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1907 Past and Present Biographies

George Bowley

George Bowley, a retired agriculturist of Jefferson, being formerly successfully engaged in farming in Greene county, was born in Leicestershire, England, October 1, 1841, a son of Joseph and Mary (Wright) Bowley. The parents were both natives of England, the father having been born in 1808 and the mother in 1810. Joseph Bowley was a cooper by trade and on emigrating to the United States settled on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin. His death occurred in the year 1882, and his wife died in 1890, both passing away at the home of our subject in Greene county, Iowa. They were the parents of seven children, only two of whom survive: George, of this review; and Mary, the widow of Thomas Barrett, now residing in Hardin township.

George Bowley acquired his education in the schools of his native land and when he had attained young manhood crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his home with his parents until the time of his marriage. In 1869, Mr. Bowley came to Greene county, lowa, settling in what later became Bristol township, on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land which he purchased. He successfully and energetically cultivated this land until he had brought it under a high state of cultivation, and resided thereon until 1900, when he removed to Jefferson to enjoy in well earned rest the competence which his labor had brought to him. He owns his home and five acres of land in the northwestern part of the town, and, in addition to this, also has two hundred and eighty acres of land in Bristol and Hardin townships.

Mr. Bowley was united in marriage to Miss Emma Goodwin, also a native of England, who was brought to Wisconsin by her parents when only three years of age. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children, as follows: John G., who married Mary Owen and is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hardin township, which he operates; and Ralph E., who was joined in wedlock to Edna Eaton and resides on his father’s home farm and who also owns a tract of one hundred acres of fine farming land in Hardin township.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bowley have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. Mr. Bowley was one of the organizers of this church in his community and has been actively engaged in its work, serving as trustee, steward and as superintendent of the Sunday school for years. In his political af filiations he is a republican and is serving as school director. Though he is not an oflice seeker he never neglects his duties of citizenship and is recognized as one of the enterprising and representative citizens of his community. Both he and his wife enjoy good health and are widely known as people of genuine personal worth, displaying in their daily lives those traits of character which in every land and clime command respect and regard.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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