Belle Cottrell married Elmer Grooms
April 5,1885 Wapello Co.Ia
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James J. Cottrell 23 Jul 1837-10 Feb 1927 wife Nancy Rachel Bowen 25 Oct 1835-16 Mar 1909, married 21 Oct 1855.
They had a daughter Bella E. Cottrell Oct 20, 1864 - June 20, 1886 who married a Elmer E. Grooms. Her tombstone is located on my ancestor's family farm in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa. We found it many years ago laying on the ground, but could not figure out how it worked into the family tree. There were several Bowen girls who married a Grooms and Cottrells. And according to census records the Bowen, Cottrell and Groom families lived near one another.
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The tombstone of Bella E. Grooms is on private property which, at one time, belonged to Nathan Bowen. It is located in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa, (GPS 41.0645N, 92.6129W I think this is right, it matches the coordinates of the deed when Nathan Bowen purchased 40 acres. )
A bit of a story goes with it. When Nathan died the property was sold and probably passed through several hands. In 1960's a Merritt Kinser, a great-grandson of Nathan Bowen & Caroline Francis, tried several times to visit the grave site, but the current owner refused permission. So in 1963 Merritt went back to the farm with a billy club in hand and simply ignored the protest of the wife, the husband was gone at the time, and went back to the grave site. He found that the wrought iron fence that was suppose to protect the gravestones had been knocked down as had many of the gravestones. Also, the farmer had carted off some of the gravestones to use as rubble and a sidewalk. Merritt took some pictures, but the only one that I have is of Belle E Grooms. I have the letters that he wrote to a Esther Venator who did a lot of Bowen research back in the 1950-1960's.
About 20 years later I went to the same farm to seek permission to visit the grave site. Wouldn't you know it, the same wife and farmer still owned the farm. When I explained who I was and asked permission to visit the grave site the wife nearly had a fainting spell. The farmer pulled a small knife and told me to be gone. It wasn't until several years later, after the couple passed away that my Aunt visited the graves at a time when the property was up for sale and no one was living there at the time. She was able to get a few pictures of what little remained. Will probably never know what graves are actually there. According to other letters that I read from various relatives there were supposedly 23 grave sites on the farm.
contributor Len Dale Bowen #49489642
April 5,1885 Wapello Co.Ia
====================================================================
James J. Cottrell 23 Jul 1837-10 Feb 1927 wife Nancy Rachel Bowen 25 Oct 1835-16 Mar 1909, married 21 Oct 1855.
They had a daughter Bella E. Cottrell Oct 20, 1864 - June 20, 1886 who married a Elmer E. Grooms. Her tombstone is located on my ancestor's family farm in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa. We found it many years ago laying on the ground, but could not figure out how it worked into the family tree. There were several Bowen girls who married a Grooms and Cottrells. And according to census records the Bowen, Cottrell and Groom families lived near one another.
===============================================================
The tombstone of Bella E. Grooms is on private property which, at one time, belonged to Nathan Bowen. It is located in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa, (GPS 41.0645N, 92.6129W I think this is right, it matches the coordinates of the deed when Nathan Bowen purchased 40 acres. )
A bit of a story goes with it. When Nathan died the property was sold and probably passed through several hands. In 1960's a Merritt Kinser, a great-grandson of Nathan Bowen & Caroline Francis, tried several times to visit the grave site, but the current owner refused permission. So in 1963 Merritt went back to the farm with a billy club in hand and simply ignored the protest of the wife, the husband was gone at the time, and went back to the grave site. He found that the wrought iron fence that was suppose to protect the gravestones had been knocked down as had many of the gravestones. Also, the farmer had carted off some of the gravestones to use as rubble and a sidewalk. Merritt took some pictures, but the only one that I have is of Belle E Grooms. I have the letters that he wrote to a Esther Venator who did a lot of Bowen research back in the 1950-1960's.
About 20 years later I went to the same farm to seek permission to visit the grave site. Wouldn't you know it, the same wife and farmer still owned the farm. When I explained who I was and asked permission to visit the grave site the wife nearly had a fainting spell. The farmer pulled a small knife and told me to be gone. It wasn't until several years later, after the couple passed away that my Aunt visited the graves at a time when the property was up for sale and no one was living there at the time. She was able to get a few pictures of what little remained. Will probably never know what graves are actually there. According to other letters that I read from various relatives there were supposedly 23 grave sites on the farm.
contributor Len Dale Bowen #49489642
Belle Cottrell married Elmer Grooms
April 5,1885 Wapello Co.Ia
====================================================================
James J. Cottrell 23 Jul 1837-10 Feb 1927 wife Nancy Rachel Bowen 25 Oct 1835-16 Mar 1909, married 21 Oct 1855.
