1798 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

  Capt. Waters District (Wolfskin)
  14  Thomas Black
  20  William Bowden (no land)
  21  John Bowden (no land)

1799 WILLIAM MATHEWS of Oglethorpe Co., 10/1/1799:2/1/1802, p. 108 109
All my estate to be equally divided between my wife Elizabeth , my five children Anne. George,
Francis, Charles and William. My Exrs. to purchase William Blackburn's tract of land now for
Sale on Broad River, or some other tract which may be convenient for my family to settle near
their connections. The land I own in Camden to be sold. Exrs: My brother George Mathews, Jr.,
William Barnett, Thomas Meriwether and Joel Barnett. Wit: Mary Barnett.

1799 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

  Capt. Joseph Waters District (Wolfskin)
  P. 2 #52 Clabourn Barnett
  P. 3 #74 William Bowden (no land)
       #75 John Bowden (no land)

1800 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

  Capt. Radford Ellises District p.20 (Falling Creek)
  #8  Clabourn Barnett
  #11  Wm Bauden
  #12  do for Jn Bauden
  #16  Wm McCord

1800 Census Index, North Carolina

  Bowden, John     Franklin 464
  Bowden, William  Franklin 485

1800 Territorial Census, Georgia

  William Bowden    Oglethorpe County

1801 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

  Capt. Ellis District p.31 (Falling Creek)
  #29 Clabourn Barnett  O.C.
  #40 William McCord    O.C.
  #41 John Bowden       O.C.
  #42 William Bowden    O.C.

1802 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

  Capt. Ellis District (Falling Creek)
  P. 28
  #21	John Bowden		O.C.
  #31	Clabourn Barnett	O.C.
  #37	William Bowden	O.C.
  P. 29
  #86	William McCord	O.C.
  P. 30
  #100	Isaac Miligan	O.C.
  Capt. Lee's District (Wolfskin or Grove Creek?)
  #69	Mathew Finley	O.C. 250 acres
  #76	Joseph Waters	O.C. 87.5 acres
  #61	Charles Finch	O.C.	143 acres & 107 acres in Washington Co.
  #36	Benjamin Blanton	O.C. 35 acres
  #1	Bradford Waters	O.C. 100 acres
  Capt. Mathew's District (Goosepond)
  #52	Charles, William, George Mathews
  #55	Do for Sam'l Blackburn	E(C?).C. 150 150 340

1802 "40,000 Early Georgia Marriages"

  Bowden, John     Blackburn, Anna    8-7-1802 Oglethorpe 398 *MISTYPED*

1802 #0158729 Marriages of Oglethorpe Co., GA 1794-1812
p. 194 of transcription

    1802 September 7th John Bowden and Anna Blackburn no. 460

1803 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests
	
	Captain Charles Moores District (Falling Creek)
	P.15
	#8	John Bowden		O.C.
	#22	William Bowden		O.C.
	#23	Isaac Miligan		O.C.
	P. 16
	#90	William McCord		O.C.

1804 History of Pope County, Ark. p.160

	William Bowden born

1804 From Bible belonging to William Bowden and Winnie Brewer

  "William Bowden was born November 20th 1804"

1805 - Film #0177698 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests
	
	Capt. Hudson's District (Falling Creek)
	#2	William Bowden		J.C.
	#10	Isaac Miligan		O.C
	#19	John Bowden		O.C.
	#38	Jesse Bowden		O.C.
	#43	William McCord		O.C.
	#53	Clabourn Barnett	O.C.

1806 - Film #0177699 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

	Captain Hudsons District (Falling Creek)
	#50	John Bowden		O.C.
	#94	James Bowden		O.C.	50 Acres
	#106	William Bowden		O.C.
	#108	Isaac Miligan
	#122	William Miligan
	#125	John Barnett		O.C.

