Individual Details
James Reed Bowman
(21 Oct 1870 - 4 Apr 1961)
"Genealogy of a Bowman Family," by Byron Whitener Bowman, 1956:
Biography of James Reed Bowman, 1870-1961
James Reed Bowman, the seventh child of Benjamin Lee and Eliza Jane Ford
Bowman, was born at Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, on October 21,
1870.
He spent most of his childhood and early youth at Marble Hill, Bollinger
County, Missouri, where he lived with his parents and attended school at old
Mayfield-Smith Academy. Here he also became a member of the First Baptist
Church, of which his father was pastor.
In the year of 1890, he moved to the town of Burfordville, Missouri. Here he
worked for his brother, William Chesley, who was the manager in charge of the
water mill at that place, it being one of the oldest flour and corn mills west
of the Mississippi River.
On August 30, 1892 he was married to Miss Lillie Belle Lively, the daughter of
John M. and Virginia Levitt Lively, the ceremony being performed by his uncle,
the Rev. Thomas Anderson Bowman of Jackson, Missouri, who was at that time the
pastor of the First Baptist Church at that place.
He and his wife, Lillie, established their home at Burfordville, he having
become manager of the water mill, replacing his brother, William Chesley.
During the next ten or twelve years, he and his wife moved to several towns in
Southeast Missouri, including Sikeston and Advance where he was associated in
the operation and management of a flour mill located at that place. Finally he
moved his family back to Burfordville, and at that time he built a new home,
acquired farm lands, and managed the Burfordville mill.
During this period of time, there were four children born to bless their home:
Hinkle Jordan, the oldest, was born at Burfordville on February 13, 1894;
Richard Earl was born May 18, 1896, and Anice Lilyan was born on October 6,
1900, both at Burfordville; and Myrtle Margueritte was born October 31, 1903,
at Advance, Missouri.
During the year 1912, he purchased a home in Jackson, Missouri, moved his
family into their new home, and took over executive management of one of the
mills of The Cape County Milling Company, of which he acquired a financial
interest. He remained active in the operation of Mill B until the summer of
1953 when he disposed of his milling interest and retired to a quieter life.
"J. R." or Jim Bowman as he is known among his friends and associates of the
community, who number many thousands of individuals, has created a friendship
of the highest confidence such that hundreds of them, both young and old,
sought his counsel and advice.
He served as the Mayor of Jackson for 19 years, and during his administration
the city carried to completion many major improvements. He took special
interest in the development and improvement, not only of the city's affairs but
the schools, highways, and roads in the community.
He was made a Master Mason in the Jackson Masonic fraternity in January 1902,
and in 1953 he was honored by being presented a fifty-year pin by the local
Masonic lodge. He is also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.
At the present writing, he and his good wife, Lillie, live at Jackson,
Missouri, in their home, although he recently passed his 85th birthday and she
her 82nd. They both busy themselves, he looking after his real estate
interests, and she the household affairs. He, for his age, maintains a lively
interest in his fine family and community affairs.
by Byron Whitener Bowman
Biography of James Reed Bowman, 1870-1961
James Reed Bowman, the seventh child of Benjamin Lee and Eliza Jane Ford
Bowman, was born at Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, on October 21,
1870.
He spent most of his childhood and early youth at Marble Hill, Bollinger
County, Missouri, where he lived with his parents and attended school at old
Mayfield-Smith Academy. Here he also became a member of the First Baptist
Church, of which his father was pastor.
In the year of 1890, he moved to the town of Burfordville, Missouri. Here he
worked for his brother, William Chesley, who was the manager in charge of the
water mill at that place, it being one of the oldest flour and corn mills west
of the Mississippi River.
On August 30, 1892 he was married to Miss Lillie Belle Lively, the daughter of
John M. and Virginia Levitt Lively, the ceremony being performed by his uncle,
the Rev. Thomas Anderson Bowman of Jackson, Missouri, who was at that time the
pastor of the First Baptist Church at that place.
He and his wife, Lillie, established their home at Burfordville, he having
become manager of the water mill, replacing his brother, William Chesley.
During the next ten or twelve years, he and his wife moved to several towns in
Southeast Missouri, including Sikeston and Advance where he was associated in
the operation and management of a flour mill located at that place. Finally he
moved his family back to Burfordville, and at that time he built a new home,
acquired farm lands, and managed the Burfordville mill.
During this period of time, there were four children born to bless their home:
Hinkle Jordan, the oldest, was born at Burfordville on February 13, 1894;
Richard Earl was born May 18, 1896, and Anice Lilyan was born on October 6,
1900, both at Burfordville; and Myrtle Margueritte was born October 31, 1903,
at Advance, Missouri.
During the year 1912, he purchased a home in Jackson, Missouri, moved his
family into their new home, and took over executive management of one of the
mills of The Cape County Milling Company, of which he acquired a financial
interest. He remained active in the operation of Mill B until the summer of
1953 when he disposed of his milling interest and retired to a quieter life.
"J. R." or Jim Bowman as he is known among his friends and associates of the
community, who number many thousands of individuals, has created a friendship
of the highest confidence such that hundreds of them, both young and old,
sought his counsel and advice.
He served as the Mayor of Jackson for 19 years, and during his administration
the city carried to completion many major improvements. He took special
interest in the development and improvement, not only of the city's affairs but
the schools, highways, and roads in the community.
He was made a Master Mason in the Jackson Masonic fraternity in January 1902,
and in 1953 he was honored by being presented a fifty-year pin by the local
Masonic lodge. He is also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.
At the present writing, he and his good wife, Lillie, live at Jackson,
Missouri, in their home, although he recently passed his 85th birthday and she
her 82nd. They both busy themselves, he looking after his real estate
interests, and she the household affairs. He, for his age, maintains a lively
interest in his fine family and community affairs.
by Byron Whitener Bowman
Events
| Birth | 21 Oct 1870 | Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau, MO | |||
| Marriage | 30 Aug 1892 | Lillie Belle Lively | |||
| Death | 4 Apr 1961 | Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, MO | |||
| Burial | 6 Apr 1961 | City Cemetery, Jackson, Cape Girardeau, MO |
Families
| Spouse | Lillie Belle Lively (1873 - 1959) |
| Father | Benjamin Leroy "Lee" Bowman (1837 - 1920) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Jane Ford (1840 - 1930) |
| Sibling | Amy Sophia Bowman (1857 - 1899) |
| Sibling | William Chesley Bowman (1859 - 1950) |
| Sibling | Charles Christopher Bowman (1861 - 1906) |
| Sibling | Mary Lee Bowman (1863 - ) |
| Sibling | Nettie Bowman (1866 - 1948) |
| Sibling | Samuel Lee Bowman (1868 - 1949) |
| 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 - ) |