This project, conceived by Bower discussion list member Dixie Cutler, one of our Canadian cousins, will be an ongoing project of the list members during the year 2000. It is a time capsule, of sorts. This project will ultimately house those Bower/Bauer/Baur [and all their variant spellings] ancestors from around the world who were alive to ring in the twentieth century [31 December 1899-1 January 1900]. It doesn't matter how old the people were, whether or not they were residents of the city, county/province, state or country they happened to be at the stroke of midnight -- just that they were alive to see the new century begin.

With such wide parameters, this is going to become a huge database! The people in each country/state may or may not be related to each other. It all depends on where each family member was at the turn of the century.

As Dixie put it, "I just felt it would be nice for those of us alive in 2000 to display those we know of from 1900 -- it gives a nice sense of tying up the century." The cousins on the Bower discussion list agreed and this project was born.

You are cordially invited to help us fill the pages. If you are the first to submit a particular piece of information to the Homestead, you will be given credit for it.

You will find the information basically in the same format of the International Genealogical Index [IGI]. As the Homestead researches over eighty spelling variations of Bower, Bauer, and Baur, expect to find MANY spelling variants on a page. Should you be looking for an ancestor be sure to check each variant as the discussion list cousins will not correct spellings found in records. Records will be placed here as they are uncovered and submitted. You may also find asterisks next to some of the records leading you to brief notes at the bottom of the page.