World War I draft, he was a U.S. government inspector at a factory in Glassboro.  He was described as short and slender with blue eyes and light hair. (4)
    In the 1920 Census, Thomas was listed as a 22-year-old vulcanizer of auto tires.  He was living in his parents’ household at 18 Eben St. in Glassboro.
    In 1930, the census listed Thomas as a 32-year-old manager at a service station.  His household included Selena A., age 33, and sons who were 4 years old and 1 year old.  They owned a house worth at $6,000 at 354 Main St. in Glassboro.  They owned a radio.
    In 1940, the census listed Thomas as a 42-year-old merchant at a filling station.  His household included Salena, age 41, and sons were 14 years old and 11 years old.  The owned a house worth $3,000 at 347 N. Main St. in Glassboro.  They had lived in the same house in 1935.  Thomas and Salena each completed school through the eighth grade.
    (1) Thomas’ birth date appears on World War I draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  His parents are listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses of Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pa.  (2) The approximate year of birth is based on the age of their first child, according to the 1930 Census of Glassboro, Gloucester County, Pa.  The 1930 Census also lists Selena’s name, approximate birth year and birth place.  (3) The children’s approximate birth dates appear in the 1930 Census.  (4) The place of employment appears to be “Wordburg Bag loading Plant.” 

EDGAR RAYMOND BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, William, George)
    Edgar Raymond Bower was born July 31, 1887, in Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, to George P. and Diantha H. (Brouse) Bower. (1)
    Married three times: Lena Schlangen in 1906, Ada M. (Miller) Fryberger in 1910 and Frances Dempster in 1920. (2)
    Child of Edgar and Ada:  (3)
    Helen, born March 7, 1914.  Married Richard T. Sperry.
    Children of Edgar and Frances:
    George, born Sept. 29, 1920.
    Lois F., born Jan. 20, 1922.
    Ralph, born about 1924.
    Jane, born Sept. 6, 1925.  Married Woodrow W. Baker.
    A daughter born in 1926.
    A daughter born in 1928.
    Edgar grew up in Summit County, Ohio.  In the 1900 Census, Edgar, age 12, is listed in his father’s household at 180 Wooster Ave. in Akron.   In Akron’s 1903 directory, Edgar R. Bower is listed as a student living at 791 Holloway, the same address as his parents.  And the following year’s directory lists him as a laborer living at 419 Pine, again the same address as his parents. (4)
    It appears that Edgar and his parents moved briefly to Canton in Stark County, Ohio.  In the 1905 directory for that city, Edgar R. Bower is listed as a carpenter living at 408 Hazlette Ave., the same address as Geo P and Diantha H Bower.
    On June 14, 1906, Edgar married Lena Schlangen in Stark County, Ohio.  Lena was born Feb. 23, 1883, in Richmond, Ind., and her father was John Schlangen.  It was the first marriage for the bride and the groom.  Edgar was employed as a slater and lived in Canton.  It seems likely that Lena was the Lena Schlangen who is listed in Canton’s 1905 directory as working in the Canton 3c Lunch Room, and renting a room at 1210 Warner.
    Canton’s 1906 directory lists an Edward Bowers who had a wife named Lena.  He was a slater who rented rooms at 505 W. Tuscarawas.  It seems likely this was Edgar and Lena, judging from the occupation.
    It appears that Edgar and Lena’s marriage didn’t last long.  In 1908, Edgar reappears in Akron’s directory, but without a wife being mentioned in the listing.  It’s uncertain what happened to Lena.  No death record has turned up.  The record of Edgar’s second marriage says he had never been married before.  And the record of Edgar’s third marriage indicates that he was “twice widower.”  Interestingly, a Lena Schlangen appears in the 1907 directory of Dayton, Ohio, renting rooms at 756 Brown.  It’s seems likely the couple got divorced or had the marriage annulled.
    In Akron’s 1908 directory, Edgar is listed as a driver for Bliss & Co., and living at 165 W. Center.  In the 1909 directory indicates that he worked for Goodyear Co. and still lived at the same place.
    On March 27, 1910, Edgar married Ada May Fryberger in Summit County, Ohio.  The marriage license indicates that Ada had been divorced.  It also indicates that Edgar had not been married before, which is incorrect.  Edgar’s occupation is listed as tire builder.
    Ada was born June 1, 1886 or 1887, in Akron to Charles and Catherine (Krohmer) Miller. (5)  She was married to Fortress M. Fryberger on April 12, 1902, in Summit County.  Fortress was a potter and the 20-year-old son of Franklin H. and Isabella (Reifsnyder) Fryberger. (6)
    In the 1910 Census, the newlyweds appear in the household of Ada’s mother and step-father in Akron.  Kathryn Nettle is listed as the head and Ada’s step-father Louis is listed as her husband.  The census taker appears to have been confused about various details concerning the people in the household.  The census states Kathryn was 36 years old and Louis was 37 and they had been married for 21 years.  (They were actually about 42 years old.)  It also indicates that Kathryn had given birth to only one child even though it lists Ada, as a 21-year-old daughter and Raymond as a 19-year-old son.  Ada’s surname is listed as Nettle rather than Bower, even though the census indicates Edgar Bower was Kathryn’s 22-year-old son-in-law.  The census indicates that Edgar Bower and Ada Nettle had been married for “0” years.  The census information was taken in April, only two months after their wedding.  Both Edgar and Raymond are listed as tiremakers at a rubber company and Louis is listed as a foreman at a rubber company.  It seems likely that Edgar met Ada through her half-brother and step-father.
    Over the next few years, the family moved several times and Edgar switched jobs.  In Akron’s 1911 directory, Edgar and Ada are listed as living at 712 Raymond.  Edgar was working at Goodyear Co.  In 1913, the couple still lived at Raymond but Edgar was working as a slater for Akron Roofing Co.  In 1914, Edgar held the same job but the couple had moved to 387 Chestnut.  In 1915, the family lived at 161 Tallmadge Ave.  And in 1916 and 1917, the family lived at 235 Dayton Place and Edgar was working for “Akers & H Co” – Ackers and Harpham Co., a roofing company.
    When Edgar registered for the World War I draft in 1917, his address and occupation were the same as those listed in the 1917 directory.  The registration card indicates that he had a wife and one child (Helen).  He is described as being of medium height and slender build and having brown eyes and brown hair.  He is also described as having a weak back. (7)
    Ada died on Aug. 15, 1917, in Akron.  She succumbed to respiratory paralysis with a hemorrhage serving as a contributory factor.  She is buried in Wadsworth, Ohio. (8)
    Soon after Ada’s death, Edgar moved to 219 Rhodes Ave., which was the residence of his mother and sister. He appears there in Akron’s 1918 directory.
    In the 1920 Census, Edgar is listed as a 32-year-old tire finisher in a rubber shop.  He was living in the household of his mother Diantha on Rhodes Avenue.  His daughter Helen, age 6, also lived there.  The census information was recorded on Jan. 5.
    On Feb. 4, 1920, Edgar married Frances Belle Dempster in Summit County.  Frances was born Nov. 5, 1886, in Perry County, Ohio, to Lewis Henry and Jane (McElfrish) Dempster.
    Frances had never been married before.  Edgar is listed as being “twice widower.”  He was employed as a rubber worker for Goodrich Co. and was living at 219 Rhodes Ave.  Frances was a graduate nurse living at 388 W. Exchange in Akron.  The Akron directory for 1918 lists Frances Dempster as a nurse working and living at Peoples Hospital.
    By the time Akron’s 1922 directory was compiled, the new family had moved to Midway.  Edgar is listed as a painter.  The listing is the same in 1924.
    In 1926, Edgar expanded his listing into an advertisement for his business.  It says Edgar was a “contractor, paperhanging, painting and decorating, high grade material used, honest work guaranteed at the most reasonable prices.”  The family stilled lived at Midway.
    In 1930, the census lists Edgar as a 42-year-old house painter living on Midway Avenue in Tallmadge Township, Summit County.  He owned a house valued at $3,000.  His family consisted of Francies B., age 42; George L., 9; Lois F., 8; Ralph E., 6; Jane D., 6; a daughter who was 3; and a daughter who was 2.
    In the 1930 Census, Edgar’s daughter Helen appears in the household of her grandmother Diantha Bower at the house on Rhodes Avenue.  She was 13 years old.
    The Akron directories for 1931 and 1933 list Edgar as a painter at Midway.
    In the 1940 Census, Edgar is listed as a 52-year-old laborer for the Works Progress Administration, an agency created during the Great Depression to employ those who were out of work.  He had been unemployed for eight weeks in 1939.  He rented a house at 197 West Tallmadge Ave. in Akron.  The census indicates that the family had lived at the same address in 1935.  Edgar’s family consisted of Frances, age 52; George, 19 and listed as a “new worker”; Lois, 18 and washing dishes in a cafeteria; Ralph, 16; Jane, 15; a 13-year-old daughter; and a 12-year-old daughter.  The census indicates that Edgar had completed eight years of schooling and Frances had completed four years of high school.
    When Edgar registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was living at the same address.  He was employed by the Burt Manufacturing Co. on High Street in Akron. (9)
    Edgar died on Jan. 28, 1969, at a long-term care facility in Akron.  The death record indicates that he was widowed so Frances had already passed away.
    (1) Edgar’s parents and birth information are listed in the record of his marriage to Ada Fryberger, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  Some Summit County records indicate that he was born in that county.  (2) The marriages to Ada and Frances are listed in the Summit County, Ohio, marriage records already cited.  The marriage to Lena appears in “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” FamilySearch.  (3) Parents, birth information and spouses for most of the children are available at “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  Lois’ birth date is listed in Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007.”  George’s approximate birth year is listed in the 1930 Census of Akron, Summit County, Ohio.  (4) The Akron directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) The record of the marriage to Edgar indicates that she was born in 1887 but her death record says 1886.  The death record is available at “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.  (6) Ada’s first marriage is listed at Ancestry.com, “Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980.”  (7) His World War I draft registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (8) Ada’s death information is available at Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007.”  Also “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.  (9) The draft registration card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”

