Person:Frederick Bower (2)

FREDERICK BOWER. Like, many of Wood CO's best citizens, the subject of this biography is of German birth, and his successful careers has given proof that he possesses in abundant measure the intelligence, public-spirit and admirable business qualifications which distinguish his race. A leading resident of Risingsun, Montgomery township, he is widely and favorably known, and his influence is a helpful factor in every advance movement in his locality.

The family home for many generations has been Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and John P. Bower, the father, was a native of that Duchy, born October 14, 1790; was a man of limited means, supporting his family by his daily wages at the stone-mason trade. Three years of his early manhood were spent in military service. He accompanied the army of Napoloen in Russia, as a cavalryman, going as far as Moscow, and suffering untold hardships from the intense cold, one side of his face being frozen badly. Later he served in the German army when it was a foe instead of an ally of Napoleon. He often told to his son stories of the retreat from-Russia, and the agonies endured by the heroes of that disastrous campaign.

After the expiration of his term of service, he married Miss Regina Stondinger, who was born September 25, 1796, and afterward, in 1847, they emigrated to America, bringing with them such goods and chattels as might be needed in this country. They sailed from Antwerp on the " Globe Richmond, " and after fifty-two days arrived in New York, having only a five-franc piece left when they landed; but kind friends helped them to reach their destination in York CO, Penn., where they made their home for more than ten years. The father followed his trade most of .the time, and as he was very industrious, scrupulously honest and a thoroughly skilled mechanic, he succeeded in gaining a foothold, and soon bought twenty acres of timber land.

Frederick Bower, son of the above, was born October 13, 1833, and as he was about fourteen years old when he came to America, he had already received good educational advantages in his native land. He continued his studies in the schools of eastern Pennsylvania, making such rapid progress that at an early age he was competent to teach. This profession he followed for several years, $2o a month, without board, being considered good wages at that day. He used to walk three miles each day to reach his school. His mental abilities would have' won him a high place in any profession had he gone on with his education, but circumstances were not favorable, and the comfort of his parents was his chief care. He worked at the carpenter's trade for some years, although he had never served an apprenticeship, his natural mechanical ability enabling him to adapt himself to it readily. Of the twelve children of his parents, he was the only one to live to adult age, and he became their mainstay.

WOOD CO, OHIO. - 845

On April 18, 1856, Mr. Bower was married in York CO, Penn., to Miss Mary Stump, who was born May 27, 837, in Baltimore CO, Md., a daughter of Daniel Stump, who later removed to Wood CO, and died in Montgomery township. After his marriage our subject continued to reside with his parents, and in the spring of 1858 the entire family came to this CO, the journey to Fremont, OH, being made by rail. From that point they made their way over rough wagon roads to Montgomery township, where they bought eighty acres of land in Section 27; it was in a primitive condition, and their cabin of hewed logs was of the true pioneer sort. The father did not live long to enjoy the comforts which they began to gain by their united efforts. He was a man of medium height and build, and was active until a short time before his death. He possessed more than average mental ability, and was so upright in his dealings that no one ever suspected him of doing a wrong. His wife was a small woman, but a very industrious one, and her efforts were a great help to him. Both were devout members of the Lutheran Church, and held the esteem of every one who knew them. On November 10, 1860, the father breathed his last, and his faithful helpmeet followed him September 14, 1865, the mortal remains of both being consigned to the grave in the cemetery near Bradner.

The task of beginning life in the wild woods, as Mr. Bower did, is one of which his posterity will never have a practical idea. The finances of the family were low at the time, and in order to secure food they made haste to plant crops, but the first year brought poor returns for their labor. The second year promised better, and in June they had a fine field of wheat just beginning to ripen, when the great hail-storm, which marked that month, laid the entire crop low, together with all their vegetables. This storm wrought destruction throughout the CO, but it did not represent to many the suffering which it caused the Bower family under the circumstances. Any human being would have been discouraged, and they certainly were; but they bravely went to work to make the best of it. Our subject followed farming exclusively until 1872, when he engaged in the sawmill business, with which he has been connected ever since, sometimes in partnership, and again on his own account. For several years past he has been the sole proprietor of his business, and in 1895 he erected his present substantial sawmill, which employs from ten to fifteen men. In his career as a lumber dealer he has dispensed thousands and thousands of dollars for labor and timber, and he is familiar with every detail of the milling and planing business, whether it is buying large tracts of standing timber or the actual toil of the mills. As a business man he is noted for shrewdness and foresight-in fact, some less discerning persons have predicted failure for his ventures at times, but they always turn out satisfactorily. He also has valuable oil interests, and operates portions of his own land.

His home is a pleasant one, the farm of sixty acres being a part of the land which he helped to redeem from the wilderness, and every improvement represents the labor or oversight of some member of the family. Of fourteen children, all are living except one, and a brief record of them is as follows: (1) John P., a sawmill owner, of Portage township, is married, and has one child; (2) Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Harmon, of Prairie Depot, has one son; (3) William lives in Lorain, OH, and has been for several years employed as a lineman by the N. Y. C. & St. L. Ry. Co.; (4) Adam F., a sawmill owner, of Portage township, is married, and has two sons and two daughters; (5) Eliza (Mrs. Harry Blackman, of Perry township), has two sons and one daughter; (6) Lavina is at home; (7) Martin L. died in infancy; (8) Albert J., and (9) Daniel W. are partners in the sawmill business, in Perry township; and the others--(10) Charles H., (11) May, (12) Frank, (13) George, and (14) Angie, are all at home. This forms a family of which any parent might well feel proud. The sons have made good use of the assistance given by their father toward their start in life, and are steady-going and prosperous, while the daughters are accomplished and womanly, the older ones being established in good homes.

Mr. Bower is intelligent and fond of reading, and is well-informed upon subjects which an ordinary mind would take no interest in. His memory is excellent, and the observations of his long life make his conversation both entertaining and instructive. In his locality his influence is widely recognized, and he has the respect of all who know him at all, and the friendship of those who know him well. He is strictly temperate in his habits, having never used liquor or tobacco in any form. A Democrat on national issues, he is willing to support a good and competent candidate in local politics without regard to party lines, and no one stands higher in the confidence of the independent voting public than he. While living in a Republican stronghold, he has been elected justice of the peace by a plurality of one hundred on the other side, and defeating one of

846 - WOOD CO, OHIO.

the best men in the township. He has also served creditably as township trustee, and was school director in District No. 5 for years. Of the Lutheran Church he is a leading adherent, and was a charter member of Onward Lodge No. 329, K. of P. at Risingsun, in which he has held various offices, and has also been chosen as representative of the Grand Lodge. Six of his sons, now of age, are members of the same Order.