Return to the Bowles DNA Main Page.
1 David Bowles, b. 11 Dec 1784
+ Judith (Bowles), b. 18 Feb 1780
2 Amanda M Bowles, b. 22 Jul 1809
2 Oscar Bowles, b. 31 Mar 1811 in Nelson County VA; d. 1874 in AR
+ Elizabeth Melton, b. 23 Oct ?? in VA; md. 13 Apr 1831 in Fluvanna County VA
3 William Wesley Bowles, b. 11 May 1832 in Flavanna County VA
+ Elmira McMullen
4 Mary E. Bowles (wife of J. W. Davis)
4 Joseph S. Bowles
+ Ida J. ---
5 Daphne E. Bowles, b. abt 1888 in AR
5 Chester Bowles, b. abt 1892 in AR
5 Howard W. Bowles, b. 3 Nov 1898 in AR; d. Jan 1977
5 Joseph S. Bowles, Jr., b. abt 1900 AR
4 William J. Bowles
4 John A. Bowles
4 Jessie E. Bowles
4 Emma E. Bowles
3 David Oscar Bowles, Sr., b. 8 Oct 1838 in Arkansas City AR
+ Marie Caroline Sofgee (Zoffjke)
4 David Oscar Bowles, Jr., b. 4 Jul 1868 in Arkansas City AR; d. 10 Apr 1939 in Rolling Fork MS
+ Willie Eugenia Kerr, b. 1875 in Jackson MS, d. 26 Jul 1908 in Hinds County MS
5 Marion Elizabeth Bowles, b. 22 Jul 1898 in Jackson MS
5 Ora A. Bowles
+ William Bonner
5 David Oscar Bowles, b. 6 May 1899
5 Willie Eugene Bowles, b. 26 Apr 1900(?)
5 Malcolm Kerr Bowles, b. 22 Sep 1902; d. 3 Aug 1988
5 Eva Bowles, b. 8 May 1904, d. 22 Jun 1964
5 Ann Bowles, b. 6 Mar 1906
+ Eva "Dottie" Kerr, b. 1876 in MS, d. 22 Jun 1964 in MS
5 Theodore S. Bowles, b. 19 Oct 1912 in MS; d. 7 Oct 1968
5 Dolores Olga Bowles, b. 30 Jun 1915; d. 20 Jan 1964
4 C. Augusta Bowles (wife of Dr. J. M. Carter)
4 Ora Bowles
4 Olga Bowles
3 Mary E. Bowles, b. 5 Sep 1840 in AR
+ John Dickson, b. 29 Dec 1827 in AL
4 John M. Dickson, b. abt 1863 in AR
4 Elizabeth D. Dickson, b. 16 Jul 1865 in AR, d. 4 Nov 1951
+ Edmund M. Trippe, b. Feb 1859 in AR
5 Robert E. Trippe, b. Oct 1885 in AR
5 William F. Trippe, b. Jul 1890 in AR
5 Elsie O. Trippe, b. Jul 1895 in AR
5 Maude E. Trippe, b. Jun 1897 in AR
3 Joseph M. Bowles, b. 3 Jul 1842 in AR
2 David T. Bowles, b. 16 Sep 1813
Transcription of a handwritten transcription from a family Bible:
Bowles Family Bible - (transcribed) 3-28-89
David Bowles was born the 11 of December in the year 1784.
Judith Bowles was born the 18 of February in the year 1780.
Their children
Amanda M. Bowles was born the 22 of July in the year 1809.
Oscar Bowles was born the 31 of March in the year 1811.
David T. Bowles was born the 16 of September in the year 1813.
Oscar Bowles' children
William Wesley Bowles was born the 11 of May in year 1832.
David O. Bowles was born the 8 of October in the year 1838.
Mary E. Bowles was born the 5 of September in the year 1840.
Joseph M. Bowles was born the 3 of July 1842.
