John Bower

He is written about in the 1901 Biographical record of Cowley County.

[FEBRUARY 1871] PAGE 184

JOHN BOWER, farmer. His home was located on the northeast quarter of section 10, township 33, range 3 east. Mr. Bower was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1846, a son of Isaac and Lydia (Wise) Bower. His grand-parents all came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

John Bower's father, Isaac, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, in 1812. He was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed during his younger days; in his declining years, he was engaged in farming. He died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, and was of German parentage; she outlived her husband by two years. Isaac Bower had seven children. All of them, except John, remained in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

John Bower obtained good schooling and did not leave home until he attained his majority. He then went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended a commercial college, and upon leaving it began teaching. Drifting west, he located in Allen County, Kansas, where he spent a year. In February 1871 he preempted a claim one mile west of the Baden Mills, in Winfield Township, now Vernon Township, which farm is now known as the Keyhole quarter, and is owned by the First National Bank of Winfield. After improving his farm and deeding his claim, John Bower went back to his home in Pennsylvania.

About the year 1872, he located in St. Clair County, Illinois, where he taught school five years; in 1877. he returned to Cowley County, where he remained. He traded his first claim for the northeast quarter of section 10, in Beaver Township, which was preempted by Philo Kent, who had made numerous improvements upon it. Mr. Bennett practiced diversified farming and made more improvements on the farm. He had an orchard and timber lot of seven acres, and in the yard surrounding his house were many shade trees. His present home was completed in 1898, and was a story and a half high; his substantial barn was erected by Mr. Kent. Partial to Poland-China hogs, Mr. Bower raised them in large numbers.

John Bower was married, in 1882, to Susan B. Hatcher, a native of Canada (daughter of Henry Hatcher, who located in Kansas about 1860). Mrs. Bower's parents were born in England. They had two children: Noble, who was attending school in 1901 at Winfield, and Ruth, who remained at home.

A Republican, John Bower at one time held the office of justice of the peace. He was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.