Henry James Bowles (1855 - 1944)

Born 10 Dec 1855 in Franktown, Lanark, Canada West

Husband of Elizabeth (McGauvran) Bowles — married 9 Jul 1892 in Olga, Cavalier, North Dakota, United States

Descendants

Died 22 May 1944 at age 88 in Langdon, Cavalier, North Dakota, United States

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Biography

Henry was born in 1855. He passed away in 1944.

Henry J. Bowles was born December 10, 1855 at Franktown, Ontario. As a youth he learned the photographer's trade.

The following story was related by Mr. Bowles for the Cavalier County Pioneers Association: "l left Sarnia in June, 1875, for Fort Garry. On my way down the Red River on the steamboat, "Selkirk," I got off at Pembina for a short time, while the boat was unloading, and liked the country. We got to Fort Garry June 9. I returned to Sarnia in 1876. Later in 1876 I went to Wahpeton and helped build a railroad to Milnor. I came back to Pembina in 1882. There I worked as a photographer for two years. I went to Beaulieu and took a homestead and sold it to a man on the mountain and came to Langdon with W. J. Mooney before a house was built."

Mr. Bowles was a pioneer mail carrier traveling by stage coach and dog sled.

In 1882 he came from Beaulieu where he owned and operated a stock farm in the Rosa Lake area. There he met and later married Mrs. Elizabeth McKercher, July 9, 1892 at Olga, ND.

In 1903 Henry Bowles bought a farm six miles north of Osnabrock which has been the Bowles family home. Five children were born to this union: Albert of Milton; Herbert of Walhalla; Walter of Osnabrock; a son Harold, died at the age of two; and Dewey as an infant.

Mr. Bowles was active in Hay Township offices, serving more than 20 years as assessor. He was a member of the Zion Evangelical Church since its establishment. He was affiliated with the A.O. U. W. for 35 years. He was a director of the Cavalier County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company and served as an adjuster for the State Hail Insurance Department for many years.

He passed away May 22, 1944 at the age of 89.

Mr. Bowles is remembered by his family as a kindly grandfather - teaching them to tell time by his pocket watch; telling tales of the buffalo trails through Rosa Lake; and other adventures of his youth. He enjoyed reading and could frequently be heard singing hymns and songs of his Era. Two of his favorites were "Bringing In The Sheaves" and "Sherman's Dashing Yankee Boys."

Sources

• North Dakota Department of Health; Bismark, North Dakota; North Dakota Death Records [1]

• The Spirit Lives On: Osnabrock, ND, 1887-1987. Page 378. [2]