NOAH BOWERS deceased, was for many years one of the most enterprising and successful farmers and stock growers of Delaware county. He was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 1, 1826, and was a son of Jacob and Susanna Bowers, of German descent, and the parents of a family of nine children, viz: Andrew, George, Noah, one unnamed, Shem, Jacob and Elizabeth, all deceased; Christina, wife of T. Sharp, and Susanna, wife of Joseph Shirey. The parents of this family were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and followed its teachings with unvarying steadfastness. In politics the father was a democrat.

Noah Bowers was reared on the old homestead in Virginia, where he passed his early days in attending the "old field" schools in winter and in assisting his father on the farm in summer. At the age of twenty-four he began the race of life for himself, engaging in Delaware county, Ind., to which he came with his parents in 1835, in the vocation to which he was reared--that of farming--in which he met with phenomenal success. January 24, 1850, he married Miss Mary Sharp, a sister of Thompson Sharp, of Washington Township, and present county commissioner, and of William Sharp, of Salem township, in whose sketches will be found full details relating to the family of her parents. She bore Mr. Bowers six children, who were born in the following order: Elnora J., Sanford H., Charlie B. and Oliver P., all deceased; and John G., a liveryman of Muncie, and Joseph F., a successful physician of the same city.

September 13, 1870, Noah Bowers was called from earth. He had long enjoyed the esteem of the entire community, who turned out en masse to attend his funeral, which was perhaps the largest that ever took place in the township. His remains was interred in the Sharp cemetery, and a magnificent monument marks the location of his final resting place, At the time of his death Mr. Bowers was the owner of 600 acres of land, beside much other valuable property--his administrator selling, that year, hogs alone to the value of $4,000. And let it be remembered that this great wealth was all accumulated through his own unaided industry and economy. His course through life was upright and prudent, and his example is one worthy the emulation of every poor boy in the county, who should strive to so live that he may leave an equally clear record behind him.

In 1875, Mrs. Mary S. Bowers was united in matrimony with Richard A. Andes, whose sketch may be found elsewhere, and whose home and life she is causing to be made as happy as she had made those of Mr. Bowers.

Source: "A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware County, Indiana."