1840 Federal Census: Arkansas, Chicot County, Franklin Township, page 27
Oscar Bowles - 11001-00001
1850 Federal Census: Arkansas, Chicot County, Franklin Township, page 185B
household 173/173
Oscar Bowles - 39 M, owner, $9000, VA
Elizabeth E. Bowles - 38 F, VA
William W. Bowles - 18 M, AR
Oscar D. Bowles - 12 F, AR
Mary E. Bowles - 10 F, AR
Joseph M. Bowles - 8 M, AR
1860 Federal Census: Arkansas, Chicot County, Franklin Township, page 963A
household 361/361
Oscar Bowles - 50 M, planter, $11200, $11900, VA
Elizabeth Bowles - 49 F, VA
D. Oscar Bowles - 22 M, AR
Mary E. Bowles - 19 F, AR
James M. Bowles - 18 M, AR
1870 Federal Census: Arkansas, Chicot County, Franklin Township, page 7
household 40/40
Bowles, Oscar - 60 M W, farmer, VA
Bowles, E. E. - 60 F W, VA
1870 Federal Census: Arkansas, Arkansas County, Old River Township, page 2
household 14/14
Dickson, John - 43 M W, farmer & minister, born AL
Dickson, Mary E. - 30 F W, keeping house, born AR, listed as insane
Dickson, John M. - 7 M W, born AR
Dickson, Elizabeth - 5 F W, born AR
1880 Federal Census: Arkansas, Desha County, page 312A
household 103/107
Bowles, W. W. - W M 48, self, stock raiser, VA VA VA
Bowles, Elmira - W F 47, wife, keeping house, AL - -
Bowles, Mary E. - W F 23, daughter, AR AL VA
Bowles, Joe S. - W M 21, son, AR AL VA
Bowles, Wm J. - W M 18, son, AR AL VA
Bowles, John A. - W M 16, son, AR AL VA
Bowles, Emma E. - W F 9, daughter, AR AL VA
Bowles, Jesse E. - W F 5, daughter, AR AL VA
household 106/110
Bowles, Elizabeth - W F 68, self, keeping house, VA VA VA
1900 Federal Census: Mississippi, Hinds County, Jackson, page 256A, household 26/30
Bowles, Leo* - head, W M 31, born Jul 1868 in AR, married 5 years, father born unknown, mother born GA, clerk
Bowles, Willie - wife, W F 28, born Apr 1872 in MS, 3 children, parents born MS
Bowles, Marion - daughter, W F 4, born May 1896 in MS
Bowles, Ora - daughter, W F 2, born Jan 1898 in MS
Bowles, Oscar - son, W M 1, born Mar 1899 in MS
* Census record shows "Leo" but the census taker may
have mis-heard "D.O." for David O. since this is
clearly David's family.
1900 Federal Census: Arkansas, Desha County, Bowie Township, page 134A
household 64/61
Trippe, Edmund M. - head, W M 41, born Feb 1859 in AR, married 15 yrs, father born GA, mother born AL, farmer
Trippe, Elizabeth - wife, W F 34, born Jul 1865 in AR, 5 children/4 living, father born MS, mother born AR
Trippe, Robert E. - son, W M 14, born Oct 1885 in AR
Trippe, William F. - son, W M 9, born Jul 1890 in AR
Trippe, Elsie O. - daughter, W F 4, born Jul 1895 in AR
Trippe, Maude E. - daughter, W F 2, born Jun 1897 in AR
1910 Federal Census: Mississippi, Hinds County, Jackson, page 106A, household 178/189
Bowles, David O. - head, M W 41 married, born AR, father born VA, mother born OH, RR conductor
Bowles, Eva E. - wife, F W 33 married, born MS, father born MS, mother born KY
Bowles, Marion E. - daughter, F W 13, born MS
Bowles, Ora A. - daughter, F W 12, born MS
Bowles, D. Oscar - son, M W 10, born MS
Bowles, Willie E. - son, M W 8, born MS
Bowles, Malard D. - son, M W 7, born MS
Bowles, Loa E. - daughter, F W 6, born MS
Bowles, Rena E. - daughter, F W 3, born MS
1910 Federal Census: Arkansas, Desha County, Franklin Township, Arkansas City, page 51A
household 6/6
Bowles, Joseph S. - head M W 45, married 24 years, AR VA AL, carpenter
Bowles, Ida J. - head, F W 38, 5 children/4 living, MO US US
Bowles, Daphne E. - daughter, F W 22, single, AR AR MO
Bowles, Chester - son, M W 18, single, AR AR MO, salesman
Bowles, Howard W. - son, M W 12, AR AR MO
Bowles, Joseph S. Jr. - son, M W 10, AR AR MO
1920 Federal Census: Arkansas, Desha County, Franklin Township, Arkansas City, page 209A
household 9/9
Bowles, Bass - head, M W 61 married, AR TN TN, mechanic (road)
Bowles, Julie - wife, F W 48 married, AR AR AR
Bowles, Howard - son, M W 20, single, AR AR AR, surveyor
Bowles, Joseph S. - son, M W 18 single
1920 Federal Census: Mississippi, Sharkey County, Rolling Fork, page 179A, household 101/108
Bowles, David O. - head, M W 51 Married, born AR, parents born AR, farmer
Bowles, Eva K. - wife, F W 49 Married, born MS, father born MS, mother born KY