RALPH and MARY BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Abraham, Alvin)
    Ralph L. Bauer was born in 1903 in Blairstown, Iowa, to Alvin Hayes and Cora Mae (Sanderson) Bauer. (1)
    Married Mary McQueen on Feb. 25, 1926, in Marengo, Iowa County, Iowa.  She was born in 1906 in Bushnell, Ill., to George and Nellie (Clevenger) McQueen. (2) 
    It does not appear that Ralph and Mary had any children.
    It appears that Ralph’s parents divorced when he was very young.  In the 1910 Census, the family’s children seem to be scattered among relatives and an orphanage.  It’s likely that Ralph was the Ralph Leslie Bauer who was listed along with Dorothy Mae Bauer at the Iowa Soldiers Orphan Home in Davenport, Iowa.  Their father was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. (4)
    Both of his parents remarried around 1915.  Ralph and his siblings lived with their mother and her second husband, Henry Schrader.  In the 1920 Census, the family is listed as living at 609 Sixth Ave. in Belle Plaine in Benton County, Iowa.  Ralph was 16 years old.
    In Iowa’s 1925 state census, Ralph is listed as a 21-year-old laborer living in the household of J.B. Showalter in Belle Plaine.  Another member of the household was his future wife Mary McQueen, who was listed as an 18-year-old “relative” of the Showalter family. (5)
    After Ralph and Mary were wed in 1926, they appear to have settled in the town of Marengo.  In the 1930 Census, Ralph is listed as a 26-year-old laborer in a plumbing shop.  Mary was 23.   They were renting their home.
    At some point before 1935, the couple moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The 1940 Census indicated they lived in the city in that year.
    The 1938 directory of Cedar Rapids indicates that Ralph and Mary lived at 914 11^th St. NE.  Ralph was a laborer.  The following year, Ralph was a janitor for the Gazette Co.  He and Mary were living at 1533 E. Ave. NE. (6)
    In the 1940 Census, Ralph is listed as a 36-year-old janitor at a local newspaper building.  Mary was 34.  They rented a home at 1209 4^th St. SE, in Cedar Rapids.  Ralph had completed the eighth grade and Mary had completed a year of high school.  Their household included Ruth A. Buckwheat, a 9-year-old niece.
     Ralph’s home and place of employment remained the same in 1942.  He was listed as a custodian living at 1217 19^th Ave. SW in 1945.  The Bauers stayed at the address on 19^th Avenue until 1958, when they moved to 944 L Ave. SE.  Ralph’s occupation was listed as a driver in 1950 and as a driver for E Cohn & Sons from 1951 through 1960.
    Mary died in 1961.  Ralph died in July 1969.  They are buried at Cedar Park Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. (7)
    (1) Ralph’s birth year and parents are listed in his wedding record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  (2) The wedding information and Mary’s birth year and parents are listed in the couple’s married record.  (4) Both of Ralph and Dorothy are listed as 9-year-olds who were born in Germany.  While this information would seem to preclude them from being Alvin and Cora’s children, their names would be very unusual for German children.  Errors in Census records are very common.  (5)  The census is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  This census offers more confusing information than usual. It appears that Ralph’s father’s name is listed as “Shrader” and his mother as “Sarah Ealy.”  It’s easy to see that the name of Ralph’s “father” was actually his stepfather’s.  However, it’s unknown where “Sarah Ealy” came from.  (6) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (7) May’s year of death and the couple’s burial location are listed at Billiongraves.com.  Ralph’s approximate death date is listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”

LUTHER and GRACE BAUER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Charles, Franklin, Francis)
    Luther F. Bauer was born about February 1916 in Pennsylvania to Francis Franklin and Blanche (Bowman) Bauer. (1)
    Married Grace Gregory on April 17, 1938, in Schuylkill County, Pa.  Grace was born about November 1919 in Pennsylvania to James S. and Annie (Barron) Gregory. (2)
    Children: Luther and Grace had several children, starting with a son who was born in 1939.
    Luther grew up in Lehighton in Carbon County, Pa.  The 1920 Census reveals that Luther was living with his aunt and uncle, Harry and Erma Walp, on Third Street in Lehighton.  He was 3 years, 11 months old.  His father and stepmother were living with other relatives across town on Cypress Street.  In the 1930 Census, Luther is listed as a 14-year-old living in his father’s household at 502 Coal St. in Lehighton.
    After Luther and Grace were married, they settled in Lehighton.  In the 1940 Census, Luther is listed as a 24-year-old laborer on a Works Progress Administration project.  The WPA was a government agency created to provide employment during the Great Depression.  His household included Grace, age 20, and a 1-year-old son.  They rented a home on Road No. 354 in Mahoning in Carbon County.  Luther completed high school.
    Luther died in 1957.  Grace died in 2000.  They are buried at Franklin Heights Memorial Park in East Weissport, Carbon County, Pa. (3)
    (1) Luther’s parents are listed in his wedding record, which is available at “Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950,” FamilySearch.  Luther’s approximate birth date and birthplace is listed in the 1920 Census of Lehighton, Carbon County, Pa.  (2) The wedding date and Grace’s parents are listed in the marriage record.  Her approximate birth date and birthplace are listed in the 1920 Census of Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa.  (3) Their death dates appear on their tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.

EARL and EDITH BOWERS
 (Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, David)
    Earl Paul Bowers was born Feb. 9, 1898, in Greenfield Township, Jones County, Iowa, to David Calvin and Jessie R. (Staab) Bowers. (1)
    Married Edith Schorr about 1922.  Edith was born about June 1894 in Iowa to John and Lizzie (Connor) Schorr. (2)
    Earl and Edith do not appear to have had children.
    Earl grew up in Jones and Cedar counties in Iowa.  He appears in his parents’ household in Pioneer Township in Cedar County in the 1900 Census and in Greenfield Township, Jones County, in the 1910 Census, when he is listed as farm laborer.
    In 1915, Iowa’s state census said Earl was 17 years old.  He was living in Pioneer and was affiliated with a Reformed church.
    When Earl registered for the World War I draft in 1918, he was a farm laborer working for Mrs. Corylin Kettering and living at RFD 1 in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa.  He was medium height and weight with blue eyes and light hair. (3)
    The 1920 Census shows that Earl was still working as a laborer on the Ketterings’ farm in Franklin Township, Linn County.   He is listed as a 21-year-old hired man living with Ira and Carolina Kettering.
    After Earl and Edith were married, they moved into the home of Edith’s parents.  Iowa’s 1925 Census lists the couple living with John Schorr Senior and his wife Lizzie on Second Street in Mechanicsville in Cedar County.  Earl was 27 years old and Edith was 30 years old.
    The couple were still living with Edith’s parents when the 1930 Census was taken.  Earl is listed as a 31-year-old bus driver on a school route.  Edith was 35.  They were living in the household of John and Lizzie Schorr in Mechanicsville.
    In the 1940 Census, Earl is listed as the 42-year-old operator of a farm.  He owned a home valued at $3,000, but did not own a farm.  Edith was listed as 47 year-old.  Their household also included farm hand Myron Moses, age 43.
    Earl died in May 1967.  Edith died Feb. 2, 1988.  Both were living in Mechanicsville when they died. (4)
    They are buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mechanicsville. (5)
    (1) Earl’s birth date, place and parents are listed on his christening record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1857-1947.”  (2) The approximate marriage year comes from the 1930 Census of Mechanicsville, Cedar County, Iowa.  Edith’s approximate birth date and birthplace are listed in the 1900 Census of Pioneer, Cedar County, Iowa.  Her parents are listed in the 1925 Iowa state census, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (3) The registration records are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (4) The death dates for Earl and Edith are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  (5) Information was their burial is available at Findagrave.com.

GEORGE and HAZEL BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, David)
    George Calvin Bowers was born Dec. 7, 1902, in Cedar County, Iowa, to David Calvin and Jessie R. (Staab) Bowers. (1)
    Apparently married twice – to Emma Jean Bednashek in 1936 and to Hazel Dean in 1938.
    Children: George and Hazel had a son after 1940. 
    George is listed in his parent’s household in Greenfield Township, Jones County, Iowa, in the 1910 Census.  The family moved to Pioneer Township, Cedar County, at some point before Iowa’s 1915 state census was taken.  George and his family appear in Pioneer in the 1920 U.S. census, the 1925 Iowa census and the 1930 U.S. census.  The 1930 Census lists George and his brother Ralph as partners in a general farm, presumably with their father. (2)
    George married Emma Jean Bednashek on Jan. 24, 1936 in Davenport, Iowa. (3)  It was her second marriage.  She had previously been married to Calvin R. Riddle on Nov. 3, 1927 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  When the 1930 Census was taken, Calvin and Emma were living in Franklin Township, Linn County, Iowa.  It is not known whether Calvin died or the couple were divorced.  Emma was born about 1899 in Solon, Iowa, to Barta and Marie (Jedlicka) Bednashek. 
    However, the marriage to Emma seems to have been short-lived.  It’s unknown whether the marriage ended with Emma’s death or the couple’s divorce.
    George’s obituary says that he married Hazel Dean on July 16, 1938, in Waterloo, Iowa.  When she married George, she apparently had at least one daughter from a previous marriage. (4)
    Hazel was born May 14, 1901, in Iowa. (5)  Aside from her birth date and maiden name, I have found no information that can definitely be linked to Hazel at this point.  It’s possible that she was the Hazel Zimmer who is listed in the 1925 Iowa census in Marion, Linn County.  The census indicates that this Hazel was born about 1901 in Iowa to Bert Dean and Erma Thompson. She was married to Ervin Zimmer, age 27, and had a 3-year-old daughter whose first name matches the name of the stepdaughter listed in George’s obituary.  Marriage records show that Hazel married Erwin Harvey Zimmer on July 2, 1919, in Marion. (6)  In the 1930 Census, the Zimmer family was living in Pioneer Township, Cedar County.  It’s unknown whether Erwin died or the couple were divorced.
    In the 1940 Census, George C. Bowers, age 37, is listed as living in Brown Township, Linn County.  This George is listed as renting a farm and working on his “own account,” though nothing is listed in the “occupation” column.  Hazel is listed as 37 years old.  The household also included Gene Smith, age 17, who was a “hired man.”
    Hazel died in May 1985.  George died March 24, 1992. (7)
    George’s obituary says he was a retired farmer who was a member of the Federated Church in Lisbon.  It also lists his survivors as a son, a stepdaughter as well as “three grandchildren, a great-grandchild, 11 stepgranchildren, 26 stepgreat-grandchildren and a stepgreat-great-grandchild.”
    (1) George’s birth information is available at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” FamilySearch.”  (2) The Iowa state census information is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (3) The information on both of Emma’s weddings as well as her birth and parents are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  (4) George’s obituary is transcribed on his burial information at Findagrave.com.  (5) Hazel’s birth date appear on her death record at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  Her birth place is listed in the 1940 Census of Brown Township, Linn County, Iowa.  (6) The Zimmer wedding is listed at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992.”  (7) The death dates are contained in the obituary at Findagrave.com and also in the Social Security death records.

