Individual Details
William Bowles
(Bet 1802 and 1803 - Abt 1876)
Notes imported from GEDCOM:
William Bowles is our first known Bowles ancestor. The 1830 Federalcensus for Crawford County, Missouri had a William Bowles and an IssacBowles. Pulaski County was formed from Crawford County in 1833. ThisWilliam Bowles was in the age 20-29 with a female 30-39. This wouldagree with the ages of William and Nancy, he being 27 and Nancy being 30or 31. There were also two females under 5 which agrees with the 1840census of 2 females 10-14. There is one female 5-9 that is not on the1840 census and there is not a male, age 5-9 that should be on the censusfor it to agree with the 1840 census. There is the possibility that thecensus taker, either in 1830 or 1840, put down the wrong gender. Itwould seem very likely that this William Bowles is also our WiliamBowles. Issac Bowles is in the same age range of 20-29 with a spouseand six children. This could be a brother or cousin of our WilliamBowles.
The 1840 Federal census for Missouri listed a William and Nancy Bowlesin Pulaski County, Missouri. This would agree with the obituary of son,James N. Bowles and the family tradtion that gives the birthplace ofJames N. Bowles as Pulaski County, Missouri. This can be found in TheEarly History of Reynolds County Missouri, by James E. Bell, 1986 and OldReynolds, published in 1977 by the Reynolds County Courier.
The 1840 census lists one male child under five, which would be James N.;one male age 15 - 20; one male age 30-40, which would be William whowould have been age 37-38 in 1840. There are two females, age 10-14 andone female, presumably Nancy, age 40-50. Wife, Nancy was about threeyears older than William and would have been age 40-42 which would agreewith this census. As this census would agree with the ages of William,Nancy and James N. and the birhplace is supported by family tradition, itis assumed that this is our William and Nancy Bowles.
In the obituary of , James N. Bowles, son of William and Nancy CoppedgeBowles, a story is related as told by a Samuel Hunter, nephew of JamesN. of how the Bowles and Hunters were near neighbors in Pulaski County,Missouri. Sometime after bringing his family to Reynolds County, Williamand his son James, went back to Pulaski County and brought Samuel Hunterback to Reynolds County with them. Samuel Hunter was about age 5 at thetime. The 1880 Federal census for Reynolds County, Missouri, CarrollTownship, dwelling 12, lists a Samuel Hunter, age 35, as born inIllinois, father born in Illinois and mother born in Missouri. If thisis the same Samuel Hunter, the Bowles were perhaps in Illinois previousto their move to Missouri by 1830.
It is assumed that the Federal census, missed the Bowles in 1850.Perhaps they were in transit between Pulaski County and Reynolds County,at that time. The obituary of son, James N. Bowles, states that James N.came to Reynolds County in 1850. He would have been about age 13 andtherefore still in the household of his parents William and NancyCoppedge Bowles. Also, in the book Old Reynolds, pages 139-158, there isa reprint of an article published in a St. Louis newspaper entitled"Reynolds County Has a Bumper Crop". In this article, the writer tellsof a trip through Reynolds County in 1909. He names James N. Bowles whocame to the county in the early fifties, as being one of the oldestcitizens in the town of Centerville. In the book, Early History ofReynolds County, by James E. Bell, 1986, William Bowles is said to be thecounty Postmaster in December 1852. It would seem, therefore, thatWilliam Bowles would have been in the county at least long enough to beestablished and well known, in order to obtain such a position by 1852.At any rate, these two items would seem to establish that William wasdefinitely in Reynolds County by the early 1850's.
William and Nancy are first found in Reynolds County on the Federalcensus, in 1860. OIn both the 1860 and the 1870 Federal Census the placeof birth of William is listed as Pennsylvania. The place of birth ofNancy was listed as Kentucky.
William Bowles was a farmer and merchant for most of his life. The book,Early History of Reynolds County by James E. Bell, incorrectly statesthat James N. Bowles managed the family merchantile business afterWilliam died in 1857. William did not die in 1857, as he and Nancyappear on the Federal census for 1860 and 1870.