1807 - Oglethorpe Co., GA List of eligible drawers
for the land lottery

  Blackborn, Marah (Widow)  Capt. Rowland Hudson's District
  Bowden, James             Capt. Rowland Hudson's District
  Bowden, John              Capt. Rowland Hudson's District
  Bowden, William           Capt. Rowland Hudson's District

1808 - Film #0177699 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

	Capt. Hudson's District (Falling Creek)
	#42	John Bowden		O.C.
	#49	William Milligan		O.C.
	#65	John Yarbrough		O.C.
	#75	John Barnett

1812 - War of 1812 Roster for Georgia

    BOWDEN		JOHN	BRODNAX'S DETACHMENT, GA MIL.  PRIVATE 21602
    BOWDEN		WILLIAM	2 REG'T (JENKINS'), GA VOLS. AND MIL. PRIVATE 21602

1813 - Film #0177699 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

	Capt Blakes District (Wolfskin)
	#102	Benjamin Blanton		O.C. Tons of land
	Capt. William Owens District (Falling Creek)
	#22	John Bowden			O.C. 147 Acres bordering Matt Finley
	#32	William Miligan			O.C. No Land
	#56	John Yarborough		O.C. No Land
	#77	Charles Bowden		O.C. No Land
	Capt. Bailey's District (Goosepond)
	#46	George Mathews Sr. Dec'd O.C. Lots of land
	#47	do for Samuel Blackburn	E(C?).C. Town lots in Elberton
	#48	John Mathews Dec'd		G.C. & W.C.

1814 History of Pope County, Ark.

	Jackson J. Bowden born Jan 22, 1814 Abelthop County, Georgia

1814 - Film #0177699 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests

	Capt. William Bailey's District (Goospond)
	#61	Samuel Blackburn	C.C. 4 town lotts in Elberton
	Capt Henry Blakes District (Wolfskin)
	#43	John Bowden		O.C. 147 acres B.C. Next to Mathew Finley
	#105	Bradford Waters	O.C. No Land
	#107	Burdel Finch		O.C. No Land
	#108	do for Charles Finch	O.C. No Land
	#109	Wm Bowden		O.C. No Land
	#133	Benjamin Blanton	O.C. Tons of land
	Capt. William Owens District (Falling Creek)
	#2	John Yarborough	O.C. No Land
	#65	Charles Bowden	O.C. No Land
	#72	Wm Milligan		O.C. No Land
	
1815 - Film #0177699 - Oglethorpe Co., GA Tax Digests *Need to check this further*

	John Halls District (Falling Creek)
	#46	Charles Bawdin			O.C.
	Capt. William Smiths District (Goosepond)
	#36 	Charley, Elizabeth, George, John, and Mary Matthews; No Blackburn
	Capt. Henry Blakes District (Wolfskin)
	#42	John Bowdin			O.C. 147 acres B.C. Next to Findley
	#114	William Bowden			O.C. No Land
	#132	Benjamin Blanton		O.C. Tons of land

1815 - From Bible of William Bowden and Winnie Brewer

  "Charles Willis Bowden born Decr. 5th 1815"

1818 History of Pope County, Ark. p.160

	Winnie Bowden, wife of William Bowden, born
	
1819 History of Pope County, Ark.

	Jackson J. Bowden came with his family to Murry[Maury] County, Tenn
	
1820 Census Maury County, Tenn.

    John Bowden 520010 12110
    5 Males 0-10
    2 Males 10-16
    1 Male 26-45
    1 Female 0-10
    2 Females 10-16
    1 Female 16-26
    1 Female 26-45

1830 Census Maury County, Tenn.

    Bowden, William 000010 0001
    1 Male 20-30
    1 Female 15-20

1830 Census Lawrence County, Tenn.

    p. 302 John Bowden  1110101 0102001
    1 Male 0-5
    1 Male 5-10
    1 Male 10-15
    1 Male 20-30
    1 Male 40-50
    1 Female 5-10
    2 Females 15-20
    1 Female 40-50

    p. 284 John Chambers  00001 00001
	
1840 Census - Lawrence Co., Tenn. p. 139A

    John Bowden  --1-----1  1------1
    1 Male 10-15
    1 Male 60-70
    1 Female 0-5
    1 Female 50-60

