My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Dade County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William R. Bowles, attorney-at-law and editor of the Dade County Advocate, of Greenfield, Mo., was born in that village in 1857, and is the son of Dr. Samuel B. and Elizabeth J. (Vaughan) Bowles. Dr. Samuel B. Bowles was born in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1805, and was of English descent. His father having died, Samuel was taken and reared by his uncle, Samuel Bowles, who lived in the city of Boston. It was in this city that Dr. Samuel B. Bowles was reared, and where he received his literary education. In 1847-48 he took a course of medical lectures, at the Medical College in Memphis, Tenn., and in the last-named year he graduated as an M. D. from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. About 1827 he married Miss Elizabeth Jones, and by her reared two daughters: Kate E., wife of Dr. William H. Jopes, of Greenfield, Mo.; and Almena C., wife of William Grigsby, of Jack County, Texas. After marriage, Dr. Bowles went to Raleigh, N. C., and about 1830 he moved to Middle Tennessee, where he remained for some six years, and then went to Utica, Miss. In 1838 he lost his wife and returned to Tennessee, locating at Murfreesboro, where he married Miss Elizabeth J. Vaughan in 1839. There are eight living children born to this union: Jane, wife of L. W. Shafer, attorney-at-law at Greenfield, Mo.; Mary, wife of Wash. Broyles, of Butte County, Cal.; Ella V., wife of James Curran, of Yolo County, Cal.; Stearns H., of Capay, Yolo County, Cal.; Laura, wife of Finis E. Garrett, Golden City, Mo.; Dr. Frank R., of Jack County, Texas; William R.; and Lina K., wife of J. L. Wetzel, a dry goods merchant, of Greenfield, Mo. In 1851 Dr. Bowles came to Greenfield, Mo., and there died August 1, 1887. For thirty years he was the leading physician of Dade County, and during all those years ran a drug store in connection with his practice. He was one of the most influential citizens of Dade County, was a Mason in good standing, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. William R. Bowles was educated in Greenfield, and at the age of sixteen he commenced as an apprentice in a printing office. At the age of twenty-one he became a disciple of Blackstone, and in the fall of 1880 he was admitted to the bar. He then practiced law for six years, and in October, 1887, became editor of the Dade County Advocate, which he has since edited in an able and efficient manner. Mr. Bowles is a young man, and the Dade County Advocate, under his able management, has met with success. The paper is newsy, and sparkles with good editorials from his pen. In politics Mr. Bowles is a Democrat, and his paper upholds the principles of the party in an able and capable manner. He is a member of the Masonic order, Washington Lodge No, 87, Royal Arch Chapter No. 38, and Constantine Commandery No. 27. In August, 1885, he married Miss Cora Kimber, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Joseph H. and Ellen Kimber. Two children, Samuel O., and John Herschel, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowles. Mrs. Bowles is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The paternal grandparents of our subject were William and Elizabeth Bowles, the grandfather being a captain in the United States Navy for a number of years.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in The History of Dade County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dade County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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