On March 25, 1841 John married Ruth Bates, the daughter of a prominent citizen in the area. Ten months later their oldest daughter Ruth Ann was born. His brother Jacob moved his family to Van Wert Co., Ohio in an area later to become Auglaize Co., Ohio but his father chose to remain with John continuing to farm despite his advanced age of about 75 years. His father died at age 85, when John was 41 years old. By then John and Ruth had four daughters and a son of their own.
In 1850 John valued his farm land in Guernsey County at $1800. Noble County was formed in 1851 partly from Guernsey County, and in 1860 John valued his property at $3500 and his personal wealth as $500. Ruth and John had nine children at that time as a daughter Nancy had died in 1856 when she was 10 months old. In March of 1862 John's wife Ruth would die at age 42. John was left with a farm and eight children ages 2 to 20. John never re-married.
The Civil War had started less than a year before Ruth's death. According to "A Standard History of Allen County" John made "considerable money buying horses for the government" during the Civil War. In 1865 the Civil War was over, his oldest daughter Ruth gave birth to his first grandchild and he moved his family to Allen Co., Ohio close to where his brother had re-located and was buried. If daughter Ruth had married, the marriage was short and resulted in divorce as all found documents record her surname as Bowersock and Ruth moved with her father and son continuing to live at home until John's death.
John was a member of the Christian Church in Allen County. His father-in-law Timothy Bates was an ordained minister of the Mount Ephraim Christian Church and John was comfortable with their theology. The Republican Party was started in 1854, and John supported its candidates until his death. He is described by various historians as a shoemaker, a farmer, a miller and a blacksmith. On page 417 of "History of Allen County and Representative Citizens" John Bowersock is reported as "remembered by the older residents as a man of sterling qualities." I cannot imagine a greater tribute to anyone's memory.
In 1850 John valued his farm land in Guernsey County at $1800. Noble County was formed in 1851 partly from Guernsey County, and in 1860 John valued his property at $3500 and his personal wealth as $500. Ruth and John had nine children at that time as a daughter Nancy had died in 1856 when she was 10 months old. In March of 1862 John's wife Ruth would die at age 42. John was left with a farm and eight children ages 2 to 20. John never re-married.
The Civil War had started less than a year before Ruth's death. According to "A Standard History of Allen County" John made "considerable money buying horses for the government" during the Civil War. In 1865 the Civil War was over, his oldest daughter Ruth gave birth to his first grandchild and he moved his family to Allen Co., Ohio close to where his brother had re-located and was buried. If daughter Ruth had married, the marriage was short and resulted in divorce as all found documents record her surname as Bowersock and Ruth moved with her father and son continuing to live at home until John's death.
John was a member of the Christian Church in Allen County. His father-in-law Timothy Bates was an ordained minister of the Mount Ephraim Christian Church and John was comfortable with their theology. The Republican Party was started in 1854, and John supported its candidates until his death. He is described by various historians as a shoemaker, a farmer, a miller and a blacksmith. On page 417 of "History of Allen County and Representative Citizens" John Bowersock is reported as "remembered by the older residents as a man of sterling qualities." I cannot imagine a greater tribute to anyone's memory.
On March 25, 1841 John married Ruth Bates, the daughter of a prominent citizen in the area. Ten months later their oldest daughter Ruth Ann was born. His brother Jacob moved his family to Van Wert Co., Ohio in an area later to become Auglaize Co., Ohio but his father chose to remain with John continuing to farm despite his advanced age of about 75 years. His father died at age 85, when John was 41 years old. By then John and Ruth had four daughters and a son of their own.
In 1850 John valued his farm land in Guernsey County at $1800. Noble County was formed in 1851 partly from Guernsey County, and in 1860 John valued his property at $3500 and his personal wealth as $500. Ruth and John had nine children at that time as a daughter Nancy had died in 1856 when she was 10 months old. In March of 1862 John's wife Ruth would die at age 42. John was left with a farm and eight children ages 2 to 20. John never re-married.
The Civil War had started less than a year before Ruth's death. According to "A Standard History of Allen County" John made "considerable money buying horses for the government" during the Civil War. In 1865 the Civil War was over, his oldest daughter Ruth gave birth to his first grandchild and he moved his family to Allen Co., Ohio close to where his brother had re-located and was buried. If daughter Ruth had married, the marriage was short and resulted in divorce as all found documents record her surname as Bowersock and Ruth moved with her father and son continuing to live at home until John's death.
John was a member of the Christian Church in Allen County. His father-in-law Timothy Bates was an ordained minister of the Mount Ephraim Christian Church and John was comfortable with their theology. The Republican Party was started in 1854, and John supported its candidates until his death. He is described by various historians as a shoemaker, a farmer, a miller and a blacksmith. On page 417 of "History of Allen County and Representative Citizens" John Bowersock is reported as "remembered by the older residents as a man of sterling qualities." I cannot imagine a greater tribute to anyone's memory.
In 1850 John valued his farm land in Guernsey County at $1800. Noble County was formed in 1851 partly from Guernsey County, and in 1860 John valued his property at $3500 and his personal wealth as $500. Ruth and John had nine children at that time as a daughter Nancy had died in 1856 when she was 10 months old. In March of 1862 John's wife Ruth would die at age 42. John was left with a farm and eight children ages 2 to 20. John never re-married.
The Civil War had started less than a year before Ruth's death. According to "A Standard History of Allen County" John made "considerable money buying horses for the government" during the Civil War. In 1865 the Civil War was over, his oldest daughter Ruth gave birth to his first grandchild and he moved his family to Allen Co., Ohio close to where his brother had re-located and was buried. If daughter Ruth had married, the marriage was short and resulted in divorce as all found documents record her surname as Bowersock and Ruth moved with her father and son continuing to live at home until John's death.
John was a member of the Christian Church in Allen County. His father-in-law Timothy Bates was an ordained minister of the Mount Ephraim Christian Church and John was comfortable with their theology. The Republican Party was started in 1854, and John supported its candidates until his death. He is described by various historians as a shoemaker, a farmer, a miller and a blacksmith. On page 417 of "History of Allen County and Representative Citizens" John Bowersock is reported as "remembered by the older residents as a man of sterling qualities." I cannot imagine a greater tribute to anyone's memory.
Family Members
Children
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Ruth Ann Bowersock
1842–1904
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Abigal Bowersock Deffenbaugh
1844–1926
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Susan Bowersock Bowersock
1846–1917
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Samuel M Bowersock
1848–1925
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Sarah Ellen Bowersock Sereff
1851–1926
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Timothy Bates Bowersock
1853–1928
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Nancy J. Bowersock
1855–1856
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Luanna Catharine Bowersock Herring
1858–1907
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Walter Marshall Bowersock
1861–1951
