[p.450] BENJAMIN F. BOWER, a farmer of West Chillisquaque township who has a valuable place of 150 acres lying along the west branch of the Susquehanna, is a native of Center county, Pa., born Aug. 23, 1863, in Rush township. The Bower family was in earlier days settled in Berks county, this state, where John Bower, the great-grandfather of Benjamin F., was born. He died in Lycoming county. His wife was Elizabeth Bohn.

Henry Bower, son of John and Elizabeth (Bohn) Bower, was born in 1784 in Berks county, moved to Lycoming county when a young man, and followed farming, also working in the lumber districts. He was one of the early settlers in his locality. In White Deer township, Union Co., Pa., he married Elizabeth Wertzler, who was born in 1773 in Berks county, daughter of Jacob Wertzler (who died at Reading, Berks county), and came to Lycoming county when a young girl. Mrs. Bower died in February, 1836, aged sixty-three years, and is buried at the Stone Church in Brady township, Lycoming county. Mr. Bower died in that county in 1866, aged eighty-two years, six months, six days, and is buried there, at the Brick Church in Clinton township. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. Their children were as follows: Jonathan was killed by the cars at Montgomery, Pa.; Abraham was killed in the Civil war; Mary A. (deceased) was the wife of Aaron Wentzel; Jacob is mentioned below; Sarah (deceased) was the wife of Peter Swartz, a farmer of Dakota; Elizabeth (deceased) was the wife of John Huntington and they lived in New Mexico; Lydia died unmarried.

Jacob Bower, son of Henry, was born April 12, 1816, in Washington township, Lycoming county, and resided with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-one years, meantime attending the local subscription schools for three months each winter during his boyhood, and working on his father's land the rest of the time. He then went to Black Hole, also in his native township, where he was employed by his brother-in-law, Peter I. Swartz, in a distillery, working there for twelve years, for ten dollars a month, at that time considered good wages. He and his brother-in-law then went to Clearfield county and purchased a sawmill, which they operated successfully for eleven years, after which Mr. Bower moved to Rush township, Center county. He lived there for several years, thence removing to Gregg township, Union county, in 1866. This region was then an unbroken wilderness, where wild animals still roamed, and he shared the hardships of life in such a region with the other hardy settlers who made a home there; in time becoming a prominent farmer of his district, where he is well and favorably remembered. He passed the remainder of his, long life on his homestead in Gregg township, dying there Nov. 3, 1900. A man of sterling integrity and the highest character, he had the affectionate regard of all who knew him, and was greatly respected throughout his section. He was one of the oldest members of the Patrons of Husbandry in Union county, having been a charter member of Spring Garden Grange, No. 32. His first presidential vote was cast for Buchanan, but he was independent on political questions, supporting what he thought was right, regardless of party. In religion he was a Baptist, and filled office in his church. His death was looked upon as a public loss in the community.

On Feb. 9, 1851, in Morris township, Clearfield county, Mr. Bower married Elizabeth Haas, who was born Oct. 26, 1824, in Moreland township, Lycoming county, and died Jan. 9, 1909, at West Milton, Union county. Her parents, John and Mary (Baker) Haas, spent most of their lives in Northumberland county, but she was a young child when her father died, in 1828, and she made her home in the family of Peter Swartz for some time. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bower: (1) John H., born July 30, 1851, now a resident of Danville, Pa.; married Maggie Gulich and has four children, Emma, Miriam, Elizabeth and Charles. (2) Abraham. S., born Oct. 6, 1853, a farmer in Gregg township, Union county, married Hannah Gross and has two children, Retta and Elizabeth. (3) Lydia E., born May 3, 1855, in Center county, Pa., married J. S. Houser, who operated the old Bower homestead. (4) Charles W., born Feb. 5, 1857, a lumberman at Allenwood, Pa., married Tilla Kolbe, and they have three children, Francis E., George M. and Elizabeth C. (5) Mary M., born Jan. 16, 1859, married William Houser (brother of J. S. Houser), a carpenter and they reside at West Milton, Pa. They have one son, Franklin B. (4;) Benjamin F. is the youngest of the family.

