Individual Details
William Chesley Bowman
(27 Sep 1859 - 22 Apr 1950)
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri - Marriage Records - 1868-1886
William C. Bowman and Emma Estes
25 Jan 1883, by William H. Welker
at the bride's father's
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Article - "Burfordville, Then and Now" and notes in handwriting of Lee Reed
Bowman:
Courting at Bollinger Mill
W. C. and Emma had fond memories of the old water-driven mill at Burfordville,
Missouri.
Young W. C. had learned the milling trade working for his Uncle Sam at the
mill. It was hard work, but it had its humerous side. There were goats, lured
by the warm scent of crushed grain, that would slip inside the mill every time
the front door was left open. Left alone, the goats would nimbly go up the
several flights of stairs and frolic on the floors above. They were usually
caught by workmen and tossed out a window to light in the mill pond.
Emma and her young friends, in their long swaying dresses and parasols to
protect their fair skin from the sun, would cross the bridge to walk and
picnic. Emma's family, the Esteses, along with the Bollingers, owned most of
the land around the mill.
Lee Reed (son of W. E. and Emma) states that on the day Emma met W. C., she was
out with several girls. They were east of the old bridge, and on the way back
they saw someone push a goat out of the top window.
(It can only be speculated that W. C. knew what he was doing and was determined
to get an introduction. Upon sighting the girls, he took the quickest way he
knew to get their attention.)
Emma and the girls thought it the most cruel thing that they had ever seen.
They marched into the mill and complained to Sam Bowman who laughed and called
young Billy (W. C.). Billy came into the room grinning like a cat (after all,
he had gotten the girls inside so he could meet them).
Emma, after telling him what she thought of him and his throwing the goat out
of the window, hit him on the head with her parasol.
_________________________________
___________________________________________________________
"History of Southeast Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Co., August 1888:
William C. Bowman, an enterprising citizen of Cape Girardeau County, and a
member of the firm of J. C. Clippard & Co., proprietors of Burfordville Roller
Mills, was born in Cape Girardeau County on September 27, 1859, and is a son of
Rev. B. L. Bowman, a native of Virginia, who came to Missouri when a young man
of eighteen years. He settled in Cape Girardeau County, and afterward married
Eliza J. Ford, daughter of Daniel Ford. She was born in Virginia, but was
reared in Cape Girardeau County. Rev. B. L. Bowman and wife now reside at
Marble Hill, Bollinger Co., Mo. William C. Bowman grew to manhood in his
native county, and while young commenced learning the milling business at
Burfordville. He afterward worked for a few months at Tiedemann's Mills,
Jackson, Mo. In 1882, he took charge of the Burfordville Mill, buying an
interest in the same in March 1887. This is a water mill, with the improved
roller process, and is among the best millss of the county. Its daily capacity
is eighty barrels. On January 25, 1883, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage with
Emma Estes, a native of Bollinger County. Their union has been blessed by two
children: Lyman R. and Eula. Mr. Bowman is a member of the Burfordville Lodge
of A.O.U.W., which he is serving the second term as financier. He and wife are
members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________
"Genealogy of a Bowman Family," by Byron Whitener Bowman, 1956:
Biography of William Chesley Bowman - 1859-1950
William Chesley Bowman was born on September 27, 1859, at Oak Ridge, Cape
Girardeau County, Missouri. He was the second child of Benjamin Lee and Eliza
Jane Bowman.
He was the founder of the Scott County Milling Company in Sikeston, Missouri,
in the year 1904. He was the fourth in a line of flour millers in the United
States and had been active in the operation of the Scott County Milling Company
until just a few days before his death. In fact, he was in his office at his
desk on Thursday preceding his passing.
He, with his grandfather Benjamin Bowman and his uncle Samuel Sterling Bowman,
all millers at one time, entered the milling industry at Burfordville,
Missouri, where his uncle Samuel Bowman was manager of a water-driven mill.
While working at the Burfordville mill, he met and married Miss Emma Estes, who
preceded him in death on January 5, 1938, at Sikeston, Missouri.
Before moving to Sikeston in 1893 with his family, he worked for a period in
the Pacific Northwest and was also a miller in Jackson, Missouri, for two
years. When the family moved to Sikeston, he became associated with the
Greer-Holley Milling Company, then owned by G. B. Greer and U. G. Holley.
Later he became a partner in the company, and the name was changed to the
Greer-Eberdt Milling Company. Later he sold his interest in this company and
became associated with his brother Charles and other associates in purchasing
the Albert Jorndt Roller Mill at Dexter, Missouri, and operating as the Dexter
Milling Company, this being in the early 1900s.
