Person Page - 933

     Giles Elmer Bowers was born on 28 August 1888 at near Sarcoxie, Jasper, Missouri, United States. He was the son of Hardin Thomas Bowers and Sarah Ann Sample. He married Elizabeth "Libbie" Valetta Darr on 13 December 1910 at McDonald, Missouri, United States. He died on 14 April 1949 at Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United States, at age 60; mesenteric thrombosis with peritonitis. He was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery, Spring Valley Township, Cherokee, Kansas, United States.
     Biography of Giles Elmer Bowers:
The following biography is from Howard Bowers Light Townsend of Kentucky.¹ It is reproduced below with permission:

Between 1903 and 1909 Elmer Bowers kept a journal in a small pocket ledger. This included records of day labor for neighbors Auman, Hodson, Carnahan and Pickett, working typically for 50 to 75 cents a day, and records of sales of farm produce. In January 1908 he became seriously ill and kept a daily log for several months mostly commenting on the weather and what his father and brother Irvin were doing. He wrote, "was sick about 4 months took sick with pneumonian [sic] fever 25th of ____. It was the 14th of Mar before I set up any never done any work from about the middle of January till about the 16th of May never done anything for about 4 months."

It is not known how he met Libbie Darr. Their families' homes were about 30 miles apart; Libbie living with her parents south of Seneca, Missouri and Elmer living with his parents three miles north of Baxter Springs, Kansas. However, it might have been through the association of Baptist churches which rotated meetings in months which had five Sundays, called Fifth Sunday meetings. The churchs took turns in hosting the all day meetings for preaching, gospel singing, fellowship and potluck dinners.

After his marriage he worked on construction of the dam on Spring River located at Lowell, Kansas, probably as a laborer. He walked to and from work from the small house in which he and Libbie lived located one-half mile north of Riverton and a short distance west of the Friends Church. After the dam was completed he was employed by the Empire District Electric Company at the steam-electric power plant in Riverton, Kansas, shoveling coal into the firebox of a hand-fired boiler and dragging out ashes. One night while dragging out ashes in the hot and smoky boiler room, the foreman came by and started yelling at him to work harder and get those ashes out faster. He handed his shovel to the foreman and told the him that he could finish the job. He walked off the job and never returned.

Deed Book 72:561, Cherokee Co., Kansas, 8 Sep 1912, Elmer Bowers from J. R. Huff and wife, warranty deed, located in Sec 7, Twp 34, Range 25. This is the blacksmith shop that Elmer Bowers bought from John Huff. It was located one mile north and one mile west of Riverton, Kansas. John Huff taught him the trade of blacksmithing.

Deed Book 87:324, Cherokee Co., Kansas, 7 Sep 1914, Elmer Bowers and wife to Guy G. Darr, warranty deed, located in Sec 7, Twp 34, Range 25. Elmer Bowers sold a part interest in the blacksmith shop to his brother-in-law, Guy Darr.

Deed Book 87:292, 2 Jan 1915, Elmer Bowers from Guy G. Darr, warranty deed, located in Sec 7, Twp 34, Range 25. Elmer Bowers re-purchased the part interest in his blacksmith shop that he had sold to his brother-in-law.

Between 1915 and 1920 he worked for a short period of time in Galena, Kansas, probably for Kennedy Ford.

Elmer Bowers sold the John Huff blacksmith shop about 1921and built a new auto repair shop and blacksmith shop located one mile north of Riverton (and one mile east of the John Huff shop) on the southeast corner of the section line. In 1929 the road running north from Riverton was widened and paved. He moved his house to the west side of the road and built a new shop. (Research note: Find deeds for (1) sale of John Huff blacksmith shop about 1921, (2) purchase/lease of property one mile north of Riverton on east side of road and (3) purchase of property on west side of road.) This road was known locally as Military Road. It was built initially as a military road to connect Ft. Scott, Kansas with outposts in Oklahoma Territory.

Elmer Bowers household not found in the 1920 U.S. census for Cherokee Co., Kansas.

Deed Book 93:272, 5 Sep 1929, Elmer Bowers and wife to Galena National Bank, mortgage on N 1/2 of NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Sec 18, Twp 34, Range 25, satisfied 13 Sep 1934.