In the 1860 census, William Bowles is 57 years old and was living indwelling #223 in Black River Township. His occupation was that ofMerchant with $4,200.00 in Real Estate property and a $300.00 value ofpersonal property. Other persons in the household were wife Nancy age60, born in Kentucky and a Thomas White, blacksmith, age 30. Mr. Whiteis listed with personal propery valued at $100.00 and was born in NewYork State. Neither William nor Nancy are able to read according to thecensus. At this time, some of the nearest neighbors of the Bowles wereJames and Eliza Crownover at #222 and Levi and Rebecca Crownover at#227. Granville Carty lived at #221. Son, James N. Bowles was marriedto Ruth Crownover Bowles, daughter of neighbor, James Crownover.
In the 1870 census we find William and Nancy Bowles in Logan Township inReynolds County. They are listed in dwelling #7 and their son, JamesBowles was a close neighbor in dwelling #5. Both are listed a farmers.The value of real estate property is listed as $4000.00 and personalproperty as $800.00. At that census, William Bowles was 66 years old andlisted as a farmer by occupation. Nancy Bowles was age 70. Also in thehousehold at this time was a Mary Edwards. Her age was difficult to readon the census but appeared to be age 42. There was also a Thomas Edwardsage 16 and Nancy Edwards age 14. Mary could have been a daughter ofWilliam and Nancy, as the 1830 Federal census for Pulaski County, listedtwo females, age 10-14. This Mary would have been about 12 years of agein 1830. William and Nancy do not appear as head of household on the1880 Federal census for Reynolds County, Missouri.
NOTES from Reynolds County Probate Books
Book #1
August Term 1879
"In the matter of the Estate of the Estate of Bowles and Cowan - in theProbate court Aug Term 1879 - Now at this day comes James N. Bowles admof Said Estate and asks the court to continue his final settlement ofsaid Estate till the next regular term for the following the Publisher ofthe Reynolds County Out Look failed to Publish Said settlement as the LawDirects and after the court Examing the Evidence it is so ordered thatSaid settlement be continue till the next regular term.
pages 185-186
William Bowles is our first known Bowles ancestor. The 1830 Federalcensus for Crawford County, Missouri had a William Bowles and an IssacBowles. Pulaski County was formed from Crawford County in 1833. ThisWilliam Bowles was in the age 20-29 with a female 30-39. This wouldagree with the ages of William and Nancy, he being 27 and Nancy being 30or 31. There were also two females under 5 which agrees with the 1840census of 2 females 10-14. There is one female 5-9 that is not on the1840 census and there is not a male, age 5-9 that should be on the censusfor it to agree with the 1840 census. There is the possibility that thecensus taker, either in 1830 or 1840, put down the wrong gender. Itwould seem very likely that this William Bowles is also our WiliamBowles. Issac Bowles is in the same age range of 20-29 with a spouseand six children. This could be a brother or cousin of our WilliamBowles.
The 1840 Federal census for Missouri listed a William and Nancy Bowlesin Pulaski County, Missouri. This would agree with the obituary of son,James N. Bowles and the family tradtion that gives the birthplace ofJames N. Bowles as Pulaski County, Missouri. This can be found in TheEarly History of Reynolds County Missouri, by James E. Bell, 1986 and OldReynolds, published in 1977 by the Reynolds County Courier.
The 1840 census lists one male child under five, which would be James N.;one male age 15 - 20; one male age 30-40, which would be William whowould have been age 37-38 in 1840. There are two females, age 10-14 andone female, presumably Nancy, age 40-50. Wife, Nancy was about threeyears older than William and would have been age 40-42 which would agreewith this census. As this census would agree with the ages of William,Nancy and James N. and the birhplace is supported by family tradition, itis assumed that this is our William and Nancy Bowles.
In the obituary of , James N. Bowles, son of William and Nancy CoppedgeBowles, a story is related as told by a Samuel Hunter, nephew of JamesN. of how the Bowles and Hunters were near neighbors in Pulaski County,Missouri. Sometime after bringing his family to Reynolds County, Williamand his son James, went back to Pulaski County and brought Samuel Hunterback to Reynolds County with them. Samuel Hunter was about age 5 at thetime. The 1880 Federal census for Reynolds County, Missouri, CarrollTownship, dwelling 12, lists a Samuel Hunter, age 35, as born inIllinois, father born in Illinois and mother born in Missouri. If thisis the same Samuel Hunter, the Bowles were perhaps in Illinois previousto their move to Missouri by 1830.