RALPH and PEARL BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, David)
    Ralph H. Bowers was born about 1904 in Jones County, Iowa, to David Calvin and Jessie R. (Staab) Bowers. (1)
    Married Pearl Matthews on Feb. 28, 1931, in Davenport, Iowa.  Pearl was born about 1909 in Westville, Ill., to William and Elizabeth (Morningstar) Matthews. (2).
    Children: The couple had at least one son, who was born about 1939.
    Ralph is listed in his parent’s household in Greenfield Township, Jones County, Iowa, in the 1910 Census.  The family moved to Pioneer Township, Cedar County, at some point before Iowa’s 1915 state census was taken.  Ralph and his family appear in Pioneer in the 1920 U.S. census, the 1925 Iowa census and the 1930 U.S. census.  The 1930 Census lists Ralph and his brother George as partners in a general farm, presumably with their father. (3) The Iowa state census information is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”
    In the 1925 Iowa census, Pearl’s family is listed beside the family of Ralph’s uncle Jacob in Franklin Township, Linn County.  It seems likely they met when Ralph visited his relatives.
    After Ralph married Pearl in 1931, they lived in Mount Vernon, Linn County, Iowa.  At some point after 1935, they moved back to Pioneer Township, as indicated in the 1940 Census.
    In 1940, Ralph is listed as a 35-year-old farm operator who rented a farm.  His household included Pearl, age 30; a 1-year-old son; and a farm hand named Alan Reardon.  Ralph and Pearl had each completed eight years of schooling.
    It’s likely that Ralph died in February 1978 in Mount Vernon. (4)
    (1) Ralph’s approximate birth year, birthplace and parents are listed in his marriage record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  (2) The wedding information and Pearl’s birth information and parents are listed in the Iowa marriage record.  (3) The Iowa state census information is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (4) Social Security records note the death of a Ralph Bowers at the time and place.  The record is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  This Ralph Bowers was born Aug. 20, 1904.

PAUL and MARY BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, Jacob)
    Paul P. Bower was born July 4, 1901, near Lisbon in Cedar County, Iowa, to Jacob Franklin and Arrhelda (Piefter) Bower. (1)
    Married Mary E. Helmer on Dec. 25, 1929, in Mechanicsville, Cedar County.  Mary was born about 1903 in Mechanicsville to Edwin and Josephine Clara (Weaver) Helmer. (2)
    Children: The couple had at least one daughter, who was born about 1937.
    In the 1910 Census, Paul and his family appear in Pioneer Township, Cedar County.  At some point before the Iowa state census was taken in 1915, the family moved to Franklin Township, Linn County.  Paul is listed as a 13-year-old student and affiliated with a Reformed church.  In the 1920 Census, Paul is listed as an 18-year-old student in his parents’ household in Franklin Township.  And in the 1925 Iowa state census, Paul is listed as 23 years old and an “unclassified laborer” living with his parents in Franklin Township.  He had completed high school and was affiliated with a Reformed church. (3)
    Before 1929, Paul appears to have moved back to Pioneer Township, Cedar County, which is listed as his residence on his marriage certificate.
    In the 1930 Census, Paul and Mary appear in the household of Mary’s parents in Pioneer Township.  Paul is listed as a 28-year-old farmer.  Mary was 26.
    At some point before 1935, the couple moved to Lisbon, according to the 1940 Census.
    In 1940, Paul is listed as a 38-year-old farmer who rented a home on Market Street in Lisbon.  His household included Mary, age 35, a 3-year-old daughter and his mother-in-law Josephine Helmer, a 68-year-old widow.  Paul and Mary had both attended the first year of college.
    Paul died in October 1978.  His home at the time was near Lisbon, Linn County.
    (1) Paul’s birthplace and parents are listed in his marriage record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  His birth date is listed at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” at FamilySearch, and in his death record available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  (2) The wedding date as well as Mary’s birth information and parents are available on the marriage record.  (3) The Iowa censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”

DONALD and MABEL BOWER
 (Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, Jacob)
    Donald Clair Bower was born Aug. 17, 1909, in Pioneer Township, Cedar County, Iowa, to Jacob Franklin and Arrhelda (Piefter) Bower. (1)
    Married Mabel C. McQuown on June 27, 1933 in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa.  Mabel was born March 20, 1907, in Brown Township, Linn County, to John and Anna (Burroughs) McQuown. (2)
    Children: The couple had at least two daughters, who were born in 1937 and 1939.
    In the 1910 Census, Donald and his family appear in Pioneer Township, Cedar County.  At some point before the Iowa state census was taken in 1915, the family moved to Franklin Township, Linn County, where they are listed in the 1915 Iowa state census, the 1920 U.S. census and in the 1925 Iowa state census.  In the 1925 census, Paul is listed as a high school student and affiliated with a Reformed church. (3)
    After Donald and Mabel were married in 1933, they moved in with Donald’s parents in Franklin Township, according to the 1940 Census.  In that census, Donald is listed as a 30-year-old co-owner of a dairy.  His family is listed as Mabel, age 33, and his 3-year-old and 1-year-old daughters.  They were living in Jacob and Arrhelda’s household and had lived there in 1935.  Both Donald and Mabel had completed high school.
    Mabel died April 14, 2000.  She lived in Lisbon at the time. (4)
    (1) Donald’s birth information and parents are listed at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” at FamilySearch.  (2) The marriage is recorded at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1923-1937.”  Mabel’s birth information and parents are listed at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1857-1947.”  The marriage record says Mabel was born in Springville, Iowa.  (3) The Iowa censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (4) Her death record available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  

ROBERT LYNN BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Conrad, Jacob)
    Robert Lynn Bowers was born Nov. 24, 1920, in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa, to Jacob Franklin and Arrhelda (Piefter) Bower. (1)
    Although profiles on Ancestry.com indicate that Robert had a wife and children, information is unavailable at this time.
    Robert grew up in Linn County, where he appears in his parents’ household in Iowa’s 1925 census and the 1930 U.S. census. (2)
    In the 1940 Census, Robert is listed as a 19-year-old dairy helper living on his father’s daily farm in Franklin Township.  Robert had completed four years of high school.
    During World War II, Robert served in the U.S. Army.  He enlisted on March 11, 1943, at Camp Dodge, Iowa.  The enlistment record notes that he was single and had been a farm hand. (3)  Robert served in the 8^th Armored Division’s 58^th Armored Infantry Battalion, according to the paperwork submitted for his Iowa state veteran’s bonus.  According to the 8^th Armored Division Association’s website, Robert held the rank of technician 5^th class in the battalion’s Company A. (4)
    The 8^th Armored Division spent 1943 and most of 1944 in the United States. In November, it sailed to England, where it was equipped and received additional training.  It sailed across the English Channel to France in early January, when the Battle of the Bulge was in full swing.  It was attached to Gen. George Patton’s Third Army and was positioned near Pont-a-Mousson, France, to block the German advance but the tide had already turned by that point.  On Jan. 22, the division first entered combat as elements attacked the town of Nennig.  In mid-February, the division was attached to the Ninth Army and sent to the Netherlands.  It joined the attack across the Roer River toward the Rhine River and then participated in clearing German units from the Rhineland, action that continued into March.  The division crossed the Rhine on March 26.  In April, it participated in the Allies’ encirclement of German forces in what was known as the Ruhr Pocket and then pushed into central Germany.  On April 13, it helped liberate the Halberstadt-Zweiberge concentration camp near Langenstein, Germany.  By that point, German resistance was collapsing and the division captured a number of towns in central Germany.  At the end of the month, the division settled in to occupation duty.  In September, it returned to France to prepare to return to the United States.
    Robert did not return to the United States with the division.  His bonus record states that he departed the United States on Nov. 7, 1944, and returned in February 1946.
    When Robert applied for his veteran’s bonus in 1949, he was living at 604½ Main St. in Savanna, Ill.
    Robert died on Feb. 15, 1997.  He lived in Savanna at the time.  He is buried at Lisbon Cemetery in Linn County, Iowa. (5)
    (1) Robert’s birth information and parents are listed at “Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935,” at FamilySearch.  (2) The Iowa censuses are available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925.”  (3) The enlistment record is available at National Archives and Records Administration, “U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.”  (4) Robert’s bonus record is available at Ancestry.com, “Iowa, World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954.”  The 8^th Armored Division’s website is at www.8th-armored.org.  The information on the division’s actions during the war comes from this website.  (5)  Robert’s death date and final residence are listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  His burial information are available at National Cemetery Administration, “U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006.”

CHARLES and MARY BOWERS
 (Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Joel, Robert)
    Charles Franklin Bowers was born March 12, 1896, in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pa., to Robert Jacob and Mary (Houk) Bowers. (1)
    Married a woman named Mary B. about 1917.  Mary was born in 1897 in Pennsylvania. (2)
    Child: Janet B., born about 1920. (3)
    Within a few years of Charles’ birth, his family moved to Easton, Northampton County, Pa.  He is listed in his parents’ household there in the 1900 and1910 censuses.
    Charles and Mary remained in Easton after they were married.  In Easton’s 1918 city directory, Charles F. Bowers is listed twice.  One listing says he was living at 527 Center St., the same address as his parents.  The other indicates he was married to Mary B. Bowers and living at 730 Mauch Chunk St.  Both listings add “US Army” after his name, indicating that he was serving in the military at that time. (4)
    Charles served as a private first class in Company A, 149^th Machine Gun Battalion.  He enlisted on June 23, 1916, and was discharged on May 7, 1919. (5)
    The machine gun battalion was part of the 42^nd Division, which was known as the Rainbow Division because it was a National Guard unit that drew members from 26 different states.  The 149^th Machine Gun Battalion fell under the division’s 83^rd Infantry Brigade. (6)
    The 42nd Division arrived in France in November 1917 and entered the front line in March 1918.  It participated in the Champagne-Marne defensive from June 21 to July 17.  On June 21, it was deployed east of Reims, where it took part in the Champagne-Marne operation on July 15 to 17.  It then participated in the Aisne-Marne operation from July 25 to Aug. 3 and the St. Mihiel operation from Sept. 12 to 16.  After the St. Mihiel operation, it remained on the front line in the Essey and Pannes sector until Sept. 30.  It was then moved south of Verdun.  The division then participated in the Meuse-Argonne operation from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11, 1918, which was the day the war officially ended.  
    A New York National Guard website notes that the division “remained in almost constant contact with the enemy for 174 days … and incurred one-out-of-sixteen casualties suffered by the American Army during the war.”  A monument to the division’s World War I service states that 2,950 of its soldiers were killed and 13,292 were wounded.
    After the fighting ended, the division served as part of the Army of Occupation before returning to the United States in April 1919.
    In the 1920 Census, Charles is listed as a 24-year-old loom fixer in a silk mill.  Mary was 22.  They rented a home at 601 Reynolds St. in Easton.
    In Easton’s 1923 directory, Charles and Mary are listed as living at 619 Berwick St.  They continue to appear at that address in the 1925 and 1927 directories.  None of the directories list Charles’ occupation.
    At some point between 1927 and 1930, the family moved to the town of Wilson on the outskirts of Easton.  In 1930, the census lists Charles as a 34-year-old salesman at a pie bakery.  His family included Mary, age 32, and Jeanette, 10.  In addition, the household contained Emma Martin, who is listed as a 6-year-old “ward.”  At this point, it is unknown what relationship she had to the family other than being under their care.  They owned a house at 2310 Forest St. in Wilson.  It was valued at $6,200.  They owned a radio.
    In Easton’s 1937 directory, Charles is listed as a salesman living at the address on Forest.
    At some point between 1937 and 1940, the family moved back to the house at 619 Berwick St. in Easton.  In the 1940 Census, Charles is listed as a 42-year-old retail baker in a “bakery plant.”  His family was listed as Mary, age 41, and Janet, a 20-year-old student nurse in a hospital.  They were renting their home.  In addition to Charles and his family, the household also contained three young girls who are listed as “lodgers”: Betty Thatcher, 12; Roline Thatcher, 10; and Gene Avrey, 12.
    When Charles registered for the World War II draft, he was still living on Berwick Street.  His occupation is not listed.  He is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 163 pounds.  He had blue eyes and red hair, and a light complexion.
    Charles and Mary continue to be listed at the Berwick Street address in the 1942, 1944 and 1947 directories.  The only one that lists an occupation is the 1947 directory, which says he was a guard who worked in Phillipsburg, N.J., which is across the Delaware River from Easton.
    Charles died Jan. 5, 1975.  Social Security records indicate that he still lived in Easton at the time. (7)
    Charles and Mary are buried at Easton Cemetery in Easton. (9)
    (1) Charles’ birth date and place are listed on his World War II draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  His parents are identified in the 1900 Census of Easton, Northampton County, Pa.  (2) The approximate year of marriage and Mary’s place of birth come from the 1930 Census of Easton.  Mary’s year of birth is listed on her tombstone, which is available at Findagrave.com.  (3) Janet’s name may have been Jeanette, which is how she is identified in the 1920 Census of Easton.  In 1940, she is listed as Janet.  Her age appears in both censuses.  (4) The Easton directories can be found at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (5) The service information is listed on his veteran’s burial record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  (6) The brief history of the 42^nd Division comes from several sources.  The division’s subordinate units and casualties appear on a monument to the Rainbow Division’s World War I service at Camp Albert L. Mills in Hempstead Plains, N.Y.  A transcription of the monument is available at www.hempsteadplains.com.  An outline of the division’s engagements appears on website for the Army’s medical department, which is at http://history.amedd.army.mil.  Other details are at the website of the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs, which is at http://dmna.ny.gov/arng/42div/?id=history.   (7) The death and burial information is available in Charles’  veteran’s burial card and at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  (8) The tombstone is available at Findagrave.com.  No year of death is listed for Mary.

HARRY and CECILIA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Joel, Harry)
    Harry Edward Bowers was born Sept. 13, 1896, in Phillipsburg, N.J., to Harry E. and Margaret E. (Slowey) Bowers. (1)
    Married a woman named Cecilia about 1917.  Cecilia was born about 1900 in Pennsylvania.
    Children: (3)
    Paul Vincent, born June 12, 1918.
    Margaret, born about 1922.    
    Although Harry’s family spent some time in New Bedford, Mass., he spent most of his childhood in Phillipsburg.  He is listed in his parents’ household there in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.
    After Harry and Cecilia were married, they lived in the town of Easton, Pa., which is across the Delaware River from Phillipsburg.  It appears they moved several times during their first few years together.
    At the time Harry registered for the World War I draft in June 1918, he had lived at 136 E. St. Joseph St. in Easton, Pa.  He worked at New York Air Brake Co. He was described as being of medium height and build, with brown eyes and light brown hair. (4)
    In Easton’s 1920 city directory, Harry is listed as a machinist living at 741 Wilkes-Barre St. (5)  But the 1920 census lists him as an unskilled laborer living on Northampton Street.  The census lists the family as Harry, age 23; Cecilia, 20; and Paul, 1 year, 6 months.  They rented their home.
    In the 1923 directory, Harry and Celia are listed as living at 705 S. Main St.  Between 1923 and 1925, the family moved to 527 Reynolds St.  Harry is listed as a silk worker in the 1925 directory.
    In the 1930 Census, Harry is listed as a 33-year-old weaver in a silk mill.  His family included Cecilia, age 30; Paul, 11; and Margaret, 8.  The family rented a house at 527 Reynolds St.  They owned a radio.
    By 1937, the family had moved to 1089 Berwick St., which would be their address until at least 1947.  Harry was listed as a weaver in the directory.
    In the 1940 Census, Harry is listed as a 43-year-old machinist in an airplane factory.  Cecilia is listed as a 20-year-old winder, but the industry she worked in is illegible.  Their children were Paul, age 21, and Margaret, 18.  Neither was employed.  They owned their home on Berwick Street.
    It appears that Harry worked away from home during the early days of World War II.  In the 1942 Easton directory, Harry is again listed as a weaver.  However, when he registered for the World War II draft, he listed as living at 52 Prince St. in Paterson, N.J.  He was working at Wright’s, Plant No. 2, in Paterson.  He listed Cecilia as his contact person and she was still lived at the address on Berwick Street in Easton.  He is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 168 pounds.  He had hazel eyes, brown hair and a light brown complexion.
   The 1944 Easton directory lists Harry as a setup man and the 1947 directory again lists him as a weaver.
    Cecilia may have died in March 1981. (7)
    (1) Harry’s birth information and parents are listed in his birth record at Ancestry.com, “Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915.”  Although he was born in New Jersey, his family moved to Massachusetts soon afterward and his birth was registered there.  (2) The approximate year of birth and Cecilia’s birth information are listed in the 1930 Census of Easton, Pa.  (3) Paul’s birth date is recorded in his burial record at Ancestry.com, “Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.”  Margaret’s approximate birth date is listed in the 1930 Census of Easton, Pa.  (4) Harry’s draft card is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (5) The Easton directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) The draft registration is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (7) A Cecelia Bowers from Easton died in March 1981, according to Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  This record says that she was born Sept. 30, 1899. 

HARRY AARON BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, John Jacob, Aaron, William)
    Harry Aaron Bowers was born Feb. 13, 1897, in Easton, Northampton County, Pa., to William Edgar and Emma C. (Noll) Bowers. (1)
    Harry does not appear to have been married.
    Harry grew up in Easton, where he is listed in his parents’ household in the 1900 Census of Easton. 
    Harry’s parents split up before 1910.  In that year’s census, Harry and his mother are listed as living with his grandparents, Harry and Angeline Noll, at 741 Wilkes-Barre St.  They continued to live there until Angeline died in 1927.
    In Easton’s 1914 and 1916 city directory, Harry is listed as a clerk.  In the 1918 directory, he is listed as a machinist. (2)
    When Harry registered for the World War I draft in 1918, he was working at Ingersoll-Rand Co. in Phillipsburg, N.J.  He was described as being of medium height and build, with brown eyes and brown hair.
    In the 1920 Census, Harry is listed as a 22-year-old machinist for a machinery manufacturer.  In the 1925 directory, Harry is listed as a machinist.  In 1927, he’s listed as a mechanic.
    At some point between Angeline Noll’s death in 1927 and the taking of the 1930 Census, Harry and his mother moved to 1009 Berwick St.  Harry is listed as a 30-year-old machinist in a belt factory.  Emma owned the house, which was valued at $5,000.
    Harry has not been located in the 1940 Census.  Emma appears to be listed as an “inmate” at the Northampton County Almshouse in Upper Nazareth Township.
    When he registered for the World War II draft in 1942, Harry was living at 337 Bushkill St. in Easton.  He was living with Mrs. Jennie G. Lover (or Jennie Glover).  He was employed by Arason Caplan at North 13^th Street in Easton. He was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.  He had blue eyes, gray hair and a light complexion.  He had a hammer toe on his right foot. (3)  In Easton’s 1942 directory, Harry is listed as an attendant.
    Harry is probably the Harry A. Bowers who appears in the 1944 and 1947 directories as a laborer at Chapman Spinning Mills.  No home address is listed in 1944 but the 1947 directory says he lived at 716 Iron St.
    Harry died in January 1978.  He was living in Easton at the time of his death. (4)
    (1) Harry’s birth date and place appear on his World War I draft registration card, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (2) The Easton directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (3) The draft registration is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  (4) The death record is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.” 

CHESTER and LOUISE BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben, Walter)
    Chester W. Bower was born about 1915 in Michigan to Walter Scott and Grace H. (Wilson) Bower. (1)
    Married a woman named Louise, who was born about 1916 in Michigan. (2)
    Chester and Louise had a son who was born in 1940.
    Chester grew up in Detroit, where his father ran a drug store.  He is listed in his parents’ household on Warren Avenue in the 1920 and 1930 censuses.
    In Detroit’s 1930 directory, Chester is listed as a clerk at Bower’s Drug Store.  He was living at 3342 West Warren Ave. (3)
    In the 1940 Census, Chester is listed as a 26-year-old salesman in a drug store.  His family consisted of Louise, age 24, and a 2-month-old son.  They were renting a home on West Warren Avenue.  Chester had completed two years of college and Louise had completed four years of high school.  The household also contained lodgers named Arthur and May Webb.
    Chester may have died on Aug. 12, 1983, in Detroit.  And Louise may have died on Jan. 31, 1989 in Royal Oak, Oakland County, Mich. (4)
    (1) Chester’s approximate birth date is determine by comparing the 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses of Detroit.  (2) Louise’s approximate birth year and birthplace are from the 1940 Census of Detroit.  (3) The directory is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) A Chester W. Bower died on that date, according to Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records, “Michigan, Deaths, 1971-1996.”  This Chester was born April 27, 1915.  A Louisa A. Bower died on that date, according to the Michigan death records.  She was born Sept. 29, 1916.

EDWIN S. BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben, Walter)
    Edwin S. Bower was born about 1920 in Michigan to Walter Scott and Grace H. (Wilson) Bower. (1)
    Edwin grew up in Detroit, where he is listed in his parent’s household in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. The 1940 Census lists him as a 20-year-old college student.  The family lived at 3342 West Warrant Ave.
    Various records list a Edwin S. Bower who was born Jan. 21, 1920, and died on March 31, 2001 in Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County, Mich.  This Edwin served in the Navy during World War II.  His obituary death notice in The Oakland Press indicates he was widowed twice.  His wives were named Doris and Mildred.  He had three sons and two daughters. (2)
    (1) Edwin’s approximate birth year and birthplace are listed in the 1930 and 1940 censuses of Detroit.  (2) The records include National Cemetery Administration, “U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006” and Ancestry.com, “Web: Oakland County, Michigan, Historical Resources Obituary Index, 1970-2009.”

FERRELL and VERA BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben)
    Ferrell B. Bowers was born March 9, 1922, in Michigan to Archie Earl and Frank (Pack) Bowers. (1)
    Married a woman named Vera and had a son and a daughter. (2)
    Ferrell grew up in Detroit, Mich., where he appears in his mother’s household there in the 1930 Census and his stepfather’s household in the 1940 Census.
    Ferrell served in the Army during World War II.  He enlisted on April 11, 1941 in Kalamazoo, Mich.  Before he enlisted, he was an unskilled worker in the production of chemical products.  He was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 147 pounds. (3)
   One record of Ferrell’s death records notes: “Mr. Bower was a decorated combat veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Army in the Asiatic-Pacific theatres and helped in the liberation of the Philippine Islands.” (4)  His unit is not listed in the available records.
    Ferrell died on Oct. 12, 2010 in Montague, Mich.
    (1) Ferrell’s parents, birth date and death date are listed in his obituary, which appeared in the Oct. 17, 2010, edition of the White Lake Beacon, which is available at Ancestry.com, “United States Obituary Collection.”  (2) Vera and their children are listed in Ferrell’s obit.  (x) The enlistment record is available at National Archives and Records Administration, “U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.”  (y) Ancestry.com, “U.S. Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection.” 

HOLLIS EBERLY BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben, Ralph)
    Hollis Bower was born about in Michigan to Ralph Dwight and Grace A. (Prescott) Bower. (1)
    It is unknown whether Hollis was married or had children.
    When Hollis was young, his family moved to Florida.  He appears in this parents’ household in Starke, Bradford County, in the 1920 Census.
    At some point between 1920 and 1925, the family moved to Gainesville in Alachua County, Fla.  In 1925, Hollis is listed as a student living with his parents at 352 W. Court in the Gainesville city directory. (2)
    In the 1930 Census, Hollis is listed as a 21-year-old house carpenter living with his parents at 204 W. Arredondo St. in Gainesville
    In 1935, Hollis lived in Gainesville, where he was a 26-year-old student living in the household of J.P. Craig. (3)
    In the 1940 Census, Hollis is listed as a 31-year-old civil engineer working for the government.  He was a lodger in the household of John and Marjorie Klinck of Vicksburg, Miss.  Hollis had completed three years of college.
    It seems likely that Hollis served in the Navy during World War II.   A Lt (j.g.) Hollis Eberley Bower was aboard the escort carrier USS Savo Island when it was commissioned on Feb. 3, 1944. (4)
    Hollis Eberly Bower died on April 20, 2008.  He lived in New Port Richey, Fla., at the time of his death. (5)
    (1) Hollis approximate birth year and birthplace are available in the 1920 Census of Starke, Bradford County, Fla.  (2) The directory is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (3) The Florida state census is available at Ancestry.com, “Florida, State Census, 1867-1945.”  The census lists his home as Alachua County, Fla., but the 1940 U.S. Census confirms he lived in Gainesville.  (4) The Navy record is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949.”  This is the only muster roll in the Ancestry.com database that includes a Hollis Bower, which is unusual since ship muster rolls were take frequently.  Either the other muster rolls are lost or his term of service was unusually short. (5) Hollis Eberly Bower’s death date is listed in his Social Security death record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  The record states that Hollis was born Jan. 23, 1909.

HUBERT and MARY BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, Reuben, Ralph)
    Hubert R. Bower was born about 1915 in Gainesville, Fla., to Ralph Dwight and Grace A. (Prescott) Bower. (1)
    Hubert grew up in Florida.  He appears in his parents’ household in Starke, Bradford County in the 1920 Census. And in the 1930 Census, the family appears in Gainesville, Alachua County, Fla.
    In the 1935 Florida state census, Hubert is listed as a 20-year-old worker in the radio industry in Hillsborough County, Fla.  In Tampa’s 1935 city directory, Hubert is listed as a serviceman for Fletcher Radio Sales and Service.  He and his parents were living at 404 E. Francis Ave. (3)
    At the time of his marriage to Mary in 1936, Hubert was a radio service engineer living at 309 E. Francis Ave. in Tampa, Fla.  Mary was living at 1704 Watrous St. in Tampa.
    Mary was married to Fred Weeks on Jan. 8, 1931, in Hillsborough County.  They appear in the 1931 Tampa directory at the address on Watrous.  Mary and Fred were divorced in 1932.  Mary is listed alone at the Waltrous address in the 1934 directory.  The couple married again on July 13, 1934.  And they divorce again in 1936. (4)
    At some point before 1940, the couple moved to Haines City, Polk County, Fla., where they appear in the 1940 Census.  Hubert is listed as a 25-year-old salesman and radio repairman in the retail auto accessories industry.  His family included Mary, age 28, and daughters ages 1 and 2.  The family rented a home at Palmetto and Railroad Avenue.  Hubert had completed two years of high school and Mary had completed four years.
    It appears that Hubert served in or worked for the Army during World War II.  In Florida’s 1945 state census, the family is listed as living at 517 7^th Ave. South in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Fla.  H.R. Bower is listed as 30 years old.  His occupation is listed as “Army,” which probably indices he was in the service or working for it.  The household included Mary, age 33; a 12-year-old student who was probably Hubert’s sister; and daughters who were 6 and 7 years old.
    It’s possible that Hubert died Dec. 28, 1982, in Savannah, Chatham County, Ga. (5)
   (1) Hubert’s approximate birth year and birthplace appear on his marriage license, which is available at “Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993,” at FamilySearch.  His parents are listed in the 1920 Census of Starke, Bradford County, Fla.  (2) The wedding information and Mary’s approximate birth year and birthplace appear on the marriage record.  The marriage license also indicates that Mary had been married and divorced.  Mary’s maiden name and the name of her first husband appear on their Florida marriage license from 1931.  Her parents are identified in the 1930 Census of Tampa, Fla.  (3) The Florida census is available at Ancestry.com, “Florida, State Census, 1867-1945.”  The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (4) The weddings are listed in the Florida marriage records.  The divorces are listed in “Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001,” at FamilySearch.  (5) The death listings for Hubert R. Bower appears at Ancestry.com, “Georgia Deaths, 1919-98” and at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  The Hubert Bower in the Social Security listing was born Aug. 20, 1914.  In addition, it’s possible that Hubert and Mary divorce.  The Florida divorce index indicates that a Hubert Ralph Bower and Mary Bower were divorced in 1952 in Hillsborough County, Fla. 