He was treasurer of the school board in 1929 when the first high school was built in Riverton, Kansas. His name is on the cornerstone of the old high school building, long since torn down to be replaced by a new high school building.

1930 U.S. census, Garden Twp., Cherokee Co., Kansas, T626, Roll 696, p 16A:
Elmer Bowers, head, male, age 41, md. 22 yr, b. Missouri, father b. Missouri, mother b. Illinois, auto parts dealer
Elizabeth V., wife, female, 42, md. 22 yr, Kansas, Ohio, Ohio
Harry A., son, m, 16, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas
G. Leroy, son, m, 12, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas
A. Marie, dau., f, 9, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas
E. Dorothy, dau., f, 7, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas
Howard I., son, m, 4 10/12, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas
Lloyd R., son, m, 11/12, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas

Deed Book 99:100, 25 Feb 1935, Elmer Bowers and wife to Chillon Carter, mortage on N 1/2 of NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Sec 18, Twp 34, Range 25, satisfied 21 Aug 1937.

Joplin News-Herald, Joplin, Missouri, April 15, 1949. "Veteran Garage Owner of Galena Vicinity Dies. Galena, Kan., April 14. Elmer Bowers, 60 years old, veteran garage owner who lived a mile north of Riverton on Galena route 1, died at 5:15 o'clock this morning in St. John's hospital at Joplin, where he had been a patient two days. He had been ill one month. He was born at Sarcoxie, Mo., August 28, 1888. He had lived in Galena and Riverton 50 years. Purchasing the John Huff blacksmith shop in Quaker Valley 38 years ago, he operated it for a number of years, later establishing a garage and filling station one mile north of Riverton, which he operated for the past 30 years. He was a member of the Baptist church, A.T.A. lodge at Lowell, I.O.O.F. lodge at Crestline and the A.O.U.W. lodge in Galena. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Libbie Bowers; four sons, Harry A. Bowers of Garland, Tex., Roy Bowers of Phoenix, Ariz., Howard Bowers of Muscatine, Ia., and Lloyd Bowers of Independence, Kan; two daughters, Mrs. Verl Martin of Baxter Springs and Miss Dorothy Bowers of the home; a sister, Mrs. Jennie Thomas of Carterville, Mo., and seven grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Friends church at Riverton. The Rev. Charles Hatfield of Sarcoxie will officiate, Burial will be in Shiloh cemetery, in the Quaker Valley district, under the direction of the Derfelt-Boone funeral home. Graveside services will be given by the I.O.O.F. lodge. The body will be taken to the home Friday afternoon to lie in state until 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon."

Deed Book 153:312, 9 May 1951, Elizabeth V. Bowers to W. O. York and wife, warranty deed, located in Sec 18, Twp 34, Range 25.¹

     Mary Elizabeth Allen was born on 9 September 1894 at Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, United States. She married Newton Leroy Sample, son of John William Sample and Sevilla Viola Sampson, circa 1910 at Cherokee, Kansas, United States; They were married at the home of Hardin Thomas Bowers and Sarah Ann Sample Bowers about three miles north of Baxter Springs, Kansas. She died in June 1989 at Carthage, Jasper, Missouri, United States, at age 94. She was buried in June 1989 at Pleasant View Cemetery, Spring Valley Township, Cherokee, Kansas, United States.
     Biography of Mary Elizabeth Allen:
Source unknown, June 1989 : "Mary Sample, Webb City, Mo. Mary E. "Lizzie" Sample, 93, 324 N. Tom St., died at 5:10 a.m. Wednesday at a Carthage nursing home after a long illness. Mrs. Sample was born Sept. 9, 1894, at Springfield, Ill. She moved to Baxter Springs, Kan., at the age of five. She had lived in the Carterville-Webb City area for the past 73 years. She was a member of Duenweg Baptist Church. Her husband, Roy Sample, died in 1918. Survivors include two sons, Floyd Sample, Joplin route 1, and J. Wilbur Sample, Springfield; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Pleasant View Cemetery, northwest of Baxter Springs. The Rev. Paul E. Patton will officiate. Pallbearers will be Cleo Allen, Galen Allen, Bob Allen and Roy Allen. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Simpson Funeral Home."¹