Bowles, Ora - daughter, F W 21 Single, born MS, public school teacher
Bowles, David O. - son, M W 20 Single, born MS, farm laborer
Bowles, Willie E. - son, M W 18 Single, born MS, farm laborer
Bowles, Malcom K. - son, M W 17 Single, born MS, farm laborer
Bowles, Eva - daughter, F W 15, born MS
Bowles, Anne - daughter, F W 12, born MS
Bowles, Theodore - son, M W 8, born MS
Bowles, Olga - daughter, F W 4 6/12, born MS
from http://www.rootsweb.com/~ardesha/goodspd.htm
WILLIAM W. BOWLES, the oldest resident of this portion of Desha County, and one of the
representative citizens of the same, was born in Flavanna County, Va., in 1832, and is the son of
Oscar and Elizabeth E. Bowles. Oscar Bowles came to this county in 1835, making the trip in a
flatboat from Virginia, and landed where Arkansas City now stands, when there were but about four
acres cleared and one log cabin. He brought with him the slaves belonging to John R. Campbell, and
was overseer for the last-named gentleman and sons for seventeen years. There were other similar
improvements in this section of the county, and Mr. Bowles opened for Mr. Campbell the first farm
in this part of the county, which was at that time a vast wilderness, and game abounded in vast
numbers throughout the entire country, and what few white male inhabitants there were here at that
time were mainly hunters and raftsmen. After leaving the employ of Mr. Campbell, Mr. Bowles and
Charles Campbell purchased a farm of land of a Mr. Johnson, one of the early settlers, and
immediately engaged in cultivating the soil, remaining in partnership from 1850 to 1860. During the
war Mr. Bowles moved his and Campbell's Negroes back on Crooked Bayou, where they remained for one
year, and then Mr. Campbell took his Negroes to Texas. After the war Mr. Bowles returned to his
farm and resumed agricultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. His death occurred in
1874, when he was drowned by going through a crevasse in the levee in a dugout. His widow still
survives, makes her home in Arkansas City on her own property, and as she was born July 3, 1812,
she is now seventy eight years of age. The father was born in Nelson County, Va., March 31, 1811.
William W. Bowles was principally educated at Washington College, Tenn., and November 26, 1859, he
was married to Miss Elmira McMullen, a native of Alabama, but who came with her parents to this
county when a little girl. Mr. Bowles has always followed planting and stock raising, making a
specialty of the latter occupation. He is the owner of about 665 acres of good bottom land, with
about 100 acres improved, with fair buildings, etc., and aside from this he is the owner of a
desirable residence in the city. In 1861 Mr. Bowles enlisted in the Confederate army as a private
in Company G. Twenty-third Arkansas, and served east of the Mississippi. He was with Gen. Price,
and was at the evacuation and battle of Corinth and the surrender of Port Hudson. He was at the
siege of Port Hudson, was here captured, but was paroled after being held a prisoner for only three
and a half days. He came home and was exchanged in the fall of 1863, and in 1864 he joined a
scouting company in this section, but was not in active service the last six months on account of
his eyes, which were injured at Port Hudson. The first three years after the war Mr. Bowles was
engaged as bookkeeper and salesman for Cabbell, Sappington & Armour as a lumber dealer and sawmill
man at Cypress Bend, and received $75 per month. He had only his place and one mule left to
commence work with after the war, and his mother-in-law and wife were weaving and making their own
clothing, consequently he accepted the above-mentioned position. Mr. Bowles and wife were the
parents of nine children, five of whom are nor living: Mary E. (wife of J. W. Davis, the present
postmaster of Arkansas City), Joseph S., William J., John A. and Jessie E. Mr. Bowles is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, Branson Blue Lodge No. 113. Politically he is a Democrat in his
tendencies. He was constable of Desha and Chicot Counties for four years, and also held the office
of justice of the peace for a like number of years in the same counties.