    p. 132 James Bowden  200001  01001
    2 Male 0-5
    1 Male 30-40
    1 Female 5-10
    1 Female 20-30

    p. 140 Wm. Bowden  200001  00001
    2 Males 0-5
    1 Male 30-40
    1 Female 20-30

    p. 145 Wiley F. Bowden  00001  0001
    1 Male 20-30
    1 Female 15-20
	
1840 Census - Wayne County, Tenn. p. 87

	Bowden, Jackson J.	00001 - 11001
	Bowden, Chas. W.	10001 - 00001

1844 History of Pope County, Ark.

Jackson J. Bowden comes to Pope County, Ark.
first lived on Crow Mountain, then to Gravel Hill in Gumlog TWP

1846 History of Pope County, Ark.

	Jackson J. Bowden licensed to preach - Methodist
	
1848 Maury County, Tenn Chancery Court Records 1810-1860 976.859 P2g p.50

James Bowden mentioned in an estate settlement as being 44 in 1848

1848 History of Pope County, Ark.

  William and Winnie Bowden and 5 children come in covered wagon
  to Arkansas and homestead on Crow Mountain.
	
1850 Census - Lawrence Co., Tenn. Dist. #7 dwelling #41 41

  John Bowden  Farmer  800  73 M  N.C.
  Ann Bowden                66 F  S.C.

1850 Census - Lawrence County, Tenn. 40-721

  Newton N. Bowden  29 M Tenn
  Mary              28 F Tenn
  John H.           11 M Tenn
  E.J.               7 F Tenn
  Mary E.            5 F Tenn
  Wm. J.             4 M Tenn
  Joseph R.          2 M Tenn
  Jas. R.         3/12 M Tenn
	
1850 Census - Lawrence Co. Tenn - 149-736

  John Chambers  42 M S.C.
  Ann            41 F Ga
  Mary J.        20 F Tenn
  Wm.            19 M Tenn
  John M.        16 M Tenn
  Jas. W.        13 M Tenn
  Newton         10 M Tenn
  Jasper          7 M Tenn
  Ann             5 F Tenn
  Robert S.       2 M Tenn

1852 Lawrence Co. Land Records #976,277

	July 1852 Allen B. Bowden buys land next to John Bowden
	July 1852 C.W. Bowden buys land next to John Bowden
	
1852 History of Pope County, Ark.

	Jackson J. Bowden and Narcissa Bewley Married
	had 10 children, three dying at an early age.

1854 Maury County, Tennessee Minute Book 16 pp. 302-303

R.C. Bowden et al Petition to divide slaves en parte:

Be it remembered that this cause came on to be finally heard on the 2nd day December 1854 before the
worshipful County Court of Maury County upon the petition of the petitioners - the precedings
heretofore had and the report the commissioners - which report being to the court shown and being
unaccepted to ----- all things being confirmed said report is in words and figures following to wit:

December Term 1854

We the undersigned commissioners met this 8th day of November 1854 and proceeded to value the above
named negroes (the negroes named in the petition) and find in valuation the whole amount to be
$4100.00 and likewise allotted the same into five shares each being $820.00 a distributive share. 
Miles Bowden’s heirs drew Celia, Fanny & Adilade valued at $815.00.  Balance of the heirs pay
them $5.00.  John Bowden drew Sirrine, Amandy, & Elizabeth - Valued at $930.00, and pays to the heirs
$110.00.  Leonel Holt drew Gus valued at $685.00 and the heirs pay him $135.00.  Cory Bowden drew
Patrick valued at $635.00, the heirs pay him $185.00.  William Bowden drew Jimy and Sam valued at
$1035.00 - he pays to the heirs $215.00.  Given under our hand and seal the day and date above
written

							S.W. Fitzpatrick
							Nath T. Poore
							J.C. Moore
							B. Greshaw
							M. B. Whitacker