Benjamin F. Bower received his education in the schools of the home neighborhood. He worked for his father until he reached the age of twenty- seven, after which he farmed the homestead for his father for six years. For the next seven years he was on the old Charles Wolfe farm, in West Chillisquaque township, now the Fonda estate, along the west branch, and in 1902 he located on the tract in that township which he has since farmed, one of the Packer farms. He has 150 acres of good land, all up-to-date machinery and conveniences, and is an intelligent farmer, keeping abreast of the times in his work, as his farm shows. He is well thought of in the community, has served three years as school director, and is a substantial and worthy citizen, deserving the respect he enjoys. He hauled the first load of stone for the Montandon high school. Politically he is a Democrat, in religion a Baptist, holding membership in the church at Milton. Mr. Bower married Mary Elizabeth Huff, daughter of William Huff, of Union county. They have six children: Florence N., wife of John Keiser; Mary E.; Jacob; Willard; Homer and Carrie.

[p.863] THOMPSON BOWER, late of Watsontown, Northumberland county, was a resident of that borough for a quarter of a century before his death, and for twenty years was the efficient president of the Watsontown National Bank, which was the first bank in the borough and for several years the only financial institution there. He was a native of Lycoming county, Pa., born in Washington township March 9, 1826, son of John Bower and grandson of George Bower.

George Bower, the grandfather, served seven years as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Thompson, are buried at the Stone Church in Brady township, Lycoming county. They were the parents of the following children: George, who married; Martha, Mrs. Smith, who moved to New York; Elizabeth, Mrs. Farley; Eve, Mrs. Henting; Mrs. Sypher, who died May 10, 1883; Ellen, Mrs. William Autis, who died May 11, 1883; and John.

John Bower, son of George, was born in 1799 in New Jersey, and died in 1872. He married Sarah Quinn, who was born in Ireland in 1793, and they spent the greater part of their lives in Lycoming county, Pa. Their children were as follows: (1) James Q. married Elizabeth Sedan and moved to Illinois, where she died and he remarried; there were six children by the first union, Robert, William, Ann E., Jennie, Ella and James, and five by the second; James Q. Bower died April 27, 1900. (2) Thompson, twin of James Q., is mentioned below. (3) Lewis married Tisha Lemon and died Oct. 6, 1907. (4) Mary Ellen married Daniel Foresman and has daughters Sallie (wife of James Piatt and mother of two children) and Maggie (a trained nurse).

Thompson Bower was reared on a farm and continued to follow agricultural pursuits for a number of years after beginning life on his own account, living in Lycoming county and later in Union county prior to his removal to Watsontown, in 1884. In 1883 he had purchased the large brick house which he and his family occupied from the time of their settlement at that place, and which is the oldest house in the borough. He retained valuable interests in Union county, owning several large and fertile farms there. After taking up his residence in Watsontown he was prominently connected with its most important business interests, and for twenty years was the executive head of the Watsontown National Bank, which owes much of its high standing to his wise policy and shrewd direction of affairs. While living in the country Mr. Bower served his community as member of the school hoard, but he took no part in public life during his residence in Watsontown. He was a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religion, holding membership in the First Lutheran Church in Watsontown, which he served as elder for many years.

On Nov. 15, 1848, Mr. Bower married Catharine A. Gosh, who was born in Black Hole Valley, in Lycoming county, Pa., daughter of Christian and Margaret (Dietrich) Gosh, later of Northumberland county. Her grandparents, Christian and Catharine (Wiest) Gosh, were natives of Holland, and coming to America settled in Lycoming county. Their children were Christian, Daniel and John (who married a Miss Coats; of Philadelphia). Christian Gosh, father of Mrs. Bower, was born in 1807, and died in 1871. He married Margaret Dietrich, who was born in 1809, daughter of Frederich Dietrich and his wife (whose maiden name was Knarr), natives of Columbia county, Pa., and among the early settlers in Black Hole Valley. Mrs. Margaret (Dietrich) Gosh was the mother of five children: Levi, who died in 1854; Dr. John, who married a Hancock, and died July 27, 1877; Frederich, who married a Miss Armstrong; Ellen M., who married Dr. J. P. Harley and had children, Margaret, Bertha, Lulu, and Dr. John (of Williamsport, Pa.) ; and Catharine A., Mrs. Thompson Bower.

