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Today’s story will be a continuation of the Bowers family reviewed in last weeks column. The narrative last week ended with an introduction of Virgil Newton Bowers who was a veteran of the War Between the States. He had served as a private in Company F, 1st Alabama Cavalry, CSA.

About three years after returning from the war, Virgil Newton was married in 1868 to Eliza Jane Smart, daughter of William Ed Smart and Avis Driggers. Eliza Jane was born in 1847 in Alabama and lived until her death in 1931 in Pike County. They were the parents of the following children: Sara Avis “Sally,” b. 1869, d. 1890, m. 1885 Darling Dossey “Dorsey” Bryan; John Edward, b. 1871, d. 1938, m. Jannette Estell Jones (1881-1959); George W., b. 1874, d. 1893, m. 1892 Rebecca Bowdoin; Ora Jane, b. 1875, d. 1930s, m. 1892 Giles Elexander Ham; William N., 1877, d. 1931, m. Jane ?; Ida Elizabeth, b. 1880, d. 1940, m. 1898 John Matthew Cook (ca 1878-1957); Samuel Alfred “Bouge,” b. 1881, d.1948, m. 1904 Minnie Elizabeth Tisdale (1882-1968); James Monroe, b. 1883, d. 1962, m. 1908 Bonnie Margaret Eva “Minnie” Rowe; Alexander L., b. 1885, d. 1886; Infant, b.&d.1887; and Maxie “Moxie,” b. 1889, d. 1956, m. Marshall Dozier.

The oldest daughter, Sara Avis “Sally” Bowers, was married to Darling Dosey “Dorsey” Bryan. They were the parents of the following children: Vauney “Vance,” b. 1886, d. 1974, m. 1908 Mason Cole “Bud” Rowe; Alice, b. 1888, m. 1908 Henry Owen King (1886-1952); and Andrew Jefferson, b. 1890, d. 1926, m. 1911 Lillian Dale Rushing.

The oldest son, John Edward Bowers, was married to Jeannette Estell Jones, daughter of Benjamin Jones and Martha Washington. They were the parents of Johnie Estell, b. 1902, m. Rufus Sanders Rushing (1897-1977); Bonard Newton, b. 1903, d. 1991; Lottie M., b. 1906, d. 1964, m. Charles Horace Owens (1901-1978); Lois, b. 1909; Gladys, b. 1912, d. 1964, m. Ocie Ola Cooper (1884-1957); and Willie Coston, b. 1914, d. 2004, m. Mary Alice Rushing.

The second daughter, Ora Jane Bowers, was married in 1893 to Giles Elexander Ham, son of William Wesley Ham and Rebecca Anna Elizabeth Bryan; They were the parents of Vilette, b. 1893, d. 1897); Odessa, b. 1894, d. 1971, m. 1914 Charlie Lee Marler (1895-1977); Addie Bell, b. 1897, d. 1960, m. 1921 Lester Moody; Bonnie B., b. 1897, d. 1986, m. Seth Howard Simpler; James “Jimmie” Jefferson, b. 1899, d. 1975, m. 1922 Adele I. Pearl Godwin; Ida Pearl, b. 1901, m. James Hudgins; Giles Matthews “Mathis,” b. 1902, m. 1928, m. Novis Edith Hankins; Fannie Jane, b. 1904, d. 1968, m. (1) 1929 Matthew “Mack” Harrell (2) Andrew Dewey Kelley; Lessie, b. 1904 d. 1976, m. Fletcher Stewart; Chester Oswald, b. 1908, d. 1976,m. 1932 Karen McCord; Maxie, b. 1910, d. 1993, m. twice; Charlie, b. 1912, d. 1985; Andrew Jackson, b. 1914, d. 1956, m. 1935 Mary Commie Allen; Myrtle, b. 1916, d. 1992, m. Charles W. Huggins; and Wayland, b. 1918, d. 1986, m. Merle Tillman.

The next daughter, Ida Elizabeth Bowers, was married to John Matthew Cook, son of Jesse Oliver Cook and Frances A. Dozier. They were the parents of Wyley, b. 1899; Lena, b. 1900, m. 1921 Odis Morlin Dyess; Jesse Jefferson b, 1902, d. 1969, m 1924 Monester Fortune; Vinnie L., b. 1904; Fannie M., b. 1905, m. 1923 Alto Brown; Ora Jane, b. 1909, d. 1975, m. 1930 Joe David Hodge; Ollie N., b. 1913, d. 1985, m. 1936 Mary Agnes Bryan; Annie Pearl, b. 1914, d. 1994; Lillie B., b. 1916, d. 2000, m. 1935 William Noah Hudson II; and Cubidune, b. 1918.

The son named James Monroe Bowers was married to Bonnie Margaret Eva “Minnie” Rowe. They were the parents of the following children: James E., b. 1909, d. 1981 in Phenix City; Maxwell, b. 1910, d. 1963; Rowe, b. 1913; Charles F., b. 1914; Virgil, b. 1916; Wilmer, b. 1917; Joe, b. 1921; Mildred, b. 1922; Catherine, b. 1925; and Hayward, b. 1926, m 1947 Adele Tillman.