It is therefore ordered, adjudjed, and decreed by the Court that all the right title and interest
which the said John Bowden, Leonel Holt & wife, Cory Bowden & Wm. Bowden have in and to the negroes
Celia, Fanny,and Adilaide - be divested out of them and vested in the said heirs of Miles Bowden and
their heirs and assigns forever. That all the right and interest of the heirs of Miles Bowden, Leonel
Holt & wife, Cory Bowden & William Bowden in and to the Negroes Sirrene, Amanda and Elizabeth be
divested out of them and vested in John Bowden & his heirs and assigns forever.  That all the right
title and claim of the said heirs and Miles Bowden, John Bowden, Cory Bowden, and Wm Bowden in and to
the slave Gus be divested out of them and vested in Leonnel Holt and his said wife and their heirs
and assigns forever.  That all the claim and interest of the heirs of Miles Bowden dec’d
mentioned in the pleadings of John Bowden, Leonnel Holt & wife and Wm Bowden in and to the negro
Patrick be divested out of them and vested in Cory Bowden his Heirs & assigns forever and that all
the right & interest of the heirs of Miles Bowden, John Bowden, Leonnel Holt and wife and Cory Bowden
to the negroes Jimy and Sam be divested out of them & vested in William Bowden his heirs and asigns
forever.
1854 History of Pope County, Ark

	Robert S. Bowden born to Jackson J. Bowden and Narcissa Bewley
	at Gravel Hill.
	
1855 "Wills of Lawrence County, Tenn." Film #976274 P. 328,344,345

	11 Dec. 1855  Will of Allen Blanton Bowden naming his father, John
	Bowden, and also naming Charles W. Bowden as administrator of
	his estate - other points of interest.

1859 Film # 0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn

	Dist. # 7
	Bowden, James			274 Acres $480
	Dist. #12
	Bowden, Newton		200 Acres $800
	Chambers, John		102 Acres $225
	
1860 Census - Lawrence Co., Tenn. Dist. #12 dwelling #1066 817

	John Bowden	Farmer	-- 125	83 M	N. Carolina

1860 Census - Lawrence Co., Tenn 131-481

	Bowden, James		54
	Lois J.			30
	Elizabeth S.		19
	Sarah			16
	John				13
	James			7
	David			4
	
	Bowden, Newton	40
	Mary				38
	John				19
	Eliza J.			17
	Mary				15
	Jasper			13
	Jas. F.			11
	Lafayette			10
	Newton			9
	Elizabeth			7
	Washington		5
	Dode[?]			2 F
	
>		[Get the rest of the info]

1860 Census - Pope Co., Ark. Gum Log TWP

	Bowden, William (fmr)	55 M Ga
	Winnie				42 F Tenn
	Nancy J.				19 F Tenn
	Martha E.				17 F Tenn
	Charles W.			13 M Tenn
	Henry C.				11 M Tenn
	Sarah A.				 9 F Ark
	
	Bowden, John S. (fmr)	47 M Ga
	Elizabeth				43 F Tenn
	Sarah A.				22 F Tenn
	Mary C.				20 F Tenn
	James H.				18 M Ark
	John W.				16 M Ark
	Eliza J.				14 F Ark
	Allen B.				12 M Ark
	Charles L.				10 M Ark
	Wiley F.				 7 M Ark
	Isabell				 8 F Ark
	Mary L.				 3 F Ark
	Runnells, Candis		65 F NC
	Bowden, child of		3/12 F Ark
	
	Stout, James (fmr)	51 M Ky
	Elizabeth			53 F NC
	John D.			23 M Ala
	Margaret A.		18 F Ala
	Eliza A.			16 F Ark
	Horatio H.			11 M Ark
	Bowden, Isabella	28 F Ala
	Bowden, Sarah E.	 9 F Ark
	Bowden, John H.	 7 M Ark
	Bowden, Wm. J.		 4 M Ark
	
1860 Census - Pope Co., Ark.  Dover TWP

	Bowden, Jackson J.(fmr)	44 M Ga
	Narcissa E.			26 F Ark
	Nancy J.				18 F Tenn
	Mary L.				13 F Ark
	James T.				10 M Ark
	Robert S.				 6 M Ark
	Benj. F.				 5 M Ark
	Chas. D.		 		 3 M Ark
	George				 1 M Ark
	Bramblett, Wm.			22 M Ga

