Individual Details

This is the John Bowles killed by Indians in Texas in 1859. The proof that he belongs to John M. Bowles & Frances Bolling is lacking although this relationship is cited in many, many databases. The rest of their family remained in Tennessee or moved to St. Francois, MO. It is not impossible this one son moved to Mississippi, but it is a bit curious - especially at such a young age. This younger John did name one of his daughter Frances and that could have been for his mother. But some of the records are confusing to say the least. This relationship gives me the most trouble in trying to accept this family as usually shown.

An article published in the Itawamba Settlers, Mantachie, MS, Vol 12, No 2, Spring of 1992, submitted by Minia E. Bates of Modesto, CA, states that John Bowles was born in Virginia, the son of John and Fannie Bowles. His father was one of the Tennessee volunteers under Andrew Jackson against the Creeks and was wounded at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He recovered and went with Jackson to New Orleans in 1814, where he was one of the few American fatalities.
My note; This simply doesn't gibe with the John M. Bowles who married Frances Bolling. He did fight against the Creeks under Capt John Williams, but returned and was living in Warren Co TN in 1830. Were there two John Bowles who married ladies named Frances or Fannie? Or have some of the facts been waylaid.

Although the Bowles book makes claim that John married Millie in Itawamba Co, MS, when he was about 20 and lived there until about 1848, the 1830 Mississippi census has a single John W. Bowls of the right age [20-30] and he was living in Warren Co, MS and the middle initial is wrong, and a John Bowls in the same county who was age [40-50] But there's also a John Boles with family in Marion Co AL [see later] that fits this man. One of the problems is that Itawamba County did not exist until it was formed from the Chickasaw Cession in 1836. Prior to 1836, that part of Mississippi belonged to the Indians.

From the above article in Itawamba Settlers, John is said to have come to Itawamba Co in 1822 [again, it didn't yet exist]. He was found there in tax lists from 1836-1840 when he was also in the census. He appears in a MS state census in 1841 in Itawamba and on a county tax list as late as 1846. His land was on Hurricane Creek, entered in Pontotoc on 3 Jun 1837, bought from the Chickasaws.

1840 Census. Itawamba Co, MS
John Bouls: 1m under 5, 1m 5-10, 2m 10-15, 1m 20-30, 1m 30-40. 2f under 5, 3f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 30-40
Since he is known to have had some 13 children, this is likely John.

John is said to have moved for awhile to Monroe Co, MS where he purchased the entire Section 21. He sold that to Maj. Whitesides in 1849 before moving to Texas. Knowing how much land speculation was going on in Mississippi at this time, I'm not convinced he actually moved to this Section and lived there, he may have simply bought it and sold it - I'd be curious as to the prices he paid and then received when he sold.

He is thought to have gone to Texas about 1848. This appears to be John and family.
1850 Census. Milam & Williamson District, Milam Co TX, Hh 435
John Bowles, age 48, born Mississippi [This again sheds doubt on the connection of this John to John M. Bowles & Frances Bolling of Tennessee - he wasn't likely born in Mississippi in 1802! Of course it could just be an error.]
Milly C., age 42, b. TN
Born in Alabama: Hiram R. 23, James F. 21, John B. 18 [Curious - Alabama. Alabama was once part of Mississippi Territory, 1798-1817, but that was before these children were born.]
Born in Mississippi: Caroline, age 15
William, age 13, said born in Alabama [he will say Mississippi in 1860]
Born in Mississippi: Greenville P. age 12, Emeline age 11, David C. 10, and Maria age 8.

After seeing the birth places of the children, I again checked the 1830 Alabama Census. And living in Marion Co, Alabama, I did find that John Boles. He had two boys under 10 [Hiram & James would fit here], himself age 20-30; 2 girls under 10 [Nancy and possibly Priscilla] and an apparent spouse also 20-30. This man was the right age and he certainly had children prior to 1830. However, given how many men were named John Bowles, one cannot make the assumption this is the right man. Marion Co was formed in 1811, Itawamba not until the Chickasaw Cessions in 1836 and he was apparently there soon after.

Married in Itawamba County were some of his children - dates not given, but the marriage book and page are cited in the above mentioned Itawamba Settlers article.
Adaline married A. W. Kilgore
Frances married James M. Townsend
James F. married Margaret P. Martin
Mary J. married Joseph E. Townsend

Arriving in Texas, Bowles is said to have established a ranch on the Sabinal River circa 1856, in what would become Uvalde County that same year. He is listed as a justice of the peace on a list of officers of the county when it was formed. Indians stole several horses from Mr. Bowles. He shot three of them, but on 28 Oct 1859, they shot and scalped John Bowles, as well as a neighbor, John Davenport.

In 1860, the only Bowles family living in Uvalde Co TX found was that of W. B. Bowles [William], a son of John and Milly. He lived in the town of Uvalde, Hh 459.
W. B. Bowles was age 25, born in Mississippi. Amanda, age 20, b. TX. Mary, age 8 months.
His brother Hiram was in Bell Co TX. Sister Emeline who married Joseph Brown was still in Uvalde Co.

1870 Census. Sabinal, Uvalde Co, TX Hh 39
George W. Patterson Sr., age 79, stock raiser, b. SC
George W. Jr., age 31, b. AL
Maria E., age 26, b. MS [youngest daughter of John & Milly]
eight children
Caroline E. Bowles, age 60, b. MS

Birth	13 Feb 1802	Virginia
Death	28 Oct 1859	Uvalde County, Texas
Marriage		Millie Caroline Pate

Spouse	Millie Caroline Pate (1808 - )
Child	Nancy Adeline Bowles (1825 - )
Child	Hiram R. Bowles (1827 - 1874)
Child	James Frank Bowles (1828 - 1880)
Child	Priscilla Bowles (1830 - )
Child	John B. Bowles (1831 - )
Child	Frances "Fannie" Bowles (1832 - 1912)
Child	Mary Jane Bowles (1833 - )
Child	William B. "Doke" Bowles (1834 - 1902)
Child	Greenville "Pete" Bowles (1836 - 1898)
Child	Caroline Bowles (1837 - 1893)
Child	David Crockett Bowles (1839 - 1918)
Child	Emmaline Bowles (1840 - )
Child	Mariah Bowles (1842 - 1904)

Father	John M. Bowles (1775 - 1832)
Mother	Frances Bolling (1777 - 1869)
Sibling	NANCY M. Bowles (1796 - 1876)
Sibling	Sarah Bowles (1798 - 1869)
Sibling	Martha Bowles (1804 - )
Sibling	Lucinda Bowles (1810 - 1880)
Sibling	Mary Bowles (1816 - )
Sibling	Frances Bowles (1819 - 1906)