     John Wilbur Sample was born on 1 August 1911 at Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas, United States. He was the son of Newton Leroy Sample and Mary Elizabeth Allen. He married Anna Iona Hornback on 11 June 1938 at Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United States. He died on 19 November 1999 at Springfield, Greene, Missouri, United States, at age 88. He was buried on 21 November 1999 at Fullerton Cemetery, near Carthage, Jasper, Missouri, United States.
     Biography of John Wilbur Sample:
The Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 20, 1999. John Wilbur Sample 88, passed away Friday, Nov. 19, 1999. He ran a body shop in Carthage. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Fullerton Cemetery, Carthage. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Walnut Lawn DeGraffenreid-Wood Funeral Home, Springfield.¹

     Floyd Sample was born on 18 August 1914 at near Carterville, Jasper, Missouri, United States. He was the son of Newton Leroy Sample and Mary Elizabeth Allen. He died in February 1994 at Jasper, Missouri, United States, at age 79.
     Biography of Floyd Sample:
Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, Sunday, Oct. 20, 1985: "Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Sample, Joplin route 1, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, in the Fellowship Hall of Frisco Church in Webb City. Floyd Sample and the former Bennie June Owens were married Oct. 27, 1935, in Joplin. He owned and operated Sample's Auto and Glass Shop in Carterville for many years. They have one daughter: Mrs. Carl (Darlene) Rose, Carterville. They also have three
grandchildren. The daughter and grandchildren will serve as hosts."¹

     (--?--) Day married Florence Sample, daughter of John William Sample and Sevilla Viola Sampson.

     Henry Sly was born circa 1888 at Illinois, United States. He married Sarah "Sadie" Sample, daughter of John William Sample and Sevilla Viola Sampson.
     Biography of Henry Sly:
1920 U.S. census, District 1, Plainview, Hale Co., Texas, pp 9A-9B:
Henry Sly, head, 32m, b. Illinois, father b. Illinois, mother b. Illinois, concrete mixer laborer
Sadie, wife, 25f, Texas, Illinois, Illinois, home
Clifford, son, 1-6/12m, Texas, Illinois, Texas.¹

     Myrtle Marie Brasch was born on 10 November 1911 at Bakersfield, Kern, California, United States. She married Harry Alvin Bowers, son of Giles Elmer Bowers and Elizabeth "Libbie" Valetta Darr, on 5 August 1932 at Kansas, United States. She died on 4 October 1992 at Garland, Dallas, Texas, United States, at age 80. She was buried at Restland Park Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States.

     David H. Sample was born in January 1832 at Morgan, Illinois, United States. He was the son of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. He married Elizabeth Moore on 3 October 1850 at Morgan, Illinois, United States. He married Millie Ann Olles on 9 July 1867 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He died after 1900.
     Biography of David H. Sample:
1870 U.S. census, Carlinville P.O., T11 R7, Macoupin Co., Illinois, M593, Roll 250, p 199:
D. H. Sample, age 38, male, miller, $500 real estate, $100 personal property, b. Illinois
Millie Ann, 29, f, Illinois
M. Jane, 18, f, Illinois          (child of 1st wife Elizabeth Moore
John D., 15, m, Illinois          (child of 1st wife Elizabeth Moore)
Mary F., 2, f, Illinois               (child of Millie Ann)
Henry L., 28, m, miller, Illinois          (brother of D. H.)

1900 U.S. census, Harvel Village, King Twp., Christian Co., Illinois, T623, Roll 241, p 9B:
David H. Sample, head, age 68, m. 33 yr, b. Jan 1832, lawyer, b. Illinois, father b. Illinois, mother b. Ky.
Milly A., wife, 58, b. May 1842, m. 33 yr, Kentucky, Illinois, Kentucky.¹