1861 Film #0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist. 12
	Chambers, John		102 Acres $250
	
1870 Census - Pope County, Arkansas D-928

	Elizabeth Bowden		54 F	Tenn
	Wiley F.				17 M	Ark
	Isabel				15 F	Ark
	Margaret L.			13 F	Ark
	Manta A.				10 F	Ark
	
	D-1031 Moreland TWP
	Jackson J. Bowden  Minister	55 M	Ga
	Narcissa					36 F	Ark
	Robert S.					17 M	Ark
	Franklin B.				15 M	Ark
	Charles D.					14 M	Ark
	George A.					11 M	Ark
	Sarah F.					9  F	Ark
	Athan C.					7  M	Ark
	Miles E.					3  M	Ark
	Jackson J.					11/12 M	Ark
	Farrar, Mary				21 F	Ga
	        James T.				10 M	Ark
		
	D-879 Gum Log TWP
	Bowden, Newton	50 M	Tenn
	Mary				49 F	Tenn
	Newton			18 M	Tenn
	Washington		14 M	Tenn
	Medora A			12 F	Tenn
	Henry			9  M	Ark
	Charles W.		7  M	Ark
	James F.			22 M	Tenn.

1870 Census - Lawrence Co, Tenn #553042 Dist #7 pg. 10

	Bowden, James	68 M W Farmer	600 540	Georgia
	Louisa J.		40 F W Keeping House	Alabama
	James H.		16 M W Farm Laborer	Tenn
	David F.		15 M W Farm Laborer	Tenn
	Margaret J.	  3 F W				Tenn
	
	45 48 Chambers, Ann	61 F W Keeping House	Georgia
	Wilson W.				18 M W Farmer			Tenn
	
	49 52 Chambers, Newton	30 M W Farmer 500 200	Tenn
	Rebecca				22 F W 				Tenn
	James C.				2 M W				Tenn
	Thomas N.			7 M W				Tenn

	53 56 Chambers, Sarah C	32 F W At Home		N Carolina
		Mary M. A.		13 F W				Tenn
	   57     Katy			23 F B Dom. Servant		N Carolina
	          Glenn			3 M B				Tenn

1872 Film #0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist #7
	Bowden, James	124 Acres $200
	
1873 Film # 0976267 Probate Lawrence County, Tenn 1867-1875

	p. 386
	1 Sept 1873 C.W. Bowden exr. of A.B. Bowden Dec. settlement
	continued until next circuit court session
	
1876 History of Pope County, Ark. p.160

	Winnie Bowden, wife of William Bowden, dies

1876 Film # 0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist #7
	Bowden, James		no land listed
	
1880 Census - Pope County, Arkansas Gumlog TWP

	Newton Bowden			60 M
	
>	
		other family members
	
	Charles W. Bowden nephew	33 M	
	
1880 Census - Pope County, Arkansas Valley TWP

	Matilda Bowden	(68 Tenn) living with Allen B Bowden 
								(32 Ark)
	
>	Elizabeth Bowden Farmer		64 F	Tenn	Tenn	Tenn
		(John S. Bowden's wife?)

1880 Census - Pope County, Arkansas Valley TWP

	Jackson J. Bowden		M 66	Ga	Ga	Ga
	Narcissa E.			F 46	Ark	Va	Ala
	Sarah F.				F 18	Ark	Ga	Ark
	Athaner C.			M 17	Ark	Ga	Ark
	Miles E.				M 13	Ark	Ga	Ark

1880 Census - Lawrence Co., Tenn

	Bowden, James	Farmer 	M 74	Ga	Ga	Ga
	Lowis				F 50	Ala	Ga	Ga
	James H.				M 37	Tenn	Ga	Ala
	David				M 28	Tenn	Ga	Ala
	Maggie				F 13	Tenn	Ga	Ala
	Ladd, Mary	Sis-in-law	F 48	Ala	NC	NC
	Emily		Sis-in-law	F 36	Ala	NC	NC

1880's Cemetary Records of Lawrence Co., Tenn. 976.842 V22a

	p. 443 Old Abandoned cemetary on Granddaddy Rd. west of 
	Lawrenceburg. Many fieldstone markers - Mary & Emily Ladd,
	Jimmy Bowden

1881 Film # 0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist #7
	Bowden, James	124 3/4 Acres $270
	Bowden, J.H.
	Bowden, D.F.

