Bowen-Wambold Farm

BOWEN, WAMBOLD, MITCHELL, SWISHER, MITCHELL ELLIS, PECK, KINNEY, CASEY, MOLLN, GLOVER, AHNEN, BARRETT, GRAMT

Posted By: Peggy Elliott Webster (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 11:13:52

Known as Mitchell Farm.

Grove Township 76 N, R 31, Sec. 23

C. O. Swisher sold this 80 A. to W. R. Mitchell in 19901. In 1916, Joe A. Mitchel, et al, sold to Alva D. and Mary Mitchell. In 1918, Alva D. Mitchell sold to John J. Ellis. In 1919, John J. and Bertha Ellis sold to Edson W. Peck. In 1920 Edson W. and Susie sold it to Leander (Dick) and Minnie Kinney, where they lived for 15 years. In 1932, Leander (Dick) and Minnie Kinney sold to Laura Casey.

Some of the families that rented the farm and lived on it were: Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Molln and family from 1936 to 1939; Keith and Dorothy Glover in 1940; Vern (Sandy) Ahnen in 1941. The place was then rented on March 1, 1944, to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Barrett. On March 1, 1950, they moved moved to a farm near Bridgewater.

In 1950, C. G. (Chuck) Bowen and Mae bought the 80 A. from B. E. Grant, trustee of the Casey estate. They moved into Grove Township from the Holderman farm northeast of Orient. At that time the road past the place wasn't graveled, and the place didn't have electricity. He continued to farm with horses that he raised as long as his health permitted. He built the fence on this place by hand with posthole digger, spade, tamper, etc.―in other words, by man power.

His son-in-law, Ed Wambold, grandson, Larry Wambold, and granddaughter, Elaine, helped him put up hay and assisted at other times when needed. Ed Wambold passed away November 26, 1965. Larry then did the farming for his grandfather, along with his father's place, which he still farms.

On November 6, 1971, C. G. Bowen took sick. The couple's daughter, Doris Wambold, went to take care for him. He passed away at Madison County Memorial Hospital, December 21, 1971, on the couple's 61st anniversary. On May 17, 1972, his wife, Mae, passed away at the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Mrs. Ed Wambold is living on the farm at present.

Source: Adair County History 1976 pg. 312