The daughter, Maxie or Moxie Bowers, was married first in 1956 to Marshall Dozier and second in 1912 to A.C. “Ace” Mann Dannelly or Danley. She was the mother of the following children: Dorothy “Dot,” Mary Jane, Bowers, and A.W.

Samuel Alfred “Bouge” Bowers was married in 1904 to Minnie Elizabeth Tisdale, daughter of Furney and Nanny Tisdale. Minnie was born in 1882 in Alabama and died in 1868 in Elba. In 1910, the couple was residing in Opp, Ala., where they owned a farm. By 1920, they had moved to the Brannen community in Coffee County.

Samuel “Bouge” and Minnie Bowers were the parents of the following children: Lamar M., b. 1904, d. 1964, m. 1928 Mammie Lee Beck (1912-1993); Hollis Newton, b. 1906, d. 1971, m. Ida C. ?; Samuel Edmond, b. 1908, d. 1981, m. (1) Bertha Inez Maloy (2) Una Rae Carter; Loyal Louise, b. 1909, d. 1946, m. James Clayton Vaughn; George Monroe, b. 1912, d. 1989, m. May Irene Ham (1916-1999); Wesley Green, b. 1915, m. ?; Charles “Charlie” Tisdale, b. 1916, m. ?; Jimmie Lou, b. 1919, m. (1) Nathaniel Livingston (2) Frank Telly; William Robert, b. 1920; and John Francis, b.&d. 1922.

The oldest son, Lamar M. Bowers, was born in 1904 in Coffee County, and he died in Covington County. In 1928, he was married to Mammie Lee Beck who was born in 1912 and died in 1993. They were both buried in the Babbie Baptist Church Cemetery at Babbie in Covington County. They were the parents of the following children: Samuel Arnold, b. 1929, d. 1966; Lagatha, m. (1) Jimmy Farr (2) Robert Wise; Marjorie Ruth, m. William Franklin Short; Minnie Lola, m. Marion Odom Jr.; Peggy Ray, m. Donald Ray Odom; Delaine, m. Wilfred Croft Jr.; and Paul Lamar, b. 1945, d. 1975, m. Vonceil West.

Samuel’s second son, Hollis Newton Bowers, was married to Ida C. whose maiden name is not known. They were the parents of Hollis Newton Jr.; Irene, b. 1926, d. 1944; Ineze, b. 1928; and Franklin Travis.

Samuel’s son, George Monroe Bowers, was married to Mae Irene Ham (1916-1999), daughter of Lotice Lee Ham and Willie Gertrude Vaughn. They were the parents of the following children: Job; Arien; Branson; George Monroe Jr.; and Donald, m. Juanita Fowler, daughter of ? Fowler and Martha Sport.

Samuel’s son, Wesley Green Bowers, was born in 1915 in Coffee County. The name of his wife was not found, but they were the parents of the following children: Tony Wesley, b. 1938, m. 1963 Ann Johnson; William Larry, b. 1940, m. 1964 Brenda Parker, daughter of George Parker and Margaret Ham; Faye; and Linda.

Samuel’s third son, Samuel Edmond Bowers, was born in 1908 in Alabama and died in 1981 in Andalusia, Ala. He was buried in Covington Memorial Gardens or Stone Lake Cemetery as it was known earlier. Edmond was first married to Bertha Inez Maloy (1918-1994), daughter of Herbert Maloy (1890-1920) and Shellie Compton (1898-1919). Shellie was the daughter of Walter G. Compton (1870-1909) and Debbie Narcissa Prescott (1872-1968). Samuel Edmond Bowers and Bertha Inez Maloy were divorced, and he later married Una Rae Carter. Bertha later married Clifford Adams. Edmond and Bertha’s family resided in the Sanford community where he was a farmer and Bertha worked at the Alatex shirt factory in Andalusia.

Edmond and Bertha Bowers were the parents of the following children: Bobby Jack, b. 1937, m. (1) Bobbie Jean Williams (1942-1978) (2) Ellen ?; Carlton Delano, b. 1940, m. (1) Yvonne Irwin (2) Eloise Moriarta; Phyliss Marie, b. 1943, d. 1994, m. (1) Leon Henley (2) Malcomb Peevy; and Norma Daun, b. 1945, m. Nolan Wayne Rudd. These children were reared in the Sanford community and were graduated from Straughn School. The son, Carlton, was a classmate to this writer and continues to be a good friend who helps with class reunions. He and his wife currently reside in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

There is additional Bowers genealogy which has been researched by various members of this family. The sources for today’s story were the books, Bowers—A Genealogy of the Descendants of Benjamin Bowers, Sr. Esq., written by William Alfred Bowers, Jr. and A Prescott Path—The Descendants of Rev. Ephraim Prescott Through William Daniel Prescott, compiled by Dan E. Prescott. Anyone who finds an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 5, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Those interested in Confederate Heritage and potential members have a special invitation.