Some few years later, he was induced by his friend Charles D. Matthews of
Sikeston, Missouri, to organize a new flour mill at Sikeston. Known as the
Bowman-Matthews Milling Company, the name was changed to the Scott County
Milling Company, with the consolidation of the Oran mill, together with the
Greer-Eberdt Milling Company of Sikeston. A little later, the Dexter Milling
Company was merged with the Scott County Milling Company, thus resulting in the
formation of a large and going industry for Southeast Missouri--a company known
throughout the South for its fine products and its high standard of business
integrity, mostly due to the high standard of business policies of Uncle Billie
Bowman and his posterity.
He was active not only in the milling industry but in civic affairs and at the
time of his death was the "First Citizen" of Sikeston (Note: "Death Takes
Sikeston's First Citizen, The Sikeston Herald, Thursday, April 27, 1950). From
1912 to 1916, he was a member of the Scott County Court, hence the title of
"Judge" was given him. For fifteen years, he was a member of the city's Board
of Education, serving as President of that organization part of the time. He
was a member of the Scottish Rite Masons.
In his later years, he was fond of walking through the city and was a familiar
figure to most Sikestonians. Besides his milling interests, he was also active
in livestock and wheat production on his farms in the county.
He was a longtime member and Deacon of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston.
He had contributed more than half the original cost of the erection of the
church building.
At the time of his death, he was the tenth in a family of thirteen children to
pass away. At this writing, only one brother of the very large family survives
him, and that is James Reed Bowman of Jackson, Missouri.
He passed away at the Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, Missouri,
on Saturday, April 22, 1950, and interment was in the Sikeston Mausoleum where
his good wife also lies at rest.
It is so easy to say he was truly a great character in the community in which
he resided most of his life, a lover of his Lord and Master, and he loved and
supported his church admirably.
Never have I heard a finer and more fitting eulogy of a person than that spoken
of him by his pastor in conducting his last funeral rites on the day he was
laid to rest.
by Byron W. Bowman
William C. Bowman and Emma Estes
25 Jan 1883, by William H. Welker
at the bride's father's
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Article - "Burfordville, Then and Now" and notes in handwriting of Lee Reed
Bowman:
Courting at Bollinger Mill
W. C. and Emma had fond memories of the old water-driven mill at Burfordville,
Missouri.
Young W. C. had learned the milling trade working for his Uncle Sam at the
mill. It was hard work, but it had its humerous side. There were goats, lured
by the warm scent of crushed grain, that would slip inside the mill every time
the front door was left open. Left alone, the goats would nimbly go up the
several flights of stairs and frolic on the floors above. They were usually
caught by workmen and tossed out a window to light in the mill pond.
Emma and her young friends, in their long swaying dresses and parasols to
protect their fair skin from the sun, would cross the bridge to walk and
picnic. Emma's family, the Esteses, along with the Bollingers, owned most of
the land around the mill.
Lee Reed (son of W. E. and Emma) states that on the day Emma met W. C., she was
out with several girls. They were east of the old bridge, and on the way back
they saw someone push a goat out of the top window.
(It can only be speculated that W. C. knew what he was doing and was determined
to get an introduction. Upon sighting the girls, he took the quickest way he
knew to get their attention.)
Emma and the girls thought it the most cruel thing that they had ever seen.
They marched into the mill and complained to Sam Bowman who laughed and called
young Billy (W. C.). Billy came into the room grinning like a cat (after all,
he had gotten the girls inside so he could meet them).
Emma, after telling him what she thought of him and his throwing the goat out
of the window, hit him on the head with her parasol.
_________________________________
___________________________________________________________
"History of Southeast Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Co., August 1888:
William C. Bowman, an enterprising citizen of Cape Girardeau County, and a
member of the firm of J. C. Clippard & Co., proprietors of Burfordville Roller
Mills, was born in Cape Girardeau County on September 27, 1859, and is a son of
Rev. B. L. Bowman, a native of Virginia, who came to Missouri when a young man
of eighteen years. He settled in Cape Girardeau County, and afterward married
Eliza J. Ford, daughter of Daniel Ford. She was born in Virginia, but was
reared in Cape Girardeau County. Rev. B. L. Bowman and wife now reside at
Marble Hill, Bollinger Co., Mo. William C. Bowman grew to manhood in his
native county, and while young commenced learning the milling business at
Burfordville. He afterward worked for a few months at Tiedemann's Mills,
Jackson, Mo. In 1882, he took charge of the Burfordville Mill, buying an
interest in the same in March 1887. This is a water mill, with the improved
roller process, and is among the best millss of the county. Its daily capacity
is eighty barrels. On January 25, 1883, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage with
Emma Estes, a native of Bollinger County. Their union has been blessed by two
children: Lyman R. and Eula. Mr. Bowman is a member of the Burfordville Lodge
of A.O.U.W., which he is serving the second term as financier. He and wife are
members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________
"Genealogy of a Bowman Family," by Byron Whitener Bowman, 1956:
Biography of William Chesley Bowman - 1859-1950
William Chesley Bowman was born on September 27, 1859, at Oak Ridge, Cape
Girardeau County, Missouri. He was the second child of Benjamin Lee and Eliza
Jane Bowman.
