About 1840 John Valentine Bowersock moved from Pennsylvania with his father and his brother Jacob and family to the adjoining county of Belmont, and providence effected his meeting Ruth Bates. On March 25, 1841 Ruth married John in Guernsey Co., Ohio. The marriage was not performed by her father but rather by Ashbury Gardner. Noble County was not formed until 1851 and included the area of Guernsey County where Ruth and John resided. At the time Ruth was 21 years old and John was 29. Eleven months later their first child, a daughter they called Ruth Ann, was born. Ruth was 40 when her youngest son Walter Marshall Bowersock was born. Ruth and John had nine children during those 18 years that included six girls and three boys. Their daughter Nancy died in 1856 at age 10 months, but all of their other children married and had children.
When Ruth chose to name her second son Timothy Bates Bowersock she started a tradition that endures today. Whether she chose the name Timothy because it was the name of her father, or because it was the name of her younger brother we cannot know for certain; possibly her love of both men played a role. Her son Timothy Bates Bowersock chose to name a son Oscar Bates Bowersock, Oscar named a son Martin Bates Bowersock, Martin named a son with the second name of Bates, as did his son and his grandson. Only time will reveal if the tradition will extend beyond the 6th generation.
John and Ruth Bowersock lived in Beaver Twp. for several years after they were married. Then they sold their land and bought in Seneca Twp. at the head of Mud Run. Ruth was 40 when her mother died in February; her youngest son was born that June. The following May her father remarried a lady twelve years older than Ruth and a few months later Ruth died at age 42 years 5 months and 22 days. Her youngest child Walter was one year old. Ruth died at the home she and John had made at the head of Mud Run.
About 1840 John Valentine Bowersock moved from Pennsylvania with his father and his brother Jacob and family to the adjoining county of Belmont, and providence effected his meeting Ruth Bates. On March 25, 1841 Ruth married John in Guernsey Co., Ohio. The marriage was not performed by her father but rather by Ashbury Gardner. Noble County was not formed until 1851 and included the area of Guernsey County where Ruth and John resided. At the time Ruth was 21 years old and John was 29. Eleven months later their first child, a daughter they called Ruth Ann, was born. Ruth was 40 when her youngest son Walter Marshall Bowersock was born. Ruth and John had nine children during those 18 years that included six girls and three boys. Their daughter Nancy died in 1856 at age 10 months, but all of their other children married and had children.
When Ruth chose to name her second son Timothy Bates Bowersock she started a tradition that endures today. Whether she chose the name Timothy because it was the name of her father, or because it was the name of her younger brother we cannot know for certain; possibly her love of both men played a role. Her son Timothy Bates Bowersock chose to name a son Oscar Bates Bowersock, Oscar named a son Martin Bates Bowersock, Martin named a son with the second name of Bates, as did his son and his grandson. Only time will reveal if the tradition will extend beyond the 6th generation.
John and Ruth Bowersock lived in Beaver Twp. for several years after they were married. Then they sold their land and bought in Seneca Twp. at the head of Mud Run. Ruth was 40 when her mother died in February; her youngest son was born that June. The following May her father remarried a lady twelve years older than Ruth and a few months later Ruth died at age 42 years 5 months and 22 days. Her youngest child Walter was one year old. Ruth died at the home she and John had made at the head of Mud Run.
Family Members
-
Susanna Bates Rucker
1804–1891
-
Uzal Bates
1806–1806
-
Mary Bates Bowersock
1807–1889
-
Abigail Bates Stotts
1807–1883
-
Bethel Bates
1809–1899
-
Luvina Bates Danford
1811–1885
-
Luana Bates Kent
1813–1860
-
Barna Bates
1815–1869
-
Anna Bates Moore
1817–1895
-
Timothy Bates Jr
1821–1915
-
Lafayette Bates
1824–1868
-
Elizabeth Scott
1826–1901
-
Nancy Bates Hague
1829–1866
-
Ruth Ann Bowersock
1842–1904
-
Abigal Bowersock Deffenbaugh
1844–1926
-
Susan Bowersock Bowersock
1846–1917
-
Samuel M Bowersock
1848–1925
-
Sarah Ellen Bowersock Sereff
1851–1926
-
Timothy Bates Bowersock
1853–1928
-
Nancy J. Bowersock
1855–1856
-
Luanna Catharine "Catharine" Bowersock Herring
1858–1907
-
Walter Marshall Bowersock
1861–1951