DAVID O. BOWLES, planter, Arkansas City, Ark. Mr. Bowles is one of the oldest settlers of Franklin
Township, and is a man who has the respect and esteem of all acquainted with him. He is a
native-born resident of Desha County, born in 1838, and is the son of Oscar and Elizabeth (Melton)
Bowles, natives of Nelson and Flavanna Counties, Va., respectively. Oscar Bowles came to this State
in 1832, and bought land adjoining that upon which Arkansas City is now standing. He came here in
company with C. W. Campbell, and the latter bought the land upon which the city now stands. They
tilled the soil upon adjoining farms for a number of years, and in the forties entered into a
partnership in stock raising. This partnership existed until the death of Mr. Campbell in 1866.
They owned and operated a large farm in this township, known now as the Roston farm, and this they
worked very successfully. They were large stock-raisers of cattle, horses and mules. Mr. Bowles was
not a politician although one among the most popular men of the county. He was captain of the
militia here previous to the late unpleasantness, and afterward filled the office of justice of the
peace. He continued his agricultural affairs until his death, which occurred in 1874, when he was
drowned while crossing a crevasse in the levee near old Chicot City. His widow still survives him,
and is seventy-eight years of age, and makes her home with her granddaughter, Mrs. Lizzie Trippe,
of Arkansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Bowles were the parents of four children: W. W. (a planter and
stock-raiser of Franklin Township, and who now resides in the city), D. O., Mary E. (deceased wife
of a Mr. Dickson), and J. M. (deceased). D. O. Bowles was educated principally in Desha County, at
Chicot City, where, previous to the war, the planters of this county had built a school, and at the
age of seventeen years he became assistant to his father on the plantation. He acted as general
superintendent, and managed the hands, etc. At the age of twenty-two he entered the Confederate
service in company H, Churchill's First Arkansas Mounted Rifles, McNair's brigade, and served first
in the Western army, and was first in the battle of Oak Hills. He was captured at Elk Horn Tavern
and sent to Alton, Ill. He was sent South in the latter part of the summer of 1862, reported to his
old command, and entered the Army of the Tennessee. He participated in the battles of
Barboursville, Perryville, Knoxville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and was in all the battles
from Dalton, Ga., to Atlanta. During the winter of 1864 or 1865 he was serving in the Secret
Deciphering Department for the Confederate army from Dalton to Atlanta, and was ordered to report
to the war department at Richmond, Va., four days previous to the time when Gen. Hood had taken
command of the army in place of Gen. J. E. Johnston. Mr. Bowles was commissioned captain, and while
serving in that capacity from the war department was ordered to report to Gen. E. Kirby Smith in
command of the Western army, then stationed at Shreveport, La. He was then ordered by Gen. Kirby
Smith to operate in the secret service department on the Mississippi River, but only filled this
position for a short time, when Col. Carlton appointed him as adjutant of his regiment. This
position he held until the close of the war. His command was paroled at Pine Bluff, and although
Mr. Bowles did not surrender, he, like all other good men, has accepted with a good grace the
termination of the war. He returned home, engaged in tilling the soil in Drew County, where he was
married in 1866 to Mrs. C. F. Henningway, widow of Gen. Henningway, of South Carolina, who was the
uncle of one of the supreme judges of Arkansas. She is the daughter of Mr. Zoffjke, a Polander, who
was a manufacturer of pianos and organs at Detroit, Mich., and afterward at Cincinnati, Ohio. The
mother was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to this country when three years of age. She died in
1879 and Mr. Joffjke in 1878. Mrs. Bowles became the mother of three children by her first
marriage: Charles, Theodore and Wilson. By her marriage to Mr. Bowles she became the mother of four
children: D. O., Jr., C. Augusta (wife of Dr. J. M. Carter, of Augusta, Ga.), Ora and Olga (the
last two attending school at Jackson, Miss.). In 1874 Mr. Bowles came to this county and followed
farming for two years, and in 1876 was elected mayor of the town. He has held every position in the
city within the favor of the people, from marshal to mayor, and has also served as deputy sheriff
of this part of the county for a number of years. Mr. Bowles has under cultivation about 260 acres
of land on which is produced about 100 bales of cotton annually. He has a good gin and a nice frame
residence. Mrs. Bowles is a member of the Baptist Church. The mother of our subject has been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1833, and is one of the first members of that church
organized in this city. She is a conscientious Christian woman, and although quite advanced in
years is still actively engaged in church work. She will long be remembered for her great piety and
the good she has done in the church.