It is assumed that the Federal census, missed the Bowles in 1850.Perhaps they were in transit between Pulaski County and Reynolds County,at that time. The obituary of son, James N. Bowles, states that James N.came to Reynolds County in 1850. He would have been about age 13 andtherefore still in the household of his parents William and NancyCoppedge Bowles. Also, in the book Old Reynolds, pages 139-158, there isa reprint of an article published in a St. Louis newspaper entitled"Reynolds County Has a Bumper Crop". In this article, the writer tellsof a trip through Reynolds County in 1909. He names James N. Bowles whocame to the county in the early fifties, as being one of the oldestcitizens in the town of Centerville. In the book, Early History ofReynolds County, by James E. Bell, 1986, William Bowles is said to be thecounty Postmaster in December 1852. It would seem, therefore, thatWilliam Bowles would have been in the county at least long enough to beestablished and well known, in order to obtain such a position by 1852.At any rate, these two items would seem to establish that William wasdefinitely in Reynolds County by the early 1850's.
William and Nancy are first found in Reynolds County on the Federalcensus, in 1860. OIn both the 1860 and the 1870 Federal Census the placeof birth of William is listed as Pennsylvania. The place of birth ofNancy was listed as Kentucky.
William Bowles was a farmer and merchant for most of his life. The book,Early History of Reynolds County by James E. Bell, incorrectly statesthat James N. Bowles managed the family merchantile business afterWilliam died in 1857. William did not die in 1857, as he and Nancyappear on the Federal census for 1860 and 1870.
In the 1860 census, William Bowles is 57 years old and was living indwelling #223 in Black River Township. His occupation was that ofMerchant with $4,200.00 in Real Estate property and a $300.00 value ofpersonal property. Other persons in the household were wife Nancy age60, born in Kentucky and a Thomas White, blacksmith, age 30. Mr. Whiteis listed with personal propery valued at $100.00 and was born in NewYork State. Neither William nor Nancy are able to read according to thecensus. At this time, some of the nearest neighbors of the Bowles wereJames and Eliza Crownover at #222 and Levi and Rebecca Crownover at#227. Granville Carty lived at #221. Son, James N. Bowles was marriedto Ruth Crownover Bowles, daughter of neighbor, James Crownover.
In the 1870 census we find William and Nancy Bowles in Logan Township inReynolds County. They are listed in dwelling #7 and their son, JamesBowles was a close neighbor in dwelling #5. Both are listed a farmers.The value of real estate property is listed as $4000.00 and personalproperty as $800.00. At that census, William Bowles was 66 years old andlisted as a farmer by occupation. Nancy Bowles was age 70. Also in thehousehold at this time was a Mary Edwards. Her age was difficult to readon the census but appeared to be age 42. There was also a Thomas Edwardsage 16 and Nancy Edwards age 14. Mary could have been a daughter ofWilliam and Nancy, as the 1830 Federal census for Pulaski County, listedtwo females, age 10-14. This Mary would have been about 12 years of agein 1830. William and Nancy do not appear as head of household on the1880 Federal census for Reynolds County, Missouri.
NOTES from Reynolds County Probate Books
Book #1
August Term 1879
"In the matter of the Estate of the Estate of Bowles and Cowan - in theProbate court Aug Term 1879 - Now at this day comes James N. Bowles admof Said Estate and asks the court to continue his final settlement ofsaid Estate till the next regular term for the following the Publisher ofthe Reynolds County Out Look failed to Publish Said settlement as the LawDirects and after the court Examing the Evidence it is so ordered thatSaid settlement be continue till the next regular term.
pages 185-186
Events
| Birth | Bet 1802 and 1803 | ||||
| Birth | Abt 1802 | Pennsylvania, USA | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1820 | Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA - Nancy J. Coppedge | |||
| Death | Abt 1876 | Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA |
Families
| Spouse | Nancy J. Coppedge (1800 - ) |
| Child | James Nashville Bowles (1838 - ) |