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 LIVER C. BOWER, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Morgan Township, spent his early years in Clark County, Ind., where his birth took place July 25, 1846. He is the son of Absalom and Nancy (Hostetter) Bower, and his paternal grandfather was Adam Bower. The latter’s children were Joseph, Solomon, Absalom, Elizabeth, Thomas Jefferson and Barbara, and the male members of the family became prominent in public affairs, being men of more than ordinary ability. The father of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1804, to which State his father had removed from Pennsylvania. Absalom was a boy of five years when his parents removed to Louisville, Ky., and two years afterward took up their residence in Clark County, Ind. Adam Bower purchased about 600 acres of land, in the cultivation and improvement of which he was engaged the balance of his life, and at his death had a fine estate to divide up among his children. Absalom Bower after reaching manhood married and settled in Clark County, where he continued until his death, which occurred in November, 1870. His share of his father’s estate was about 100 acres, to which he added as time passed on, and finally became the owner of nearly 600 acres, with a large area of valuable timber. A part of this he cleared and improved, and built up a homestead which was a credit to himself and formed one of the attractive features of Clark County, Ind. He was a man of more than ordinary business ability, kindly in his character and disposition, and had for about forty years been prominently connected with the Christian Church, being one of the pillars of the organition at Olive Branch, in which he officiated as Deacon for many years. He was liberal in his contributions to the Church and to objects of charity, and with his excellent wife, trained his children in the faith which sustained him in his old age. Adam Bower was a preacher of the Dunkard denomination, with which he identified himself when a young man and carried on his pious administrations during the greater part of his life. His funeral was attended by people from all parts of the county, the procession extending over one mile in length. He was greatly missed from the community, which had learned to respect him for his excellent traits of character, and with whose agricultural interests he had been identified for over a quarter of a century. His son Joseph was for twelve years the Recorder of Clark County, and his brother Daniel a Colonel of militia. He served in the Black Hawk War at the time when the present site of the city of LaFayette was an untrodden wilderness, and endured with true pioneer courage and manly fortitude the dangers and difficulties of settlement in a new country. The main points in the history of the children of Absalom and Nancy Bower are given briefly as follows: William E., a practicing physician of Sullivan, Ind., was more than ordinarily successful, building up a large practice and a fine reputation; Elizabeth became the wife of Jesse Coombs, who died shortly afterward, and she then commenced studying medicine; she was graduated from the same college where her brother had studied, and practiced successfully a number of years. By her first marriage she became the mother of one child, which died young. Her second husband was John C. Barnes, a farmer of Jefferson County, Ind., where they resided five years and then moved to Rural Retreat, thence to their present home. They have three sons Elmer, Omer and Calmer. Solomon L. Bower married and located in Clark County, Ind., on land given him by his father, to which he has added and is now the possessor of 200 acres; he has no children. Adam died when two years of age; Emma, when twenty-one years old was accidentally killed by being thrown under a wagon while riding on horseback. She was highly gifted and a natural poetess, and her writings are carefully preserved. She seemed to have a presentiment that she would meet an accidental death, and expressed a belief that she would not live to be twenty-two years old. In consequence of this she refused to be married to her betrothed until after her twenty-second birthday. Her death took place when she was twenty-one years and six months old. Abraham H. was graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College in 1862; he was subsequently drafted and furnished a substitute. Daniel died when eight years of age. The subject of our sketch remained at home during the early part of his life, and was married soon after reaching his majority. He had received a good education, completing his studies at the Northwestern University at Indianapolis. There he was only permitted to attend one year on account of the illness of his brother, returning home to take care of the latter until his death. He was married, Dec. 29, 1869, to Miss Emily J. Perisho, a native of Coles County, born April 10, 1846, and the daughter of Isaac and Rosana (O’Hair) Perisho, who were natives of Washington County, Ind., and became prominent in Coles County, where they spent the greater part of their lives. The biography of Isaac Perisho will be found on another page in this Album. Mr. and Mrs. Bower became the parents of two children: William Perisho died when an infant of six months; Arthur E. is at home with his parents. Mr. Bower came to this county in 1871, arriving here on the 20th day of January. He had already purchased the farm to which he now removed his family, and proceeded industriously with its improvement and cultivation. It includes 265 acres, and is intersected by the T., St. L. & K. R. R. He has given much attention of late years to the breeding of fine stock, and buys broom corn in large quantities, which he ships to Eastern markets, his transactions in this line yielding him annually a handsome sum of money. Included in the farm is a timber tract of 110 acres lying along the Embarras River, and the lowland has been drained with 2,500 rods of tiling. His live-stock includes horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. Bower, politically, is an uncompromising Democrat, and in 1886 came within two votes of receiving the nomination for Sheriff. He has occupied various local offices, and been prominent among the counsels of his townsmen in matters concerning the general welfare. |
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