Mound Cemetery at Rolling Fork, Sharkey County Mississippi
Bowles David Oscar July 4, 1868 April 10, 1939 Husband of Eva Kerr Bowles
Bowles Dolores Olga June 30, 1915 January 20, 1964 Dau of David Oscar & Eva Kerr Bowles
Bowles Eva Kerr October 16, 1876 June 22, 1964 Wife of David Oscar Bowles
Bowles Malcolm Kerr September 22, 1902 August 3, 1988
Bowles Theodore S. October 19, 1912 October 7, 1968 Son of David Oscar & Eva Kerr Bowles
Bowles Virgie R. January 13, 1906 February 14, 1997
from http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ms/sharkey/cemeteries/mound.txt
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Early Methodism At Arkansas City
This paper was prepared by Elizabeth (Dickson) Trippe, mother of Maude Trippe
Bowdin. Mrs. Trippe was born July 16, 1865, and died November 4, 1951. She was an
early member of Holly Grove Methodist Church at Trippe and later of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church of McGehee. The paper was written in 1930 for the
Missionary Society in Arkansas City. Copied from the original manuscript by Marion
(McKinney) Stroud of McGehee.
My grandfather and grandmother Bowles came to Arkansas in 1834 from Lynchburg,
Virginia. They came down the river on a flat boat which I suppose was either made
or bought for the purpose. They landed at Arkansas City. My grandfather was a
physican and they were Methodist people.
Mr. Charley Campbell got my grandfather to come and take charge of his negroes and
land. I think Mr. Campbell was from Lynchburg, too. He had a big lot of slaves and
had bought up all the land around Arkansas City. It was just a cane brake then. I
am sure Mr. Campbell came on ahead of Grandfather and built himself a big house and
the houses for the negroes. When my grandparents came, they lived in a little house
in the Campbell yard until he could build a house of his own several miles out.
Some of you know it as the Boston Place (or farm), a company that bought it from my
grandmother. The government was selling land those days for 25c an acre. That is
why Mr. Campbell bought so much and why my grandfather had a good size place. That
is where they lived and reared a family of four children, three boys and a girl who
was my mother, (Mary E. Bowles).
There was a church I think somewhere out toward where Tillar is now where they went
to church and my mother and two of her brothers joined this church. They had a
school, too, where the children went to school. My father, John Dickson was a
Methodist minister and a circuit rider and preached at this church. That is where
he met my mother. He stayed somewhere up on the Arkansas River. Then the war came
on.
The oldest boy, William Wesley Bowles, had married but all of the boys had to join
the army. My mother married during the war.
One of the boys, Joseph Bowles, came home and died. Osburn's Raid broke up my
grandparents' home, took everything they had to eat and wear that they could carry
away and destroyed the rest of what they had. When the War was over, Mr. Campbell
had them come and live with him. His wife had died, and I don't think Mr. Campbell
lived long after that. The Campbells are buried out on the Big Mound. I was too
small to remember. I was about three years old then. No one else lived here (in
Arkansas City) except Mr. Isaac Adair. He had a home up above here, and I think
some of the cedar trees are still there. I guess some of you know where it is. The
Adairs were Methodists, too, and after a while some people moved into work in a saw
mill and cotton gin.