Mr. and Mrs. Bower reared three children: Laure E. married R. M. Griffee and had a daughter Catharine; John G., now a resident of Hagerstown, Md., married Ada Follmer and has children John and Rolland (John G. Bower went to Europe in 1907 in 1907 and spent some time in travel); Maggie G. married George W. Crane, who died Feb. 3, 1900, and she and her children, Thompson B., Margarette B. and Catharine B., went to reside with her parents. They have an ideal household. Though long past man's allotted span at the time of his death, Mr. Bower continued hale and energetic to the end, pursuing life's work with unabated interest, and, he enjoyed a most honorable position in the community, commanding the esteem of all who knew him.

[p.911] ELIAS E. BOWER, engaged in farming near Mandata, in Lower Mahanoy township, is a member of the fourth generation of his family to live in this region, where his great-grandfather, J. Matthias Bauer, settled in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

J. Matthias Bauer was a native of Berks county, Pa., born near Reading March 6, 1754. Tradition and records apparently relating to him credit him with service in the Revolutionary war. About 1794 he came with his family to Northumberland county and settled in that part of Jordan township then still known as Jackson township, on the farm now owned by Jonathan M. Byerly. He himself erected the first set of buildings there, having been a carpenter. But he took to farming, having "taken up" and purchased between five hundred and six hundred acres of land; 133 acres of this land have never been out of the family name since he took it up. He was a small man, industrious and energetic, and it is related that he enjoyed a "scrap" occasionally. He prospered in his work, and was a useful member of society. He died May 1, 1837, and is buried at the Stone Valley (Zion's) Church, having been a member of the Lutheran congregation of that church. Politically he was a strong Democrat. His wife; Catharine, born Jan. 1, 1760, died Nov. 25, 1836, and she is also buried at the Stone Valley Church. She bore him children as follows: Frederick, who died in Indiana; Jacob, who died in Ohio; Michael, who died in Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Pa.; Samuel; Elizabeth, Mrs. Henry Witmer; and another daughter who married Samuel Wolf, and they settled in Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Bower, son of J. Matthias, was born in Berks county, March 11, 1790, and was a mere child when his parents came to Northumberland county, Pa. He died Sept 12, 1867. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Bitterman, he had one son Aaron, who lived in Illinois. For his second wife he married Catharine Witmer, daughter of Matthias Witmer. of Lower Mahanoy township. She was born Feb. 12, 1795, and died Sept. 13, 1873. By this union there were two children: Elizabeth, who married Carl Rothermel; and Elias W.

Elias W. Bower, son of Samuel, is now a retired farmer of Jordan township, where he was born May 3, 1832. He attended the old subscription schools of his day for terms of two or three months, and worked for his parents. He was married early, Aug. 20, 1850, and the second year of his marriage began as a tenant on his father's farm, farming with and for him many years. When Samuel Bower died Elias W. purchased the homestead, which he continued to farm until his retirement, in 1896. He now lives in a house near the homestead buildings. His farm consists of 133 acres, 120 acres of which are under cultivation. He himself erected nearly all the buildings of the farm, as well as part of the house where he lived. In August 1897, his barn was destroyed by fire, with the season's crops, causing a heavy loss, only partly covered by insurance. Mr. Bower has been a busy man, and a successful one and his integrity and trustworthiness have been recognized by his neighbors, who have chosen him to serve as supervisor and school director. He is a Democrat in politics. He is a tall, bearded gentleman, of pleasing appearance, and well liked by all who know him.