He was the founder of the Scott County Milling Company in Sikeston, Missouri,
in the year 1904. He was the fourth in a line of flour millers in the United
States and had been active in the operation of the Scott County Milling Company
until just a few days before his death. In fact, he was in his office at his
desk on Thursday preceding his passing.
He, with his grandfather Benjamin Bowman and his uncle Samuel Sterling Bowman,
all millers at one time, entered the milling industry at Burfordville,
Missouri, where his uncle Samuel Bowman was manager of a water-driven mill.
While working at the Burfordville mill, he met and married Miss Emma Estes, who
preceded him in death on January 5, 1938, at Sikeston, Missouri.
Before moving to Sikeston in 1893 with his family, he worked for a period in
the Pacific Northwest and was also a miller in Jackson, Missouri, for two
years. When the family moved to Sikeston, he became associated with the
Greer-Holley Milling Company, then owned by G. B. Greer and U. G. Holley.
Later he became a partner in the company, and the name was changed to the
Greer-Eberdt Milling Company. Later he sold his interest in this company and
became associated with his brother Charles and other associates in purchasing
the Albert Jorndt Roller Mill at Dexter, Missouri, and operating as the Dexter
Milling Company, this being in the early 1900s.
Some few years later, he was induced by his friend Charles D. Matthews of
Sikeston, Missouri, to organize a new flour mill at Sikeston. Known as the
Bowman-Matthews Milling Company, the name was changed to the Scott County
Milling Company, with the consolidation of the Oran mill, together with the
Greer-Eberdt Milling Company of Sikeston. A little later, the Dexter Milling
Company was merged with the Scott County Milling Company, thus resulting in the
formation of a large and going industry for Southeast Missouri--a company known
throughout the South for its fine products and its high standard of business
integrity, mostly due to the high standard of business policies of Uncle Billie
Bowman and his posterity.
He was active not only in the milling industry but in civic affairs and at the
time of his death was the "First Citizen" of Sikeston (Note: "Death Takes
Sikeston's First Citizen, The Sikeston Herald, Thursday, April 27, 1950). From
1912 to 1916, he was a member of the Scott County Court, hence the title of
"Judge" was given him. For fifteen years, he was a member of the city's Board
of Education, serving as President of that organization part of the time. He
was a member of the Scottish Rite Masons.
In his later years, he was fond of walking through the city and was a familiar
figure to most Sikestonians. Besides his milling interests, he was also active
in livestock and wheat production on his farms in the county.
He was a longtime member and Deacon of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston.
He had contributed more than half the original cost of the erection of the
church building.
At the time of his death, he was the tenth in a family of thirteen children to
pass away. At this writing, only one brother of the very large family survives
him, and that is James Reed Bowman of Jackson, Missouri.
He passed away at the Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, Missouri,
on Saturday, April 22, 1950, and interment was in the Sikeston Mausoleum where
his good wife also lies at rest.
It is so easy to say he was truly a great character in the community in which
he resided most of his life, a lover of his Lord and Master, and he loved and
supported his church admirably.
Never have I heard a finer and more fitting eulogy of a person than that spoken
of him by his pastor in conducting his last funeral rites on the day he was
laid to rest.
by Byron W. Bowman
Events
| Birth | 27 Sep 1859 | Oak Ridge, Cape Girardeau, MO | |||
| Marriage | 25 Jan 1883 | Burfordville, Cape Girardeau, MO - Emma Estes | |||
| Death | 22 Apr 1950 | Sikeston, Scott, MO | |||
| Burial | Sikeston Mausoleum, Sikeston, Scott, MO |
Families
| Spouse | Emma Estes (1864 - 1938) |
| Father | Benjamin Leroy "Lee" Bowman (1837 - 1920) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Jane Ford (1840 - 1930) |
| Sibling | Amy Sophia Bowman (1857 - 1899) |
| Sibling | Charles Christopher Bowman (1861 - 1906) |
| Sibling | Mary Lee Bowman (1863 - ) |
| Sibling | Nettie Bowman (1866 - 1948) |
| Sibling | Samuel Lee Bowman (1868 - 1949) |
| Sibling | James Reed Bowman (1870 - 1961) |
| Sibling | Thomas Ford Bowman (1872 - 1935) |
| Sibling | Lou Ella Bowman (1875 - 1878) |
| Sibling | Joseph Maple Bowman (1877 - 1952) |
| Sibling | Wilbur Talley Bowman (1878 - 1940) |
| Sibling | Anna Bowman (1880 - 1955) |
| Sibling | Franklin Bowman (1884 - ) |