GENEALOGY OF A BOWMAN FAMILY, Byron Whitener Bowman,
1956
James Reed Bowman, the seventh child of Benjamin Lee and Eliza
Jane Ford Bowman, was born at Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, on
October 21, 1870.
He spent most of his childhood and early youth at Marble Hill,
Bollinger County, Missouri, where he lived with his parents and attended school
at old Mayfield-Smith Academy. Here he also became a member of the First Baptist
Church, of which his father was pastor.
In the year of 1890, he moved to the town of Burfordville,
Missouri. Here he worked for his brother, William Chesley, who was the manager
in charge of the water mill at that place, it being one of the oldest flour and
corn mills west of the Mississippi River.
On August 30, 1892 he was married to Miss Lillie Belle Lively,
the daughter of John M. and Virginia Levitt Lively, the ceremony being performed
by his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Anderson Bowman of Jackson, Missouri, who was at
that time the pastor of the First Baptist Church at that place.
He and his wife, Lillie, established their home at Burfordville,
he having become manager of the water mill, replacing his brother, William
Chesley.
During the next ten or twelve years, he and his wife moved to
several towns in Southeast Missouri, including Sikeston and Advance where he was
associated in the operation and management of a flour mill located at that
place. Finally he moved his family back to Burfordville, and at that time he
built a new home, acquired farm lands, and managed the Burfordville
mill.
During this period of time, there were four children born to
bless their home: Hinkle Jordan, the oldest, was born at Burfordville on
February 13, 1894; Richard Earl was born May 18, 1896, and Anice Lilyan was born
on October 6, 1900, both at Burfordville; and Myrtle Margueritte was born
October 31, 1903, at Advance, Missouri.
During the year 1912, he purchased a home in Jackson, Missouri,
moved his family into their new home, and took over executive management of one
of the mills of The Cape County Milling Company, of which he acquired a
financial interest. He remained active in the operation of Mill B until the
summer of 1953 when he disposed of his milling interest and retired to a quieter
life.
"J. R." or Jim Bowman as he is known among his friends and
associates of the community, who number many thousands of individuals, has
created a friendship of the highest confidence such that hundreds of them, both
young and old, sought his counsel and advice.
He served as the Mayor of Jackson for 19 years, and during his
administration the city carried to completion many major improvements. He took
special interest in the development and improvement, not only of the city's
affairs but the schools, highways, and roads in the community.
He was made a Master Mason in the Jackson Masonic fraternity in
January 1902, and in 1953 he was honored by being presented a fifty-year pin by
the local Masonic lodge. He is also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite
Mason.
At the present writing, he and his good wife, Lillie, live at
Jackson, Missouri, in their home, although he recently passed his 85th birthday
and she her 82nd. They both busy themselves, he looking after his real estate
interests, and she the household affairs. He, for his age, maintains a lively
interest in his fine family and community affairs.
Written by Byron Whitener Bowman
THE MISSOURIAN, JACKSON BUREAU
Former Mayor of Jackson Dies - James R. Bowman, Community
Leader
Former Mayor of Jackson and retired executive manager of Cape
County Milling Co., James Reed Bowman,
90 years old, died in a Cape Girardeau hospital late Tuesday
(Note: April 4, 1961). He had been a patient of the hospital 10 days since
breaking a hip in a fall.
Mr. Bowman was mayor 15 years and during his terms the city
constructed a modern municipal light and water plan, acquired a park,
constructed a public swimming pool and had several of its present major
industries established. He served from May 1931 to May 1941 and from May 1944 to
May 1949.
The former mayor was keenly interested in the growth and
development of Jackson during his active years and gave much of his time toward
these goals.
He was associated with the Cape County milling firm for 60 years
in Advance, Burfordville and Jackson. He was executive manager of Mill "B" in
Jackson from 1912-1953, when he retired.
A native of Pocahontas, Mr. Bowman was the son of the Rev. B. L.
Bowman and Mrs. Eliza Ford Bowman. He was born Oct 21, 1870. Mr. Bowman spent
his early years at Marble Hill where his father was pastor of a Baptist Church.
He attended the old Mayfield-Smith Academy there.
On Aug. 30, 1892, he was married to the former Lillie B. Lively
who preceded him in death in January 1959.
Mr. Bowman was an active Mason. He was a master Mason and in
1953 was honored by being presented a 50-year pin by Excelsior Lodge AF &
AM. He was also a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason.
The former mayor is survived by a son, R. E. Bowman of Jackson;
two daughters, Mrs. R. B. Goodwin of Jackson and Mrs. R. S. Duncan of Cape
Girardeau; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted by the Rev. Rex H. Henderson in
McCombs Funeral Home Thursday afternoon at 2:30. Burial will be in the city
cemetery with Masonic graveside
rites.