LISLE GUY and RUTH BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John, Homer)
    Lisle Guy Bower was born Aug. 28, 1895, in Decatur Township, Van Buren County, Mich., to Homer Andrew and Delia Irene (Hall) Bower. (1)
    Married twice. Married Ruth E. Rasor about 1915.  Ruth was born Jan. 12, 1895, in Indiana. (2)  The couple were divorced during the early 1940s and Lisle married Clara M. Moyneux in 1951.  Clara was born about 1911. (3)
    Children: (4)
    Lisle A., born July 29, 1916.
    Raymond Wilson, born April 1, 1917.
    Lisle spent his early childhood in Decatur Township.  In the 1900 Census, his family is listed in the household of his grandmother, Mariam Hall.  The family moved to California at some point before 1910.  In that year’s census, the family appears in Delano in Kern County.
    When Lisle registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was working as an assistant agent with Southern Pacific Railroad in Delano.  He claimed an exemption from the draft because he had a wife and child.  He is described as being of medium height and build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
    It’s uncertain where the family lived at the time of the 1920 Census but they had moved to the Fresno area by 1925.  From 1925 to 1927, Lisle is listed as living in the small town of Tranquility in Fresno County.  The listing indicates he was an “r r agt” – presumably a railroad agent, but the meaning of “r r” does not appear in the directory’s list of abbreviations. (5)
    In the 1930 Census, Lisle is listed as a 33-year-old telegraph agent in a rail yard.  His family consisted of Ruth, age 36; Lisle A., 13; and Raymond W., 12.  They owned a house worth $5,250 in “Township 3” of Fresno County.  They also operated a farm.
    In 1931 and 1932, Lisle still appears in the Fresno directory, but is listed differently because of a change in the book’s format.  He is listed at rural delivery route 1, box 174f.  It seems unlikely that the family moved.
    The family’s situation seems to have changed by the time the 1933 directory was compiled.  Lisle G. Bower is listed at the same address.  However, the rest of the family – the younger Lisle, Raymond and Ruth – are listed as living at 1312 Lucerne Ave. in Fresno.
    In the 1934, 1935 and 1936 directories, Lisle G. and Ruth Bower are listed as living at 703 College Ave.  Lisle’s occupation was telegraph operator.
    Lisle then moved to Bakersfield, Calif.  In that city’s 1937 directory, Lisle is listed as a service agent for Southern Pacific.
    But Lisle didn’t stay in Bakersfield long.  In 1938, he is listed in the San Francisco directory.  Lisle and Ruth were living at 328 Corbett along with their son Lisle A. Bower, a barber.  The elder Lisle is again listed as a telegraph operator for Southern Pacific Co.
    In the 1940 Census, Lisle is listed as a 44-year-old telegraph operator for Southern Pacific.  His household included Ruth, age 46, and his son Raymond, 22, who was a stenographer for Southern Pacific.  They owned a house worth $5,000 at 551 Crocker in Daly City, San Mateo, Calif.  Lisle had completed two years of high school and Ruth had completed the eighth grade.  Lisle, Ruth and Raymond are listed at the same address in the 1940 directory for San Francisco.
    In 1942, records list Lisle in two different cities.  Lisle G. Bower appears in the San Francisco directory as living at 467½ Sanchez.  However, when he registered for the World War II draft in April 1942, he listed 519 Pacific Electric Building in Los Angeles as both his home and work address.  His employer is still listed as the Southern Pacific Co. and his boss as listed as a contact.  Lisle is described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 194 pounds.  He had blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. 
    In San Francisco’s 1945 directory, Lisle is listed as a travel wire chief for Southern Pacific Co., but no home address is listed.  Rush was still listed as living at 467½ Sanchez and their son Raymond was living nearby, at 473½ Sanchez.  Their other son, Lisle A., was living at 155 Pixley.
    It appears that Lisle and Ruth were divorced during the late 1940s.  Lisle married Clara M. Moyneux on Feb. 17, 1951, in San Bernardino, Calif. 
    Lisle moved back to Bakersfield, Calif., during the early or mid-1950s.  He appears in the city’s 1956 directory as an agent and telegraph operator.  No address is listed.
    Clara is not listed in the directory so it’s possible that the couple had divorced by 1956.  In any case, Lisle is listed as marrying Clara again on Sept. 26, 1957, in San Bernardino.
    In 1960, Lisle and Clara appear in the Kern County voter registry.  They were both registered as Democrats. Their address is not listed so it’s unknown whether they still lived in Bakersfield. (6)
    Lisle died Oct. 16, 1960, in Kern County. (7)
    Ruth does not appear to have married again because her surname was still Bower at the time of her death.  She died in San Francisco on July 18, 1983.
    (1) Lisle’s birth date and place is recorded in his World War II draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  His parents are indentified in the 1900 Census of Decatur, Van Buren County, Mich.  (2) The date for the marriage to Ruth is estimated based on information in the 1930 Census of Fresno, Calif.  Her birth date and place are listed on her death record at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  (3) Lisle married Clara twice, in 1951 and 1957.  Both marriages are listed in Ancestry.com, “California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959.”  Clara’s approximate year of birth is listed on the marriage records.  (4) The births of both sons are cited at Ancestry.com, “California Birth Index, 1905-1995.”  (5) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (6) Ancestry.com, “California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968.”  (7) California death index.

LYNN ALLEN BOWER
(Diel, Dietrich, Abraham, Abraham, John, Homer)
    Lynn Allen Bower was born Feb. 10, 1897, in Decatur, Mich., to Homer Andrew and Delia Irene (Hall) Bower. (1)
    Married twice.  Married Jessie Thomas on July 21, 1919, in Butte County, Calif.  She was born Oct. 27, 1897, in Kentucky to Jesse Grant and Fannie (Pierrat) Thomas. (2)  Later married a woman named Joan, who was born July 16, 1904, in England. (3)
    Children: (4)
    Homer Thomas Bower, born March 12, 1922.
    Two other sons, born in 1920 and 1924.
    Lynn spent his early childhood in Decatur.  In the 1900 Census, his family is listed in the household of his grandmother, Mariam Hall.  The family moved to California at some point before 1910.  In that year’s census, the family appears in Delano in Kern County.
    When Lynn registered for the World War I draft in June 1917, he was living at 226 Main St. in Salinas, Calif.  He was working as an automobile mechanic at Salinas Garage.  He was described as tall and of medium build.  He had blue eyes and brown hair.
    Lynn served in the U.S. Army from July 2, 1917, to Jan. 17, 1919, dates that cover most of the U.S. involvement in World War I.  His unit is unknown. (5)
    Lynn and Jessie were married a few months after he was discharged from the Army.  The couple moved to a home beside Lynn’s parents.  In the 1920 Census, the families are listed next to each other on Tulare Street in Delano, Calif.  Lynn is listed as a 22-year-old laborer in a garage working on his own account.  Jessie is listed as a 22-year-old teacher in a grammar school.  They owned their house, which was mortgaged.
    In the 1920-1922 voter registrations for Kern County, Lynn is listed as a merchant and Jessie is listed as a housewife.  Both were Republicans and living in Delano. (6)
    It appears that the couple were divorced at some point between 1924 and 1928, and Lynn moved to Seattle, Wash., and Jessie moved to Tulare County, Calif.
    In the 1928 voter’s registration lists for Tulare County, Mrs. Jessie Bower, teacher, is listed as a Republican living at 940 South Court. In Seattle’s 1929 directory, Lynn A. Bower is listed as a mechanic at Taggart Motor Co., and living at 114 W. 48^th St. (7) 
    In the 1930 Census, Lynn is listed as single and a roomer living at 6004 12^th Ave. South.  He was 33 years old and a superintendant in the automatic industry.  The 1930 Seattle directory again lists him as a mechanic.
    Meanwhile, Jessie and the three sons she had with Lynn were living in Visalia, Tulare County, Calif.  In the 1930 Census, Jessie Bowers is listed as a 32-year-old school teacher who was divorced.  Her family included sons who were ages 9, 8 and 5.  Jessie rented her home and owned a radio.  In the 1934 directory of Visalia, she is listed as a teacher living at 1017 S. Court.
    Over the next few years, Lynn worked at a number of different garages and lived at several different addresses.  In 1931, the city’s directory lists Lynn A. Bower as a department manager for Taggart Motos living at 5725 Duwamish Ave.  The 1932 directory lists him as a foreman for Griffith Motor and living again at 6004 12^th Ave. South.  In the 1933 directory, he is listed as Lynn Bowers, a mechanic at Walter R. McFarland Motor Co. living at the address on 12^th Avenue.  And from 1934 to 1936, he is listed as again Lynn Bowers living at the address on 12^th Avenue.  In each of those three years, he was working for Kreitel Motor Co.  He was a mechanic in 1934, a salesman in 1935 and a foreman in 1936.
    At some point between 1936 and 1938, Lynn married Joan.  In Seattle’s 1938 directory, Lynn A. and Joan Bower are listed as living at 5309 15^th Ave. South.  No occupation is listed.
    By 1940, Lynn became owner of his own business.  That year’s Seattle directory lists him as the owner of Bower’s Ford Service, which was an auto repair shop at 5500 Airport Way.  He and Joan were living on South 104^th near Des Moines Way, which was on rural delivery route 9, box 38.
    In the 1940 Census, Lynn is listed as the 43-year-old manager of an auto repair shop who worked on his own account.  Joan was 35 years old.  They owned their home, which was valued at $5,000.  Lynn had completed four years of high school and Joan had completed two years of college.
    In California, Jessie was still living with her three sons in Visalia.  She is listed as a 40-year-old teacher in a public school and divorced.  Her sons were ages 19, 18 and 15.  The oldest was an agent for a newspaper.  She rented a house at 527 Kaweah.  She had completed four years of college. 
    In Seattle’s 1941 and 1942 directories, Lynn and Joan are listed as living at 1900 South 104^th St.  Lynn’s Bower’s Ford Service is listed at 1210 Bailey St.  Lynn’s World War II draft registration card from 1942 confirms the information and also mentions that he was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 210 pounds.  He had blue eyes, brown hair, a light complexion and wore glasses.
    In 1951, Seattle’s directory lists Lynn and Joan living at the same address.  Lynn’s auto repair business was then called Bower’s Motor Service and was at 9216 14^th Ave. South.
    Soon afterward, Lynn switched occupations.  In the 1953 directory, Lynn is listed as a research worker for Boeing.  He and Joan still lived at the address on 104^th.
    Lynn died June 17, 1976, in Seattle.  Joan probably died on July 29, 1983.  Washington death records indicate a Joan M. Bower of Seattle, who was born about 1904, died then. (8)
    Lynn’s first wife, Jessie, died on June 12, 1990, in Bakersfield.  She was buried in Chico, Butte County. (9)
    (1) Lynn’s parents are listed in the 1900 Census of Decatur, Van Buren County, Mich..  His birth date and place are listed in his World War II draft registration, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942.”  Most other records agree with that birth year but his World War I draft registration lists the year at 1893.  That registration is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.”  (2) Lynn’s first marriage is listed at “California, County Marriages, 1850-1952,” at FamilySearch. Jessie’s birth date comes from her death record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  Her parents are identified in the marriage record.  Her birthplace is listed in the 1900 Census of St. Helens, Lee County, Ky.  (3) In records available on Ancestry.com, Joan starts appearing as Lynn’s wife in 1938.  Her birthplace is listed in the 1940 Census of McKinley, King County, Wash.  Her birth date appears on her dead record, which is available at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.”  (4) Homer’s birth date is available at Ancestry.com, “California Birth Index, 1905-1995.”  (5) His service is mentioned at Ancestry.com, “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.”  (6) The registration is recorded at Acnestry.com, “California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968.”  (7) The directories are available at Ancestry.com, “U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.”  (8)  The death records are available at Ancestry.com, “Washington Death Index, 1940-1996.”  (9)  Her death is listed at Ancestry.com, “California, Death Index, 1940-1997.”  Her grave is listed at Findagrave.com.


