Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William 
Henry Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, 
Chicago, 1882. Cass County.

REV. JOHN M. BOWERS, Congregational clergyman, 
Chandlerville; was born in Washington, Washington County, 
Penn., March 14, 1835, to George and Catharine (Snyder) 
Bowers; he, born in Germany, in 1806, and emigrated to 
America in 1833, settling in Pennsylvania, but subsequently 
in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1836; is a blacksmith by trade, and 
is still living. She, also born in Germany, in 1812, came 
to America in 1832, and was married in 1834; is still 
living. She is the mother of nine children, John M. being 
the oldest. The nine children are all living, viz.: John 
M., Margaret, Caroline, Catharine, Lewis, Barbara, Louisa, 
George, and William. John M. received his education at the 
Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, and Vermillion 
Institute, at Hayesville, Ohio, and his theological 
training at Oberlin Institute. Was ordained at the 
Congregational Church at Sedalia, Mo., April 16, 1866. His 
first church was at Sedalia; he was the organizer of the 
church there. In 1872 he removed to Lexington, Ohio, where 
he remained until 1874, when he removed to Parkesburg, 
Iowa, and remained for three and one-half years, and 
Earlville, Iowa, for three and one-half years. In 1881 he 
came to Chandlerville and took charge of the Congregational 
Church of that town, built in 1880. On March 8, 1870, he 
was married to Helen A. Knapp; born in Indiana, Jan. 15, 
1852. She is a daughter of J.H. and Lydia (Currier) Knapp. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are the parents of six children, viz.: 
George, Mary, Laura, Emma, Helen, and Clara. Mr. Bowers was 
in the 84th Ohio Reg., Col. Lawrence, commander.

Bowers Snyder Knapp Currier Lawrence
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Washington-PA Germany OH MI MO IA IN