     Elizabeth "Libbie" Valetta Darr was born on 17 February 1888 at McPherson, Kansas, United States. She married Giles Elmer Bowers, son of Hardin Thomas Bowers and Sarah Ann Sample, on 13 December 1910 at McDonald, Missouri, United States. She died on 18 October 1969 at Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas, United States, at age 81; carcinoma of stomach. She was buried on 21 October 1969 at Pleasant View Cemetery, Spring Valley Township, Cherokee, Kansas, United States.
     Biography of Elizabeth "Libbie" Valetta Darr:
Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, Monday, October 20, 1969: "Mrs. Libbie Bowers, Baxter Springs, Kan. - Services for Mrs. Libbie V. Bowers, 81, 506 W. 8th St., who died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Baxter Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient since Oct. 12, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverton Friends Church. The Rev. Dowe Booe will officiate and burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, northwest of Baxter Springs under direction of the Derfelt Funeral Home of Galena. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 until 8:30 o'clock tonight. Born Feb. 17, 1888, in McPherson County, Kansas, Mrs. Bowers had lived at Baxter Springs for the last 10 years. She was the widow of Elmer Bowers, who died April 14, 1949. Mrs. Bowers was a member of the Christian Church, Lostine Dorcas Club and the Rebekah Lodge No. 539 of Crestline, Kan. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Verl Martin, Baxter Springs; four sons, Harry Bowers, Garland, Tex., Roy Bowers, Phoenix, Ariz., Howard Bowers, Oakridge, Tenn., and Lloyd Bowers, Los Angeles, Calif; a brother, D. A. Darr, Seneca; 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren."¹

     Mary Sample was born circa 1833 at Morgan, Illinois, United States. She was the daughter of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. She married Andrew J. Roberts on 15 December 1854 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She died after 1881.
     Biography of Mary Sample:
1880 U.S. census, North Otter Twp., Macoupin Co., Illinois, p 246C:
Mary Roberts, age 48, female, weaver, b. Illinois, father b. Illinois, mother b. Kentucky
Geo. W., 21, m, son, farm laborer, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Sarah C., 12, f, dau., weaver, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Charles L., 8, m, son, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois.¹

     William Robert Sample was born on 6 October 1835 at Morgan, Illinois, United States. He was the son of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. He married Nancy R. E. Blake on 2 April 1863 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He married Jane (--?--) between 1870 and 1880. He married Armilda M. Clevenger on 10 September 1893 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He died on 14 June 1905 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States, at age 69. He was buried at Union Chapel Cemetery, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.
     Biography of William Robert Sample:
He served in Company A, 39th Illinois Infantry, in the Civil War.

1870 U.S. census, T12 R7, Macoupin Co., Illinois, M593, Roll 250, p 2:
Robert Sample, age 31, male, farmer, $4000, real estate, $500 personal estate, b. Illinois
William, 6, m, Illinois
Charles, 4, m, Illinois
Samuel, 2, m, Illinois

1880 U.S. census, 1880 U.S. census, Zanesville Twp., Montgomery Co., Illinois, T9, Roll 237, p 445B:
Robert Samples, age 44, male, farmer, b. Illinois, father b. Kentucky, mother b. Kentucky
Jane, 47, female, wife, keeping house, Illinois, Kentucky, Kentucky
William, 17, m, son, Illinois, Illinois
Charles, 14, m, son, Illinois, Illinois
Samuel, 12, m, son, Illinois, Illinois
Sarah Sharp, 42, f, keeping house, Illinois, Illinois, Tennessee

1900 U.S. census, North Otter Twp., Macoupin Co., Illinois, T623, Roll 324, p 7A:
Robert Samples, head, age 64, male, b. Oct 1835, b. Illinois, father b. Kentucky, mother b. Kentucky
Armilda, wife, 49, f, Jun 1859, Illinois, Kentucky, Illinois
Rosco, son, 4, m, Oct 1895, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Leeroy, son, 3, m, Jan 1897, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Charles N., son, 34, m, Feb 1866, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, trader.¹

     Caroline Sample was born on 11 October 1838 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She was the daughter of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. She married David Stinnett on 1 March 1855 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States; Macoupin County, Illinois, Marriage Records, LDS microfilm 1320491, Item 2. She died on 11 September 1917 at Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United States, at age 78. She was buried at Forest Park Cemetery, Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United States.

     Henry L. Sample was born in December 1840 at Illinois, United States. He was the son of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. He married Sarah F. Brickey on 10 November 1864 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He married Sarah C. Stewart on 8 April 1871 at Morgan, Illinois, United States. He died after 1900.