EIGHTH GENERATION

EDWARD and MARY BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob, George, Charles)
    Edward Charles Bowers was born May 16, 1919, in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa. His parents were Charles L. and Laura Estella (Moyer) Bowers. (1)
    Married Mary Louella Nye. (See below.)
    Children:
    Theodore.
    Kenneth Ralph, born Jan. 10, 1942.  Died Aug. 9, 2008.
    Robert Lee, born Sept. 22, 1948.  Died Dec. 12, 2003.
     Ed grew up in Franklin Township and attended Lincoln High School in Ellwood City for two years. (2)   When he was 16, his father, Charlie, helped him gain employment with the state highway department.  Ed then quit school because he had a job – all anyone needed to get started in life in rural Pennsylvania in the 1930s.  Ed worked for the highway department for three years, until there was a political shakeup and many of those hired by the previous administration were fired.  Ed then got a job driving a coal truck, which he held for four years.
    Ed married Mary Louella Nye on Aug. 26, 1937.  The ceremony was performed by the Rev. D.W. Webb in Cumberland, Md.  Many Pennsylvanians went to the town just across the border to be married because there was less bureaucracy and waiting involved.
    Mary was born May 10, 1919, in Wurtemburg in Beaver County, Pa. Her parents were Victor Perry and Mary Louella (Graff) Nye. (3) 
    The Nye family was large and poor.  Her father, Perry, lost his job during the Great Depression and took up farming and dug coal for extra money to support his 11 children.
    On Feb. 27, 1935, Perry Nye died of a heart attack while digging coal near the family’s home.  Mary wrote the poem “When Death Came” just after her father’s death.  It reads:
    “Once our home was oh, so happy./ In our heart we felt no pain./ Till the day of stricken sadness/ could our hearts have felt more pain.
    “When the word came from our teacher,/ “Your father has passed away.” Then the tears of sadness could have/ melted our heart away.
    “The day we laid him in the church yard,/ oh, little did we know,/ that we buried our home with him/ in that quiet old church yard.
    “We tried to make it cheerful/ but no one could bear/ to see our home so vacant/ without our father there.”
    Mary didn’t finish school.  At age 16, she took a job as a housekeeper for a dentist. She lived in a small room in the family’s house and earned $5 a week, which seemed like a lot of money at a time when bread cost only 5 cents a loaf.
    Ed and Mary met at a roller-skating party when Mary’s date refused to skate.
    After they were married, the couple moved in with Ed’s parents. Their first son was born in the Bowers house on Route 288 in Franklin Township.  Laura Bowers taught Mary how to cook and the two always got along very well.  Mary said, “I loved her as much as I loved my own mother.”  However, Mary didn’t get along quite as well with the strong-willed Charlie.
    In 1941, Ed went to work for Spang Chalfant in Ambridge, Pa.  He worked in the department that manufactured 105mm artillery shells.  His job as an acetylene burner operator is described in his military discharge papers: “Worked for Spang and Chalfant, Ambridge, Pa for 2 years.  Cut 4 inches bars with acetylene burner to specified lengths in the manufacture of steel shells.  Controlled heat of electric torch.  Adjusted torch.” (4)
    On March 31, 1944, Ed and Mary purchased the property in Franklin Township, where they lived for the rest of their lives. (5)
    Because Ed had two children and worked in an arms factory, he received four deferments before being drafted into the Army for World War II.
    First, Ed was ordered to report for a preinduction physical on April 24, 1944, at the local Selective Service board in Baden, Pa. (6)  On Aug. 28, he was notified that he was ordered to report to Baden for induction into military service on Sept. 11. (7)  He was designated recruit number 33 925 758.  On Sept. 13, he took out a five-year insurance policy worth $10,000, with a monthly premium of $6.70, naming Mary Luella Bowers, his wife, of R.D. 2 Ellwood City, as his beneficiary. (8)
    Mary remained at home to care for their sons. Mary said the family was allotted $100 a month by the government and was allowed to reduce mortgage payments so that they covered only the loan’s interest.  However, it was still difficult to feed two young boys. Relatives provided produce from their farms and the family got by with cheap cuts of meat and plenty of soup.
    After induction, Ed underwent basic training at Fort McClellan in Alabama.  He completed training on Jan. 6, 1945, receiving special qualification as a heavy weapons crewman. (9)
    Ed left for the European Theater of Operations on Feb. 24. (10)  His ship arrived in Europe on March 4.  When Ed arrived at the front, he was assigned to Company M of the 60th Infantry Regiment.  The 60th Infantry – the “Go Devils” – was part of the 9th Infantry Division in the U.S. First Army.
    The Company Morning Report for Company M dated March 31 shows that Pvt. Edward C. Bowers, No. 33925758, and three other privates had joined the unit as replacements.  At the time, the company was in Odenhausen, Germany.  Company M and the rest of the 60^th Infantry’s 3^rd Battalion were in a static position and hot meals were served that day. (11)
    By the time Ed joined the regiment, the 60^th Infantry had crossed the Rhine River and was moving beyond Rheinland.  Ed later recalled crossing a major river, but did not remember which it was.  Upon reaching the river, his commander warned the troops to be extra wary because they were entering territory that was precious to the Germans, which scared Ed.  The river may have been either the Rhine or the Ruhr. (12)
    Ed once said that the first time he was fired upon, his unit was walking through a forest.  “We walked into the woods and everything opened up and everyone hit the ground.”  Ed said he buried his face in the dirt until his commander came over and kicked him in the head.
    The 60^th Infantry Regiment’s history, titled “Follow Thu,” offers an account of the regiment’s progress after crossing in the Rhine at Remagen in mid-March. (13)
    “The Go Devils finally broke out [from the bridgehead near Remagen].  They captured the high ground east of Erpel and opened a flank.  As the strong points were cleared of the enemy, the 78th and 99th Infantry Divisions had room to move in on the flanks of the Ninth.
    “Unforgettable town names like Hargarten, St. Katherinen, Lorscheid, Notscheid, Vittelschoss and Strodt were engraved in the minds of the men who did the savage fighting necessary before they fell.
    “At Lorscheid almost two companies were trapped by enemy tanks and infantry for a day and a night before friendly troops and tanks could finally break through the desperate Kraut defense and take the towns.
    “G-2 expected the enemy to send mobile reserves from the south of the Ninth Army bridgehead area in the north.  The 60th was dispatched to cut the Cologne-Frankfurt Autobahn and prevent this.  Then they continued eastward, made the Wied River crossing, took Strauscheid, Rahms, Weissenfeld, Hodden, Hombach, Epgert.  Here the 7th Armored began the first of a series of long dashes which carried it deep in to the heart of the Reich.
    “The 60th boarded trucks, tanks and TD’s [tank destroyers] and began the chase through rolling hills, broad, green valleys and countless little villages where hundreds of Jerry deserters would be waiting to be picked up.  Then, even as had happened during the rapid dash across France after the breakthrough, they were halted by lack of supplies and forced to keep near Marberg, Fronthausen.
    “Other elements of the First Army rolled over the Krauts in the Ruhr area until they were practically surrounded.  The 60th was moved to Winterburg and Neu Astenburg to hold the last possible enemy escape route out of the Ruhr pocket.
    “At Neu Astenburg fanatical SS troopers had retaken the town and begun breaking out when the 3d Battalion Go Devils appeared.  [Ed’s Company M was part of the 3rd Battalion.]  In the midst of a freak snow storm, Riegel mines, roadblocks and country-resort hotels the 60th doughs set up house.  The Ruhr pocket was closed.
    “The Nazi super troops were using tanks, infantry, self-propelled guns and artillery of all kinds to break out and at least save some of their SS men, but to no avail.
    “The 60th began stabbing into the Ruhr. …
    “Final objectives were reached by the 10th [of April], and the 60th was pinched off into a secondary position by other units.
    “Throughout the Third Reich at this point, SS, SA and make-shift Volkssturm groups of resistance were holding pockets of opposition.  ‘Heil Hitler’ and propaganda-heightened fear of Allied occupation and ‘American massacre of Germans soldiers and civilians’ gave rise to fanatical, well organized delaying units.  One of these, in the Harz Mountains, was the 60th’s next destination.
    “Lucky Friday the 13th the 150 mile motor march from east of the Ruhr region to the sector near Nordhausen, site of one of the more infamous of the many Nazi concentration camps, was begun.
    “Organized resistance in the Harz Mountains ended on 20 April, and the line became static while we waited for our Russian allies.  Patrols crossed the Mulde River to return loaded with prisoners, pistols, and cameras.  …
    “1830 hours 27 April, a patrol of the 3d Battalion Go Devils contacted elements of the Russian forces.  The Eastern and Western Fronts were one.  The fighting part of the war was over.
    “On the 2d of May, a Russian Major rode up to the last of the 60th outposts on the bridge.  He was accompanied by a truckload of happy, shouting, singing Russian soldiers, all carrying submachine guns.  This was the relief for the last Go Devil outpost of World War II.”
    Ed recalled linking up with troops of the Soviet Union’s Red Army.  “It was a glorious day,” Ed said. The soldiers, who couldn’t understand each other, drank and celebrated.
    Ed was always reluctant to talk about his service, stating plainly: “War is a bad thing.”  His family rarely asked about his experiences but, over the years, he occasionally mentioned things that had happened.  In fact, the only time he spoke more than a few sentences about the war came when his grandson Brian visited just before moving to Germany to work for the Stars and Stripes newspaper in 1992.  The first thing he said was: “You won’t like it.  It’s all bombed out.”  Even at this time, he told only one story that actually involved combat – the account of his first encounter with enemy fire.
  One of his few stories involved the first time he took prisoners.  Ed was manning a machine gun when German soldiers walked toward him with their hands raised.  He commanded them to halt, but they didn’t understand and kept walking toward him.  He didn’t open fire on them, but he said he was probably more scared than they were.  It was common for American troops to take medals and weapons from captured Germans.  Ed brought home several medals and a Luger pistol, which he later sold for $95.
    One night, Ed was sleeping in a tent when an artillery shell exploded nearby, burying the tent with dirt.  For the rest of his life, he suffered from mild claustrophobia.  His military service also contributed to his hearing loss, which grew progressively worse with age.
    On another evening, Ed said, he was stationed in a foxhole along a small road to watch for Germans.  Both he and a man stationed across the road fells asleep.  This allowed “a whole mess of Germans” to walked past unhindered as they searched for someone to surrender to.  They reached the company headquarters before encountering any Americans.  Ed said he and the other man were thoroughly scolded for sleeping on duty.
    Ed said the weather was very cold in early 1945.  The soldiers did a lot of walking, on patrol or heading toward battle, which kept them warm.  At night, they would keep warm in houses or barns if another company was leading the attack.  One night, when Ed’s platoon was resting in a barn, a young soldier starting going around and rubbing others men’s legs.  Ed got up and left when the soldier tried to do it to him.  The soldier was removed from the unit the next day.
    During the war, troops were allowed to write letters home called V-Mail.  A letter from Pvt. Edward C. Bowers in Germany to his oldest son was dated April 30.  It opens: “Just a few lines to write to let you know that daddy still loves you and your big brother, Kenny.  Your mummy, although tell her that I love her very much also and give her a real big kiss for me.”  It’s filled with questions about what his sons and other relatives were doing.  It ends: “Well son, this war will soon be over and I’ll take you and Kenny fishing a lot and will buy a whole car load of hot dogs afterward.  Please write to me and don’t forget to give mummy and Kenny a big kiss for me and tell them I love them.  God bless you all.  Your daddy.”
    Ed’s uniform bore three battle stars for participating in the campaigns of the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.  These are mentioned on the Separation Qualification Record.  However, the Enlisted Record and Report of Separation states that he received only two stars, for Central Europe and the Rhineland.  This is one of a few discrepancies among his records, which did not become apparent until after his death.
    At the end of hostilities, the 9th Infantry Division was stationed in Ingolstadt, a town on the Danube River about 40 miles north of Munich.  Ed was promoted from corporal to staff sergeant and assigned to the motor pool because of his experience driving and working on trucks.  He said he was able to drive around quite a bit and “goof off” because jeeps and trucks often needed repairs and test drives.  The Separation Qualification Record describes his job: “Supervised 24 men and was responsible for 20 trucks.  Assigned men to trucks, routed trucks.  Supervised 2 mechanics in the maintenance and repair of vehicles.  Made up reports, kept pertinent records.  Supervised 3 transportation corporals.”
    The German residents of Ingolstadt were a “mixed bag,” some very nice and some nasty, Ed said.  He recalled spending a lot of time with the family of a police officer. 
    Ed’s motor pool assignment gave him the opportunity at one point to drive to Czechoslovakia, where his brother Omar was stationed. However, after a two-day drive he arrived and found that Omar was on furlough in England. Several months later, he was able to spend a month with Omar in Switzerland, providing Ed with what he said were his only pleasant memories of Europe.  Unfortunately, on the train trip back to Germany, many of the soldiers got sick from eating bad chicken.  The trip became very messy because of limited restroom facilities aboard the train.
    Omar was a medic with the 357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division, in Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army. Omar was wounded twice and also contracted trench foot, thus missing the Battle of the Bulge. Ed’s other brother, Clyde, served in the Navy, working on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Shangri La and later the carrier Antietam.
    From October 1945 to January 1946, Ed said, he was in Bremerhaven, Germany, waiting for transportation back to the United States. The food, which was cooked by Germans, was very bad.  The second week he was there, he found bubble gum mixed with his eggs. Also, every meal offered some sort of cheese – which he came to dislike intensely and continued to avoid throughout his life.
    Ed left the European Theater of Operations on March 2, 1946.  On the trip home, Ed said he traveled on a ship that had once been a cattle transport.  It took six days to pass through the English Channel because of fierce storms.  All the hatches had to be closed and no one was allowed on deck because of the rough seas.  Nearly everyone got seasick – except Ed, because he could no longer stand the food and hadn’t eaten anything at the beginning of the trip. 
   He arrived back in the United States on March 12.  He received an honorable discharge from the Army on March 17 at Fort Dix, N.J.  His total length of service amounted to 1 year, 6 months, 7 days – with foreign service totaling 1 year, 19 days.  During that time, he attained the rank of staff sergeant, participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns and received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  He was never wounded.  His mustering-out pay amounted to $300.  His discharge papers describe him as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 156 pounds.  He had brown hair and blue eyes. (14)
    After returning home, Ed went back to work at Spang-Chalfant.  However, later that year, he was laid off because of a “power strike.”  On Sept. 26, he applied for a readjustment allowance based on his temporary unemployment and his former military service. (15)
    Ed eventually got a position in Spang Chalfant’s research department.  The job was to last six weeks, but actually led to the one he had until retirement in 1981.  He also returned to school to study metallurgy and became a metallographer.
    For his last 15 years at the company – which later was bought by Armco Steel Corp. – Ed tested oil-well pipe that had been returned by customers because of defects.  He would write up the reports but could not sign them because he didn’t have the college degree to back his decisions.
    According to his sons, Ed had quite a temper as a young man, but he mellowed with age.  He was always extremely neat and orderly – qualities that often drove less-tidy members of his family to distraction.  Ed had an ornery sense of humor and enjoyed joking around with people.  He was always a kind and generous grandfather.  He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, camping and maintaining a large vegetable garden.  When he was young, he also played baseball.  His obituary noted, “He played softball in his youth in the Frisco area.” 
    Ed was also very active in his church, Lillyville Church of God in Franklin Township, where he served as an elder, trustee and Sunday school teacher.
    Mary was very close to her family – especially her sisters, sons and grandchildren.  Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, she prepared a large feast for her children and grandchildren.  She enjoys playing cards, board games, bowling, golf, needlework and reminiscing.
    Each winter after retirement, Ed and Mary traveled to Florida, where they lived in a mobile home for a few weeks.  While visiting Cape Canaveral in January 1986, they witnessed the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
    Ed died Aug. 8, 1996, after battling a form of leukemia for about two years. During the previous Christmas season, doctors had said that he could die at any time because he could not fight off the disease.  To combat the disease, Ed was given transfusions every week.  He remained very active although rather weakened in his last months.  In late July, he came down with an infection in his arm that spread because of his condition.  He maintained his jovial nature for much of his two-week stay in the Ellwood City Hospital, endearing himself to the nurses.  The last few days he was often unconscious.  He died peacefully in his sleep with Mary and Kenny by his side.
    Mary died Feb. 26, 2003, at Ellwood City Hospital.  Although she continued to grow weaker in her last few years, she continued to golf and enjoy spending time with her extended family.
    Ed and Mary are buried at Lillyville Church of God in Franklin Township, Beaver County. (16)
(1) Much of the information in this item comes from interviews with Ed and Mary Bowers in 1989 and 1990.  Birth date and parents are listed in Certification of Birth, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, File No. 75749-19.  Some information is also listed in Mary’s obituary in the Ellwood City Ledger of Feb. 28, 2002.  (2) Army of the United States, Separation Qualification Record, WD AGO Form 100.  (3) Certification of Birth, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, File No. 75750-19.  (4) Information on Ed’s military service comes from his draft notice and various discharge papers, which were found in a bank box after his death.  Questions concerning his service dates didn’t arise until these were discovered.  The information on his job at Spang Chalfant appears in the Separation Qualification Record.  (5) Beaver County Deed Book 516, page 339, as reported in Deed Book 1183, page 274.  (6) Selective Service System Order to Report Preinduction Physical Examination, DSS Form 215.  (7) Order to Report for Induction, DSS For 150.  (8) Application for National Service Life Insurance, Veterans Administration Form 350.  (9) Replacement and School Command, Army Ground Forces, Certificate.  (10) Enlisted Records and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, WD AGO Form 53-55.  Ed once said that he sailed to Glasgow, Scotland, aboard the Queen Mary, the world’s largest ocean liner at the time.  However, a listing of voyages by the Queen Mary during World War II – available at www.ww2troopships.com – doesn’t list a trip starting on that date.  (11) Company Morning Report for Company M, 60^th Infantry Regiment, courtesy of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo.  (12) The outline of the 9th Infantry Division’s actions in in World War II come from “Eight Stars to Victory” A History of the Veteran Ninth U.S. Infantry Division,” Joseph H. Mittelman, Columbus, Ohio, 1948.  (13) “Follow Thu,” by 1st Lt. Morton J. Stussman, printed by Chr. Scheufele in Stuttgart, Germany.  Excerpts are from pages 104-111.  (14) Enlisted Records and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, WD AGO Form 53-55.  (15) Application for Servicemen’s Readjustment Allowance, VA Form 4 – 1382.  (16) Ed’s tombstone is mentioned in “Lillyville Church of God Cemetery,” compiled by Dwight Cooper, New Castle, Pa., page 1.
 
