GENEALOGY OF A BOWMAN FAMILY, Byron Whitener Bowman,
1956
The second child born into this family (Benjamin and Sophia Hill
Ferguson Bowman) was Elizabeth "Betty" Mary, but always called Betty Mary.
She made her appearance in the home on June 17, 1829; grew up to womanhood in
Franklin County, Virginia, where she was born. She married Thomas Henley, a
blacksmith, December 23, 1849.
They moved over into Ohio and thence to Missouri in 1857. She
died August 7, 1859, of childbed fever, leaving her husband and four children,
the baby dying a week after her death. The children were Benjamin, Augusta, Ida,
Samuel, and the baby.
Mr. Henley and the children made their home with her parents
until all the children were grown, when he married again. Ben studied medicine,
became a doctor, married, and died in early life. Sam became a teacher, I think,
and went west in early life and married. He died in Florida. Augusta was married
to a Mr. McCullough and had a nice family. One son had a position as private
secretary to Congressman Walter L. Hensley at Washington, D.C. The family lived
at Marble Hill, Missouri. Ida married John Wiggins, but did not live long
afterward. She was never very rugged, but always was afflicted. Her life was
sweet, pure, short and good, and it is a joy to know that it has been said that
she will have a place with her Master up there.
She urged all those about here, especially her husband, who was
not then a Christian, to meet her in heaven. Her remains were laid away in the
beautiful cemetery at Jackson, Missouri.
Once when her brother Lee and his father had a spirited
discussion on religion, Lee professing to be an infidel, father expressed the
fear that Lee would be lost. She said: "No he won't, there are too many of us
praying for him." She did not live to see it, as she died soon afterward, but
her faith was rewarded years later when Lee was converted.
Written by Rev. Thomas Anderson Bowman
MINUTE BOOK OF OLD BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH, SEPTEMBER 1859
- Sister Elizabeth Mary Henley died August 9, 1859, age 30 years, 1 month, 21
days.