     Frances Delilah Sample was born circa 1843 at Illinois, United States. She was the daughter of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. She married John Davidson on 14 December 1861 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She died between 1863 and 1870 at probably Macoupin, Illinois, United States.

     John N. Sample was born in January 1845 at Morgan or Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He was the son of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. He married Margaret Nixon on 31 January 1869 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. He married Rebecca Skinner on 11 September 1873 at Montgomery, Kane, Illinois, United States. He died after 1920 at probably Harrison, Missouri, United States.
     Biography of John N. Sample:
1870 U.S. census, T12 R7, Macoupin Co., Illinois, M593, Roll 250, p 215:
John Samples, age 24, male, farmer, b. Illinois
Margaret, 24, female, Illinois
Ellen, 7/12, f, b. Nov Illinois

1880 U.S. census, Cypress Twp., Harrison Co., Missouri, T9, Roll 689, 208C:
John Sample, age 33, male, farmer, b. Illinois, father b. Illinois, mother b. Kentucky
Rebecca, 25, female, wife, Illinois, keeping house, Indiana, Ohio, Ohio
Ellen, 12, f, dau., at school, Illinois, Illinois, Indiana
George, 9, m, son, at school, Illinois, Illinois, Indiana
Wesley, 4, m, son, Illinois, Illinois, Indian

1900 U.S. census, Union Twp., Harrison Co., Missouri, T623, Roll 857, p 7A:
John N. Sample, head, age 55, male, b. Jan 1845 Illinois, father b. Illinois, mother b. Kentucky, farmer
Rebecca, wife, 48, female, b. Mar 1852 Indiana, Ohio, Ohio
Wesley, son, 24, m, b. Jun 1875 Illinois, Illinois, Indiana, farmer
Ida N., dau.-in-law, 22, f, b. Jun 1878 Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois
Luther A., grandson, 2, m, b. Apr 1898 Missouri, Illinois, Missouri
John Vandivert, hireling, 14, m, b. Oct 1885 Missouri, Missouri, Illinois, farm laborer

1910 U.S. census, Washington Twp., Harrison Co., Missouri, T624, Roll 778, p 284B:
John N. Sample, head, age 64, male, b. Illinois, father b. Kentucky, mother b. Kentucky, farmer
Rebecca C., wife, 58, female, Indiana, Ohio, Ohio
Peter Caschune, boarder, 26, Russia, Russia, Russia, peddler

1920 U.S. census, Union Twp., Harrison Co., Missouri, T625, Roll 920, p 6A:
John N. Sample, head, age 72, male, b. Illinois, father b. Kentucky, mother b. Kentucky, farmer
Rebecca, wife, 67, female, Illinois, Ohio, Ohio.¹

     Elizabeth Jane Sample was born circa 1849 at Morgan or Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She was the daughter of Aaron Sample and Anna W. Boyer. She married William Chris Blake on 22 September 1864 at Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She died after 1881.

     Alpha Lucille Myers was born on 26 October 1919 at Columbus, Cherokee, Kansas, United States. She died on 2 September 2002 at Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States, at age 82. She was buried on 9 September 2002 at Green Acres Cemetery, Scottsdale, Maricopa, Arizona, United States.

     John Elmer Bowers was born on 25 November 1911 at Cherokee, Kansas, United States. He was the son of Giles Elmer Bowers and Elizabeth "Libbie" Valetta Darr. He died on 14 March 1912 at Cherokee, Kansas, United States; whooping cough and pneumonia. He was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery, Spring Valley Township, Cherokee, Kansas, United States.
     Biography of John Elmer Bowers:
Obituary (source unknown): "John Elmer Bowers, age three months and twenty days died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bowers at 4:00 a. m. Thursday of whooping caugh [sic]. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Rowland from the residence at 10:00 o'clock Friday and the little form was laid to rest in the Shilo cemetery at Pleasant View. "A little Angel so recently let lose from the throne of God has taken its flight home. A rose bud plucked from the garden of Earth shall bloom in the courts of heaven." Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have the sincere sympathy of their friends in this time of sorrow over the loss of their little one."¹