Then came the first preacher - named Knot, - Parson Knott they called him, and he
sometimes came and preached. The people from the mill camp came to church. He
didn't preach here long, but I remember him very distinctly because I disliked him
and hid when I saw him coming. I got a scolding for it, for we were taught to have
reverence for all ministers of the Gospel.
About that time, a road was cut from the Trippe place into Arkansas City so the
people could get to Chicot City to sell their produce. Chicot City was three miles
above here on the Mississippi River. Bro. John Pryor was on the circuit then that
took in Holly Grove Church (organized 1861) at Trippe. He came in here and preached
once a month. It took the best part of a day to get through. He was such a sweet
spirited loveable man.
The house Bro. Pryor preached in was a little one room house that stood where Mr.
Joe Johnson's house is now.
Then it was decided to build the railroad through to Chicot City. It ran right
along in front of our house not far from the yard. It took a lot of Irishmen to
build it with shovels and wheelbarrows. The Catholic priest came once a month to
their camp to collect the tithes. Grandfather, Oscar Bowles, furnished him a horse
to ride and took care of the priest the same as he did our Methodist preacher. He
stayed several days, generally, and he petted me and tried to get me to call him
"Father Guin". I have this picture that he gave me to call him Father, but I never
did although I liked him very much.
The church house got too small for the Methodists; so they built a brush arbor and
made Mr. Isaac Adair Sunday School superintendent. He served for many years. We
all sat around in a circle. Everyone went to Sunday School and to church when we
had church. At Sunday School, Mr. Adair stood in the center and chose a chapter
from the Bible. Everyone read in rotation; then there would be singing and praying.
Bro. Pryor then bought lots and built him a house where the Fir (Fehr?) home stands
and he kept one room for church and Sunday School. Mrs. Williams taught the day
school for years. My grandfather got lots next to Bro. Pryor and built himself a
home. Mr. Campbell's relatives had come and taken charge of his estate by that
time.
My grandfather Bowles only lived in his home a short time till he was drowned in the
1874 overflow. Right here I wish to correct a statement made in McGehee Times
(about 1930) that said Oscar Bowles' body was not found till the water went down.
His body was found eleven days after he drowned and was brought home. Bro. Pryor
held his funeral at Grandfather's home, and they took his remains in a boat to the
mound and buried him.
(Note by copier: Within an iron fence at the Mound Cemetery at Arkansas City, Clara
Collins and I found a marker with the following inscription:
Oscar Bowles
Born in Nelson County, Virginia
March 31, 1811
Drowned March 30, 1874)
Bro. Pryor lived here a long time and was the only preacher for years until I was
nearly grown. He and Grandfather were very devoted to one another even after other
preachers commenced to come. He was always here and preached when no one else came.
I can seem to almost hear him sing now.
This is about all I can tell you of the early Methodism in Arkansas City. It has
and always will have a tender spot in my heart. I think it is wonderful how you
have carried on here with all you have had to contend with. It shows that God Keeps
his promises to the faithful.
Rev. John Dickson, Early Methodist Minister
John Dickson was born December 29, 1827, a half mile from South Florence and within
four miles of Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 1837 when he was nine years old, John moved
with his parents to Pontotoc County, Mississippi. When he was twenty eight years of
age, he went to Camden, Arkansas. this was in April, 1857, and in July of the same
year, John Dickson was licensed to preach. He joined the Little Rock Conference in
November, 1857 and for ten years he was a traveling preacher or Circuit Rider. At
his own request he was "located" and has been preaching every since as well as he
could.
The above from a paper by his daughter, Elizabeth D. Trippe.
Rev. John Dickson married (1) Mary E. Bowles and they had one daughter, Elizabeth.
After his first wife's death, he married (2) a Mrs. Tilghman a widow with several
children, and they then had sons and daughters of their own.