They had a daughter Bella E. Cottrell Oct 20, 1864 - June 20, 1886 who married a Elmer E. Grooms. Her tombstone is located on my ancestor's family farm in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa. We found it many years ago laying on the ground, but could not figure out how it worked into the family tree. There were several Bowen girls who married a Grooms and Cottrells. And according to census records the Bowen, Cottrell and Groom families lived near one another.
===============================================================
The tombstone of Bella E. Grooms is on private property which, at one time, belonged to Nathan Bowen. It is located in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa, (GPS 41.0645N, 92.6129W I think this is right, it matches the coordinates of the deed when Nathan Bowen purchased 40 acres. )
A bit of a story goes with it. When Nathan died the property was sold and probably passed through several hands. In 1960's a Merritt Kinser, a great-grandson of Nathan Bowen & Caroline Francis, tried several times to visit the grave site, but the current owner refused permission. So in 1963 Merritt went back to the farm with a billy club in hand and simply ignored the protest of the wife, the husband was gone at the time, and went back to the grave site. He found that the wrought iron fence that was suppose to protect the gravestones had been knocked down as had many of the gravestones. Also, the farmer had carted off some of the gravestones to use as rubble and a sidewalk. Merritt took some pictures, but the only one that I have is of Belle E Grooms. I have the letters that he wrote to a Esther Venator who did a lot of Bowen research back in the 1950-1960's.
About 20 years later I went to the same farm to seek permission to visit the grave site. Wouldn't you know it, the same wife and farmer still owned the farm. When I explained who I was and asked permission to visit the grave site the wife nearly had a fainting spell. The farmer pulled a small knife and told me to be gone. It wasn't until several years later, after the couple passed away that my Aunt visited the graves at a time when the property was up for sale and no one was living there at the time. She was able to get a few pictures of what little remained. Will probably never know what graves are actually there. According to other letters that I read from various relatives there were supposedly 23 grave sites on the farm.
contributor Len Dale Bowen #49489642
April 5,1885 Wapello Co.Ia
====================================================================
James J. Cottrell 23 Jul 1837-10 Feb 1927 wife Nancy Rachel Bowen 25 Oct 1835-16 Mar 1909, married 21 Oct 1855.
They had a daughter Bella E. Cottrell Oct 20, 1864 - June 20, 1886 who married a Elmer E. Grooms. Her tombstone is located on my ancestor's family farm in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa. We found it many years ago laying on the ground, but could not figure out how it worked into the family tree. There were several Bowen girls who married a Grooms and Cottrells. And according to census records the Bowen, Cottrell and Groom families lived near one another.
===============================================================
The tombstone of Bella E. Grooms is on private property which, at one time, belonged to Nathan Bowen. It is located in Polk Township, Wapello County, Iowa, (GPS 41.0645N, 92.6129W I think this is right, it matches the coordinates of the deed when Nathan Bowen purchased 40 acres. )
A bit of a story goes with it. When Nathan died the property was sold and probably passed through several hands. In 1960's a Merritt Kinser, a great-grandson of Nathan Bowen & Caroline Francis, tried several times to visit the grave site, but the current owner refused permission. So in 1963 Merritt went back to the farm with a billy club in hand and simply ignored the protest of the wife, the husband was gone at the time, and went back to the grave site. He found that the wrought iron fence that was suppose to protect the gravestones had been knocked down as had many of the gravestones. Also, the farmer had carted off some of the gravestones to use as rubble and a sidewalk. Merritt took some pictures, but the only one that I have is of Belle E Grooms. I have the letters that he wrote to a Esther Venator who did a lot of Bowen research back in the 1950-1960's.
About 20 years later I went to the same farm to seek permission to visit the grave site. Wouldn't you know it, the same wife and farmer still owned the farm. When I explained who I was and asked permission to visit the grave site the wife nearly had a fainting spell. The farmer pulled a small knife and told me to be gone. It wasn't until several years later, after the couple passed away that my Aunt visited the graves at a time when the property was up for sale and no one was living there at the time. She was able to get a few pictures of what little remained. Will probably never know what graves are actually there. According to other letters that I read from various relatives there were supposedly 23 grave sites on the farm.
contributor Len Dale Bowen #49489642
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