Illinois

Francis M. Bowers, 88, died at his Odin home Thursday morning after a brief illness of only a few days.  He was the father of Perry and Anderson Bowers, and well and favorably known throughout Marion county and had resided in the county since 1876.  Mr. Bowers was a Democrat of the old school and always stood by the candidate regardless of his personal feelings in the matter.  He was a constant reader of the Marion County Democrat since its first issue.  For a number of years he lived on a far southwest of town but came to Salem when his son, Anderson, was appointed janitor of the court house under the Vogt administration but later moving to Odin since which time he made his home there.

Mr. Bowers was born in Ficking* county, Ohio, March 2, 1840; married to Mary E. Humbarger, October 17, 1861; to this union three sons and one daughter were born, the daughter died in infancy and Orlanda J. Bowers died April 29, 1928; two sons, Perry and Anderson, of Odin mourn the loss of their father, their mother preceding her husband to the grave several years ago.  There are several grandchildren and a host of friends mourn his death.  He was a member of the Old Primitive Baptist church and his clean life of living prepared him a home in heaven.

Card of Thanks
We most sincerely thank our friends and neighbors for their many acts of kindness through the illness and death of our beloved father, Francis M. Bowers.
Perry and Anderson Bowers.

*Ficking should read Licking.

NOTE:  Francis M. Bower(s) died in Odin, Marion County, Illinois around November 1928.  He was the son of John and Margaret Bower.

See a scanned copy of the original obituary here.

Submitted by Annette Baker (29May03)

 

JANUARY 13, 1921. 
DEATH CLAIMS AGED MARION COUNTY RESIDENT JANUARY 7
 
MARY ELIZABETH BOWER, FOR 45 YEARS A RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY, DIED FRIDAY.
 
Mary Elizabeth Bower, wife of Francis M. Bower, died at the family residence six miles southwest of Salem, Friday, January 7, 1921. At the time of her death Mrs. Bower was 79 years, 01 months and 27 days of age; She was born in Perry county Ohio, January 11, 1841.
On October 7, 1861, she was united in marriage to Francis M. Bower at_____________.  To this union was ___________ three sons and one daughter.  The daughter died in infancy.  With the three sons and her husband Mrs. Bower settled on a farm where she died 45 years ago.
Mrs. Bower is survived by her husband, Francis M. Bower, and three sons, Perry 0. Bower, Orlando L. Bower and Anderson Bower. Anderson has always lived at the home with his parents.  She is also survived by four grand children and four great grand children and other relatives and a host friends.
At the age of 14 years Mrs. Bower professed faith in Christ and united with the Presbyterian church. When the family moved to Illinois from Ohio she retained  her church letter from the Presbyterian. church for some eighteen years in the hope that at some time a Presbyterian church would be built in the neighborhood. However, after that time she united with the Antioch Methodist Episcopal church and lived a devout member of that congregation until her death. 
The funeral services were held at the family home, six miles southwest of Salem Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.  Rev. Mr. Lapp of Odin officiating.  Interment was in the Antioch cemetery.
Card of Thanks
We wish to thank the friends and neighbors for their kindness during the illness and bereavement of our dear mother, Mrs. Mary Bower.- F. M. Bower, husband;  Perry O., Orlando L., and Anderson Bower, sons.

NOTE:  Mary Elizabeth (Humbarger) Bower died in near Salem, Marion County, Illinois.

See a scanned copy of the original obituary here.

Submitted by Annette Baker (29May03)

Thursday, May 10, 1928
 
OBITUARY
 
Orlando Lee Bowers was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 26, 1865. He came with his parents to Illinois when very young, and lived near Salem until early manhood. He was united in marriage with Miss Anna Arrington in 1889 and to this union two daughters were born. Shortly after this he moved to Piatt county, Illinois and while there he again united in marriage with Miss Jane Petty, who preceded him to the Great Beyond about two years ago.
In 1910 he moved to Kansas and in 1918 came back to Illinois, and located near Salem, and he lived in this vicinity until God called him to come up higher, April 29, 1928, age 62 years, 6 months and 3 days. In early life he was Converted and united with the Missionary Baptist Church at Pierson, Illinois to which he remained a faithful member until the end. He was also affiliated with the Masonic order while living in Atwood, Illinois. He is survived by two. daughters, Mrs. Nelle Gardner of near Salem. and Mrs. Irene Farrow of Clear Lake, Iowa, an aged father, Frances Bowers and two brothers, Anderson and Perry of Odin, eight grandchildren and other relatives and friends.  While not ill very long his suffering was intense and all was done that loving human hands could do, in the hopes that he might recover, but God in his wisdom, to which we humbly submit, opened the portals of heaven and his spirit took its flight. He was an honest and upright man, clean and fearless in the discharging of his duty, as it impressed him.  He was firm in his convictions and was always opposed to compromising with wrong, and accordingly stood high in the estimation of his friends and neighbors. 
We bow to the Will of Him that doeth all things well,
And await the resurrection morn,
When heart to heart and hand in hand,
Love shall clasp again her own,
In God's sinless summerland,
Where good-bye is never known.
Card of Thanks
We take this opportunity of thanking our neighbors and friends and all those who in any way assisted during the sickness and death of our beloved brother and son, Lee Bowers.
Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Garner.
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Farrow.
Mr. F. M. Bower.
Mr. Anderson Bower.
Mr. Perry Bower.

NOTE:  Orlando Lee Bower(s) is the son of Francis M. Bowers and Mary Elizabeth Humbarger, both of whose obituaries are shown above.  Orlando also was born in Licking County, Ohio, but died in Marion County, Illinois.

See a scanned copy of the original obituary here.

Submitted by Annette Baker (29May03)

 

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