Biographical Sketches
CHARLES J. BOWER
Attorney at law of Kansas City, was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 27, 1843, and descended from German and French ancestry. His father, Robert Bower, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the grandfather, Valentine Bower, spent his entire life in his native land. He reared a large family and lived to an advanced age. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Genevieve Sheibley, was an Alsatian, and her father spent his entire life in France. While in the land of his birth Robert Bower served as a member of the old guard under Napoleon. In 1826 he crossed the Atlantic to America and located in Stark county, Ohio, where he made his home for a few years, then removed to Ross county, same state, where he spent his remaining days. His death occurred in 1864, and his wife died in 1857. They were members of the Lutheran church. In their family of 11 children were 7 sons and 4 daughters, six of whom are now living, namely: Mary, widow of Basil Bogen; Barbara, widow of Albert Mertz; Genevieve, widow of Philip Dair; Jennie, John and Charles J.
The last named resided in Ross county until 11 years of age, when he started out in life for himself, and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his won efforts. He grew to manhood in Kenton and Carroll counties, Kentucky, and at the age of 16 he engaged in teaching school. With the money thus acquired he obtained his own education, being a student in Des Peres Institute in St. Louis county, Missouri, in 1857-8. Later he atteneded Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he continued until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the southern army as a member of the 4th Kentucky cavalry, Company F, and served until hostilities were over. He served under Generals Marshall, Preston, Breckinridge, Williams, Echols, Jones and John H. Morgan: he was in all the campaigns of that famous regiment. He was wounded in the right leg at Bull's Gap, Tennessee, but continued at the front until after the war was ended. He surrendered at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, May 1, 1865.
Returning then to Carroll county, Kentucky, Mr. Bower was there engaged in teaching school for a time, when, wishing to follow the legal profession, he began studying law in 1867. His thorough application and persistent efforts enabled him to graduate in the Spring of 1868 at the Cincinnati Law College, and in September of that year he came to Kansas City, where he practiced until August, 1894. For 26 years he was a member of the bar of Jackson county and had a good practice, which attested his skill and ability. He was ever a painstaking and conscientious practitioner, laboring earnestly for his clients' interests, a logical thinker, a clear reasoner and a forceful speaker. These qualities brought to him success and won him a place among the leading lawyers of the city, county and state. In August, 1894, he suffered an attack of paralysis, which necessitated his abandonment of his profession.
On the 11th of May, 1870, Mr. Bower was united in marriage, in Kansas City, with Miss Sarah Chaplin, a daughter of Benjamin G. and Sarah (Ward) chaplin. They have 6 children - 3 sons and 3 daughters - namely: Frank A., Mary C., Jennie W., Morrison Munford, Henry W. and Florence A. Mr. Bower and his wife attend the Central Presbyterian church, of which he is a member, and since 1871 they have made their home at the corner of 35th street and Cleveland avenue, where they extend a warmhearted hospitality to their many friends. Frank A. Bower, the eldest son, graduated at Washington University, St. Louis, in 1891, and is now a promising young lawyer of the Kansas City bar.
Mr. Bower is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in politics is an unswerving adherant of the principles of the democratic party, taking a very active part in its work and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He has been a delegate to the county and state conventions since 1876, and was the original Cleveland delegate in this state. He was also the organizer of the ex-Confederate Benevolent Association, which has a large membership. A kindhearted and genial man of strict integrity of character, Mr. Bower is highly esteemed by all who know him, and has a large circle of friends.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.