Notes for Charles Lafayette Bowden

Notes for Charles Lafayette Bowden

!US Census 1880 (1 June) Arkansas, Pope Co., Valley Township, Roll T9_54, Family History Film 1254054, Page 28A, House No. 6, Lines 24-28: Charley L Bowden (b. 1851 - 29 - in AR - Occ: Farmer - Fa: TN and Mo: TN) married to Margaret A. (b. 1853 - 27 - in AR - Fa: AR and Mo: TN). Children listed (born in AR) are: Ardena E. (dau b. 1870 - 10); John S. (son b. 1876 - 4); and William J. (son b. 1878 - 2)

!US Census 1900 (2 June) Arkansas, Pope Co., Valley Township, Series T623_72 Book 2, Page 206, House No. 75, Lines 92-98: Charley L. Bowden (b. Jan 1850 - 50 - in AR - Occ: Farmer - Fa: TN and Mo: TN) married 32 years to Margaret A. (b. Jan 1853 - 47 - in AR - Fa: TN and Mo: TN) having 10 children born and 8 still living. Children listed (born in AR) are: William J. (son b. Mar 1878 - 22 - Occ: Farmer); Husten C. (son b. Dec 1881 - 18 - Occ: Farmer); George R. (son b. Dec 1884 - 15 - Occ: Farmer); Virgil R. (son b. Apr 1887 - 13 - Occ: Farmer); Emery (son b. Apr 1890 - 10); and Charley O. (son b. Nov 1893 - 6)

!US Census 1910 (23 & 26 April) Arkansas, Pope Co., Valley Township, Series T624_61 Part 3, SD 5 ED 95, Sheet 5B, Page 229B, House No. 101 Russellville and Cagglesville Road, Lines 78-81: Charles L. Bowden (b. 1850 - 60 - in AR - Occ: Farmer - Fa: TN and Mo: TN) married 41 years to Margaret A. (b. 1853 - 57 - in AR - Fa: TN and Mo: TN) having 10 children born and 8 still living. Children listed (born in AR) are: Emery O. (son b. 1890 - 20 - Occ: Farm Laborer); and Charley O. (son b. 1893 - 17 - Occ: Farm Laborer)

!Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas; in Chicago by Goodspeed Publishers, 1891: C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Arkansas - Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits are such as to entitle him to representation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this sketch. He is a native-born resident of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both natives of the Big Bend State, where they were united in marriage.
They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865.
He was a prominent man and was a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs. Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen,
Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil.
On Christmas of that year he was married to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of [p.215] James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he soon cleared twenty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres under cultivation.
He is one of the thoroughgoing, enterprising citizens, and a man of good, sound judgment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (deceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton H., George R., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also a member of the Sunday-school board. During an average season Mr. Bowden's farm will yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre.