Evening Chronicle
Marshall, Michigan
Monday, February 21, 1916
Homer Man Murdered Last Night
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J. Bowersox Is Stabbed To Death
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Drunken Brawl Results In One Death And Three Arrests
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Samuel Kinnan, Guest of His Aunt Mrs. C. Buskirk Under Arrest
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---Jacob Bowersox of Homer, a widower, age about 70 years, and a veteran of the civil war, was killed at the residence of Lawrence Holmes, otherwise known as "Dock" Holmes in south Hillsdale street just east of the central school building in that village. He was frightfully stabbed about the face and head. Deputy Sheriff W. E. King of Homer was summoned to the Holmes residence about 6:00 o'clock this morning. He was called out of bed by George Conkey, a former marshal of the village who resides in the Holmes neighborhood.
---When Deputy Sheriff King dressed he ascertained that Squire Sherman, who was also at the Holmes residence notified Mr. Conkey that Mr. Bowersox was dead. Drs. Thompson and Henderson had been called but they could do nothing as life had been extinct for some time when they arrived.
---Deputy Sheriff King upon entering the Holmes residence found Bowersox sitting in a chair dead. The room presented a horrible sight, blood being all over the floor and all over Mr. Bowersox's clothes. Holmes was found in a stupor in one part of the house and Sherman was in much the same condition. Mr. King ascertained that another member of the party, Samuel Kinnan, had left. It appears some of the party had gone to Jackson Saturday and brought back a supply of liquor and a drunken brawl was on at the Holmes residence all day Sunday and Sunday night.
---Just who killed Bowersox has not been ascertained although the strongest suspicion is against Kinnan who left the place. A bloody jacknife was found on the floor near where Bowersox sat. It was identified as being the property of the dead man. Deputy King and Drs. Thompson and Henderson found a bad cut inflicted on the left temple of Bowersox which undoubtedly caused his death. Several minor cuts were also found on his cheeks.
---Justice W. J. Webster was called and acting as coronor[sic] impaneled a jury for an inquest. The jury viewed the remains and adjourned until 11:00 a. m. Tuesday when testimony will be taken in Justice Webster's office. Deputy Sheriff King had the body removed to John Phair's morgue to be prepared for burial, he being the undertaker.
---Mr. Bowersox's wife died some years ago and he has since lived alone. He is survived by three children. Charles is employed on the Anderson farm north of Homer. Roy is employed on a farm south of Homer. Mrs. Arthur Winebaugh resides in the village, her husband being a barber and running a shop in Homer. Mr. and Mrs. Winebaugh are former residents of this city. About three years ago Mr. Winebaugh was employed in H. L. Jenning's barber shop for about two months. Mr. Bowersox the dead man, is a former resident of Clarendon. In late years he did not do anything but lived on his pension.
---The office of Sheriff Mallory was notified but as he was in Muncie, Ind., and Deputy Sheriff Harther was still in quarantine, Deputy Sheriff Van Armna[sic] was put to work. He went out to Eckford and arrested Samuel Kinnan at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Charles Buskirk. Kinnan resides in New York but came here to visit his aunt and also a cousin, Charles Bergeman of Homer. Deputy Sheriff Van Arman brought Mr. Kinan[sic] here and then took him to Homer. Deputy Sheriff King arrested Squire Sherman and Holmes and the three are pending the inquest tomorrow. Assistant Prosecutor A. F. Cooper of Albion, will go to Homer and decide what charge will be preferred against the person or persons who killed Mr. Bowersox.
---Holmes is a bachelor about 50 years old. Sherman is married and has a family. He is about 55 years old. Both are painters and work together. Kinnan is about 35 years old and single. Arthur Winebaugh identified the bloody jacknife as the property of Mr. Bowersox.
---At first it was decided to take the three prisoners to the Battle Creek city jail as the county jail is in quarantine but as the inquest is set for tomorrow it was decided to keep them in Homer until after that is concluded.

MORE ARTICLES REGARDING THIS MURDER ARE AVAILABLE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
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Father: John Bowersox
Mother: Magdelan Walter

Siblings: Abraham, Henry, Noah, Moses, Harriet, Mary, George, Samuel, Susan, Solomon

MILITARY - CIVIL WAR CO C 172ND PA INF

Married: Mary J.. Swisher

Children:

..1. Ezres Edwin Bowersox 3/18/1877-1927 Married Lizzie Heyden

..2. Cloyd/Cloid Bowersox 8/22/1878-5/21/1944 Cloid Mmeorial # 71824010 D-Sherman, St Joseph Co Mi..married May Meyer and Alta Brueck

..3. Clarence Syvester Bowersox 5/4/1880-11/12/1941 Married Lydia Wirebaugh
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Refer:
Clarence Bonersox
Age : 23 years
Birth Year: 1882
Birthplace: Michigan
Spouse's Name: Lydia Wirebaugh
Spouse's Age 22 years
Spouse's Birth Year: 1883
Spouse's Birthplace: Ohio
Event Date: 08 Jan 1905
Event Place: Tekonsha, Calhoun, Michigan
Father's Name: Jacob Bonersox
Mother's Name: Mary J. Sevisher
Spouse's Father's Name: Henry Wirebaugh
Spouse's Mother's Name: ...cinda Holben

..4. Carrie Bella Bowersox, b.3/1882.. married Arthur Wirebaugh
Children: Earle, Pearle, Cleo

..5. Edna Bowersox b.9/1884 married August Wendorf

..6. Florence May Bowersox [9/20/1889-12/25/1949] married Vern Kuts

..7. Melroy Bowerson 12/14/1891-6/13/1967 Melroy Memorial # 12252071

..8. Jay L. Bowersox [1/24/1894-2/20/1894] D- Butler, Branch Co Mi.
________
Refer:
Name: J. L. Bowersox
Gender: Male
Death Date: 20 Feb 1894
Death Place: Butler, Branch, Mi
Age: 0
Birth Date: 1894
Birthplace: Michigan
Father's Name: Jacob Bowersox
Mother's Name: Mary J. Bowersox

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Reference FOR JACOB BOWERSOX

1850 Center Union, Pa
John Bauersaa M 51 Pennsylvania
Magdaline Bauersaa F 50 Pennsylvania
Abraham Bauersaa M 25 Pennsylvania
Henry Bauersaa M 20 Pennsylvania
Noah Bauersaa M 17 Pennsylvania
Moses Bauersaa M 15 Pennsylvania
Harriet Bauersax F 14 Pennsylvania
Mary Bauersax F 13 Pennsylvania
George Bauersax M 11 Pennsylvania
Samuel Bauersax M 11 Pennsylvania
Jacob Bauersax M 7 Pennsylvania
Solomon Bauersax M 5 Pennsylvania

1860 Centre Tap Synder, Pa
John Bowersox M 61 Pennsylvania
Susan Bowersox F 48 Pennsylvania
Jacob Bowersox M 17 Pennsylvania
Solomon Bowersox M 15 Pennsylvania

1880 Buter Branch Co Mi
Self J. J. Bowersox M 37 Pa
Wife Mary J. Bowersox F 25 oh
Son Ezra E. Bowersox M 3 Mi
Son Cloyd Bowersox M 2 Mi
Son Clarence S. Bowersox M 0 Mi
Nephew Mardin Bowersox M 10 Mi

1900 Census Butler Twp Branch Co Mi
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Jake Bowersox M 58 Pa
Wife Mary J Bowersox F 48 Oh
Son Ezres E Bowersox M 23 Mi
Son Coid Bowersox M 22 Mi
Son Clarence S Bowersox M 20 Mi
Daughter Carrie B Bowersox F 18 Mi
Daughter Edna Bowersox F 16 Mi
Daughter Florence M Bowersox F 11 Mi
Son Milroy Bowersox M 9 Mi
Servant Wilson M 30 Mi

1910 Census Butler Twp Branch Co Mi
Jacob Bowersox 67 wid
Bella Wirebaugh 28 Daughter
Arthur Wirebaugh 34 son in law
Earle Wirebaugh 7
Pearle Wirebaugh 6
Cleo Wirebaugh 2

Name: Jacob J Bowersox
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1890
Event Place: Butler, Branch, Mic
Affiliate Publication Title: Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War,1890.