OMAR and ALMA BOWERS
(Diel, Dietrich, Jacob, Thomas, Jacob, George, Charles)
    Omar D.  Bowers was born May 23, 1921, in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pa.  His parents were Charles Leverne and Laura Estella (Moyer) Bowers. (1)
    Married Alma Marburger. (See below)
    Children: Two sons, born in 1947 and 1952.
    Omar married Alma Marburger on June 14, 1941, at the home of Norman Hall in Franklin Township.  Alma was born Sept.  22, 1922, in Jackson Township, Butler County, Pa.  Her parents were William and Nora (Nelson) Marburger.  William was born July 24, 1880, in Harmony Junction, Pa.  Nora was born April 3, 1886, in Harmony Junction.
    Before World War II, Omar worked at Packer Steel Tubing.
    On Aug.  23, 1943, he was inducted into the Army.  On May 3, 1944, he sailed for England. (2)
    Omar served as a company aid man on the front lines in Europe.  He was assigned to the Medical Detachment of the 357th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division in Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army.
    The 90th Division participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Rheinland and Central Europe, for which Omar earned campaign stars.  The division was among the first to follow up the D-Day invasion.
    Omar was wounded in action twice: on Sept.  14, 1944, in France and Dec.12, 1944, in Germany, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.  He also earned a Bronze Star for his actions.
    In Germany, a sniper once aimed at him from a church steeple.  A tank driver hollered, “Jump,” in time for Omar to avoid being shot.  The tanker then turned his gun around and shot over Omar’s head and into the steeple. Other close calls involved 88mm shells that landed beside him, but didn’t explode.
    Following the end of hostilities, Omar served as an operating room technician.
    On Oct. 16, 1945, Omar sailed for the United States, ending his tour of duty in Europe.  He was honorably discharged on Oct. 28, 1945.  By the end of his service, Omar had attained the rank of technician 3rd grade.
    However, World War II wasn’t the extent of Omar’s service.  During the Korean War, he served from Oct.  25, 1950, to May 11, 1951, at the 302nd Field Hospital at Fort Campbell, Ky.  During this service he went to medical school in San Antonio, Texas.
    The Bowers lived in Ellwood City, Pa., and Evans City, Pa., before moving to Leigh Acres, Fla., in the late 1960s.  For 21 years, Omar worked for Rheems Manufacturing Co.  in Monaco, Pa., where he was a supervisor.  After moving to Florida, he established Bowers Lawn Service, which he operated for 17 years before retiring.
    Omar died June 14, 1997. (3)
    Alma died Dec. 28, 2012, in Marietta, Ohio. (4)
    (1) Birth information comes from Mary Bowers’ family Bible and U.S. Social Security Death Index, via FamilySearch.org.  Most other information comes from a 1992 letter from Omar. (2) Most service information comes from Omar’s Enlistment Record and Report of Separation. (3) U.S. Social Security Death Index, via FamilySearch.org.  (4) Alma’s death is listed at Ancestry.com, “U.S. Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection.”