1860 census - Detroit, Wayne County, MI

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Bellevue "Winter Visitors" Relate Interesting Experiences of Life
Battle Creek, MI. Enquirer and News

Bellevue, January 20, 1924

Mr. And Mrs. Dana Bower, who are residing in this village this winter and who celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary last Thursday have an interesting experience of early days. The couple came to Michigan in 1888 and located at Greenville, where they resided until this winter. They are the parents of Mrs. Dumont Pettit, wife of the Baptist minister.

Mrs. Bower has kept an accurate diary for the past 43 years. During her lifetime, she has had charge of churning thousands of pounds of butter. She has seen the price raise from as low as 10 cents per pound to more than 50 cents.

Mr. Bower relates the time he was baptized in the river and the ice had to be cut away for the act. He tells about the crowd that stood around on the ice curious at the deed. Mr. Bower has been a farmer all his life, but he has traveled through seventeen states of the union. He is the last of his father's family.

Mrs. Bower was born in May 1840, being 82 years old. They were married on January 18, 1862. Both were born in New York State in Tompkins County.

Five children have blessed the couple, with four now living. Mrs. Darwin Dilley, a daughter, died 23 years ago. Those living are: Tillman D. of Greenville, at 60 years of age; Benton H. of Belding, at 57 years of age; Mrs. Dumont Pettit, 55 at whose home the couple reside and William C. of Greenville at the age of 53.

When Mr. And Mrs. Bower came to Michigan in 1888, they came by train. Mrs. Pettit at that time was 21 years old. The family came to this state because Mr. Bower had made a previous visit here and found the conditions ideal for farming. It was in 1865 that Mr. Bower made his first trip to Michigan. He says if he had taken advantage of his opportunity to purchase some of the timberlands he would have been a rich man today.

Mr. Bower says the first automobile that he ever saw was the one made and invented by R. E. Olds of Lansing. Mr. Bower related the time that he saw Mr. Olds going down Main Street of Lansing with curious crowds around watching his "horseless carriage". It was the only machine in the capital city at that time.

Mr. Bower says the first threshing machine he ever saw used was the "Old Bull". It was in use when he was about 10 years old.

He also tells of the bicycle craze that struck the country and of the large number that took advantage of the new vehicle at Greenville. "Everyone rode a wheel," stated Mr. Bower to an Enquirer and News correspondent. Mr. Bower states, however that he never was on a bike. Horses are in the liking of Mr. Bower, who is a good horseman and who would rather have a good horse today, than the best automobile.

Mrs. Bower has been a Baptist for the past 62 years. She was superintendent of the Sunday school in New York State for a period of ten successive years. Mr. Bower has also been affiliated with the same denomination, having been a trustee and deacon of the church at Greenville.

Mr. Bower is a seventh degree national grange member. This is the highest rank of the organization. He has held all the subordinate offices of the lodge, except that of chaplain and secretary. He was president of the Anti-Saloon league of Mount Calm County, which went dry both times he headed the campaign. He was supervisor of the county for five years. He has been justice of the peace for 11 years in New York State and four years in Michigan. He was road commissioner of his county at Greenville for two years.

The couple is now in the best of health. They are enjoying a winter's visit at the home of their daughter here. Both have retained all their faculties and are always in a bright and cheerful disposition.

"Butters" Way to Fame

Greenville, May 9, 1925

There is at least one woman in the United States, perhaps others, who has "buttered" her way to fame in two states. She is Mrs. Dana Bower, well-known resident of Greenville. Her many friends in Montcalm county believe she could have churned her way to nationwide fame had she moved into the other 46 states and engaged in dairying with Mr. Bower, the man with whom she shares her butter-making honors.

It was 63 years ago last January that Mrs. Dana began "buttering" her way to fame. She was then a blushing bride on a dairy farm in Tompkins County, NY. She had served her apprenticeship well under her mother whose butter then was noted for its excellent quality. Butter was made in the old-fashioned way in those days and for some reason, her customers in New York and later in Michigan told Mrs. Dana that none other was near so sweet, nor so appetizingly uniform as her product.

During the summer months Mrs. Bower made a practice of packing her butter in 50 and 100-pound white oak tubs, and storing it in a cool place until fall. It was sold by sample in the fall, and buyers always told her the sample "tastes like more". Top prices in the city markets were easily obtained.

Mr. and Mrs. Bower came to Greenville in 1887, following his brothers, Henry and Dr. H. L. Bower, pioneers in this community. They have resided upon a farm near here and been active in rural circles until recently. For more than 45 years Mrs. Bower has kept a diary, chronicling daily events of local and national importance. Mrs. Bower was 85 years old May 5. Mrs. Bower is somewhat feeble and unable to walk well, but the capable hands and sweet heartedness of youth remain the same.