1885 Film # 0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist #7
	Bowden, James	124 Acres $225
	Bowden, J.H.
	Bowden, D.F.

1885 Obituaries and Death Notices of Pope Co., Ark. 1875-1886 976.732 V4l

	p.44 Narcisca E. Bowden d. Aug 4 1885 of Heart Disease
	Daughter of R.S. and Eveline Bewly
	b. Pope County, Ark Jan 4 1834
	m. to Rev. J. J. Bowden Aug 12 1852
	leaves husband, one daughter, six sons but "goes to meet
	those three little ones" who have preceeded her.

1886 Film # 0976301 Tax Lists Lawrence Co., Tenn.

	Dist #7
	Bowden, James Heirs	124 Acres $230
	Bowden, J.H.
	Bowden, D.F.

1886 History of Pope County, Ark. p. 160

	William Bowden dies
	
1892 Cemeteries of Pope County, Arkansas 976.732 V22p

	Vol. 1 p.110
	Elizabeth Bowden nee Reynolds 6-20-1816 5-2-1892
	
1892 Obituaries and Death Notices of Pope Co., Ark. 1887-1893 976.732 V4l

Grandma Bowden [Elizabeth] living in Gum Log died the Monday
before May 5 1892.  She was the widow of the Hon. John Bowden
who was prominent in political circles and represented county in
Legislature.
	
1900 Census Pope County, Arkansas

	p. 87A
  23 23 Bowden, Newton	Head	W M Oct 1851 48 M 24 Tenn Tenn Tenn
		Mary		Wife	W F Oct 1852 47 M 24 11/9 Ark NC NC
		Blanch	Dau	W F Aug 1879 20 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		Hattie	Dau	W F Oct 1881 18 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		Alen		Son	W M Oct 1883 16 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		John		Son	W M Dec 1885 14 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		May		Dau	W F Jun 1888 11 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		Roy		Son	W M Oct 1890  9 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		Waine	Son	W M Oct 1893  6 S	Ark Tenn Ark
		Newton	Father W M Apr 1820 80 M 60 Tenn Ga Ga
		Mary		Mother W F Jul 1822 77 M 60 12/10 Tenn NC Tenn
						     78
						     
misc. - Goodspeed's History of Wayne County, Tennessee p. 872

James E. M. McAnally is the son of Elisha R. McAnally, who was born in North Carolina, and who was a
farmer and gunsmith by occupation.  He married Feriba Bowden, of Georgia, and they together reared a
family of twelve children, and accumulated some property.  He and Mrs. McAnally were members of the
Christian Church, and he was a Whig in politics, and sided with the Union during the late Rebellion. 
His wife died in 1865 and he in 1873.  Our subject's birth occurred in Wayne County in 1830.  He
began farming for himself at the age of twenty-five years, and after living in different localities
in the county, finally in 1870, purchased his present farm of 160 acres.  Besides this, he owns about
500 acres in different locations in the county, and devotes the most of his land to the production of
corn, small grain and peanuts.  In 1855 he united his fortunes with those of Fannie Robnett, daughter
of John and Nancy (Staggs) Robnett.  She was born in 1834 and is the mother of eight children:
Toulbert F., Houston, Ellender, Louisa, Esther, Margaret, Timothy R., and an infant deceased, not
named.  Mr. McAnally and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he has always been a firm
republican in politics.

misc. - A new submitter to Ancestral File for John Bowden
	Shirley Ann Cable
	180 W. Guffey
	Carson City, NV 89701

From Goodspeed's History of Pope County, Arkansas:

Rev. J.J. Bowden, farmer, Moreland, Ark. Mr. Bowden , who is familiarly known as "Uncle Jacky Bowden"
was born in Georgia, January 22, 1814, and is the son of John and Anna (Blackburn) Bowden, both
natives also of Georgia, and of English and German descent, respectively. The father was born in
1751, and was married about 1796. He and wife emigrated from Georgia to Tennessee, and here they
received their final summons, the father dying at the age of ninety-five, and she at the age of
sixty-five years. Their family consisted of fifteen children, eight sons and five daughters of whom
grew to mature years. Two died in infancy. Those living are named as follows: Polly, William, Feriba,
James, Anna, Jane, John S., Jackson J., Charles, Newton, Wiley, Lucinda and Allen. The paternal
grandfather of these children emigrated from England to America at an early day, and fought for
independence in the Revolution. When about six years of age Rev. J.J. Bowden emigrated with his
parents to Tennessee, and there remained until 1844, when he moved to Arkansas. While a resident of
Tennessee he met and married Miss Salina Lay, a native of Georgia, who bore him six children, tow of
whom are now living, one in Texas, and the other in Conway County, Ark. After coming to Arkansas Mr.
Bowden settled in Gum Log Valley, but afterward purchased eighty acres of land on Crow Mountain,
where he resided six years. He afterward purchased 300 acres at Gravel Hill, and gave eleven acres of
this to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the land, at the present time, being valued at $100 per
acre, upon which he has expended on his own account, and out of his own pocket, at least $500. Later
he sold this farm, and retired to his farm at Gravel Hill, where he now resides, and where, despite
his increasing years, he still carries on his occupation of farming, though in a limited way, having
rented most of his land to tenants. When Mr. Bowden first located on his present farm, the country
was thinly settled, and in all the country from Cross Plains to Dover there were but two families. On
Crow Mountain, where there are now about 200 families, there were at that time just two families. Mr.
Bowden joined the church in 1828, and has always taken a deep interest in church work. When leaving
Tennessee he brought letters from his church, which he deposited in Gum Log Valley, in what is now
known as David Chapel, where he assisted in erecting the first church edifice in Valley Township. And
probably the first in Pope County. Mr. Bowden was licensed to preach in 1848, by Dr. A. Hunter;
ordained a deacon by Bishop Paine in 1852, and ordained an elder by Bishop Early in 1857. His first
ministerial work was on Crow Mountain, where he organized and erected the first church. In 1865,
after the close of the war, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs, Mr. Bowden was called upon
to take in hand the organization of the churches of Dover circuit, on which there were twenty-four
appointments, and to which it was difficult or impossible to send a regular itinerant, Mr. Bowden
found the churches in a demoralized condition, but undertook the work, which he successfully
accomplished in about a month, presiding over that circuit only a year. He organized the Sunday
school at Gravel Hill, or Bowden Chapel, directly after the war, and also assisted in the
organization of several others. He went to Little Red River in 1840, where Methodism had never
penetrated, and established a church, which has grown from the seed thus sown to a flourishing
circuit. His first wife dying in 1852, Mr. Bowden was married, in August of the same year, to Miss
Narcissa E. Bewley, daughter of R.S. Bewley, of Pope County. The fruits of this union were ten
children, three of whom died in infancy. The remainder are all married, with the exception of one son
and a daughter. They are named as follows: Robert S., Benjamin B., Charles D., George A., Anhana C.,
Miles E., and Sallie F., all but one of whom are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
From 1845 up to the beginning of the Civil War, in which he took no part, Mr. Bowden was militia
captain. He was appointed postmaster at Moreland post office in 1866, which position he held for
three or four years. He joined a temperance organization at Dover in 1867, and as this is a subject
in which he takes a great interest, temperance organizations have been established all over Pope
County. Although in his seventy-seventh year and somewhat deaf, Mr. Bowden can read ordinary print
without the aid of glasses. He lost his wife in 1885. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church also, and was an active worker in the same. Despite his old age, he raised, the present year,
with his own hands, two and one-half bales of cotton, thirty bushels of corn and forty bushels of
sweet potatoes, besides he preached nearly every Sunday.