Died 22 March 1899

Published in Pilot on 30 March 1899

THE PASSING OF ONE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY'S PIONEERS

Mrs. Annette Bowen, wife of the late Judge John S. Bowen, died at her home on Colfax street, March 22, 1899, in her 84th year.

The death of Mrs. John S. Bowen on last Wednesday afternoon removes from our midst one of the oldest settlers of Washington county. She came with her husband to this state in the year 1857 and has therefore been a resident of Nebraska for forty-two years. The earlier part of the time was spent upon a farm near Arlington, then called Bell Creek. In 1870 they removed to Blair where she has since resided.

Annette McWilliams Bowen was born in McWilliamstown, Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1816. She was married to John S. Bowen April 15, 1834. Ten children were born unto them, six boys and four girls, eight of these attained the age of maturity and seven survive them. The eldest, William R. Bowen of Omaha, is very prominent in Masonic circles. The other children are Mrs. Anna Smiley, of Omaha; Arthur Bowen, of Cripple Creek, Colorado; Miss Lucy A. Bowen, Blair; Horace Bowen, Colorado; James Bowen, Blair; Harry N. Bowen, Chicago. Besides these ten of fifteen grandchildren survive her.

Since the death of her husband, Judge Bowen, June 4, 1889, she and her devoted daughter Lucy have lived in their cosy home on Colfax Street. Grandma Bowen was a living example of one of those Christian characters that attract all who learn to know them, and her life was a benediction to all her friends who were numbered by the hundreds, and especially was she a favorite among the children.

For more than half a century she has been following along in the footsteps of her Savior and Lord. She was always a staunch Baptist and with her husband and four others they organized what was known as the Bell Creek Baptist church in 1862. The hour of dissolution was very quiet and peaceful, not a groan or a struggle and she "fell asleep with Jesus," but to be "absent from the body is to present with the Lord," and while she "rests from her labors, her works and words do follow her."

The funeral was conducted from the late residence by S.C. Green, assisted by Rev. C.E. Tingley, pastor of the Baptist church. The black cloth casket was banked in a wealth of beautiful pink and cream white roses, and red white carnations. There was the sickle and the full sheaf, to represent a life full of good works. A large number of friends followed the remains to the cemetery where they were laid in the vault by the side of her husband where they will remain until that same voice that cried at the grave of Lazarus, shall say, "Come forth," when this corruptible shall put on incorruption.

S.C. GREEN

Note: FindaGrave Memorial # 9918647