Mr. Bower married Sarah Phillips, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Cable) Phillips, granddaughter of Johann Adam Phillips. Mrs. Bower was born July 16, 1832. She was the mother of thirteen children: Harriet is the widow of Samuel Bohner; Elizabeth married William Wert; Levi is deceased; Galen lives in Jordan township (his wife Lizzie J., born Oct. 6, 1849, died March 30, 1890); Susanna married Daniel Schlegel; James M., born July 30, 1859, was accidentally killed July 30, 1886; Morris is a resident of Royalton, Pa.; Sivilla - married Michael Hepner; Cyrus is married and lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Samuel is married and lives in Jordan township; Elms E. is mentioned below; Mary married Jeremiah Miller; Henry is a resident of Jordan township. Mr. Bower and his family are Lutheran members of the Urban (St. Pauls) Church, and he has given faithful service in all the official positions.

Elias E. Bower was born May 20, 1869, and grew up as a typical farm boy. He has continued to farm all his life. For eight years he hired out among farmers in Jordan and Lower Mahanoy townships, and began farming for himself in the spring of 1897, in Jordan township, where he was located for seven years - two years on Bliss Boyer's farm and five years on his father's 140-acre farm. He then farmed the Gabriel Adam farm, in Lower Mahanoy, for two years, thence moving to the Mahantango Valley, where he purchased a 116-acre tract which he cultivated two years. Selling that place, he farmed the Mary Adams place for one year, and then moved back to the Serenus Hepner farm for two years, from there coming to his present place in the spring of 1909. The farm he now owns consists of 156 acres, and was the Jacob Still place, Henry Peifer owning it before his day. It was located a quarter of a mile north of Mandata.

In March, 1896, Mr. Bower married Alice M. Wetzel, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Glase) Wetzel, and by this union there are three children: Monroe L., William B. and Maud K. Mr. Bower and his family are Lutherans in religion, and on political questions he is a Democrat.

William F. Bower, of Herndon, Pa., is a native of Jackson township, born Jan. 23, 1858, son of Jacob Bower. His grandfather. Jacob Bower, was one of the sons of J. Matthias Bauer, mentioned above, and was a native of Berks or Montgomery county, coming to Northumberland county in early life. He located in what was then Mahanoy township, and became a prosperous farmer, owning several tracts of land. In about 1835 he moved to Ohio, in the vicinity of Akron, where he lived until his death. His wife would not company him to Ohio, remaining in Northumberland county, where she died. She is buried at the Stone Valley Church, in Lower Mahanoy township. Their children were : Henry, who lived in Illinois; Michael, born Sept. 12, 1812, who died Jan. 29, 1890, in Jackson township (his wife, Leah, born Sept. 15, 1815, died March 20, 1875); and Jacob. Jacob Bower, son of Jacob, was born in Lower Northumberland county, Pa., in 1817, and died near Herndon in 1902, aged eighty-four years, nine months. He is buried at Mahanoy Church. He was a farmer in Jackson township, owning a 200 acre tract on which he lived from 1848. The farm is now owned by Isaac Tressler, a son-in-law. Mr. Bower held local offices, and was a prominent citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Haas, died in 1861. They had five children: Cyrus; Wilhelmina, who married Isaac Tressler, a farmer of Jackson township; Mary, who is unmarried; A. Clinton, of Shamokin; and William F.

William F. Bower was reared to farm life. His home was at the mouth of the Mahanoy creek, and he was educated in the local public school. When twenty-two years old he was licensed to teach public school, and in 1881 he began teaching in Jackson township, being thus engaged four terms. He then clerked in the store, and in 1884 began farming in Jackson township, following that work three years. In 1887 he came to Herndon, where he has since lived. He started the first livery in the town, keeping three or four horses busy. He is a substantial citizen, and his public services have made him one of the best known men in the vicinity. When the borough or Herndon was incorporated, in 1902, Mr. Bower was elected to the council and has ever since been a member of that body with the exception of one year. He is now the president of the council. He was at one time auditor of Jackson township. He is a Democrat, and has been committeeman of his party.

On May 24, 1881, he married Susan Deppen, daughter of John and Catharine (Lantz) Deppen, and they have had two children: Katie, who is a graduate of the Herndon schools, and has taught school a number of terms; and Walter, who is still a student. Mr. Bower and his family are members of the Reformed Church.