Dora Mae Bower was the second of four children born to:
John Alison Bower, b. Feb. 18, 1835 in Millersburg, Holmes County, OH. and d. Dec. 12, 1920 in Eureka, Greenwood County, KS. &
Louise Jane Alexander, b. Aug. 13, 1848 and d. Mar. 18, 1925.

John married, first, Mariah Bare on Sep. 27, 1855 in IN. Mariah died in 1865.

John married second, Louise Jane Alexander on May 3, 1866 in Clay, IN. (This was a first marriage for Louise.)
John and Louise Bower's children were:
1. Mary R. Bower, b. Sep. 1869 in IN. and d. Jun. 23, 1946. Mary marr.
Albert Sherman Hall in 1903 and George Allan Harrington in 1925.
2. (Dr.) Dora Mae "Debbie" Bower, b. Nov. 11, 1873 in Eureka, Greenwood County, KS. and d. Aug. 28, 1956 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, IN. Dora marr. Warren Franklin Eckles.
3. (Dr.) John Harvey Bower, b. Jan. 1, 1875 and d. Nov. 9, 1921
4. (Dr.) Roy Allison Bower, b. May 11, 1879 in Greenwood county, KS. and d. Oct. 9, 1933 in Eureka, Greenwood County, KS. Roy marr. Anna E. Cole.

According to the 1880 U.S. census, 8 yr. old Dora M. Bowers, b. in KS., was living in Eureka, Greenwood county, KS. with her
45 yr. old father, John A. Bowers, a farmer, b. in OH.
32 yr. old mother, Louiza J. Bowers, b. in KY.
19 yr. old (step)brother, James R. Bowers, a farmer, b. in IN.
18 yr. old (step)brother, William S. Bowers, a farmer, b. in IN.
10 yr. old sister, Mary R. Bowers, b. in IN.
5 yr. old brother, John H. Bowers, b. in KS.
1 yr. old brother, Roy A. Bowers, b. in KS.

According to the IL. County Marriages Record for 1810-1934, 24 yr. old Dora Mae Bower and 24 yr. old Warren Franklin Eckles were married on Oct. 19, 1898 in Hancock, IL.
Warren's parents were listed as William Eckles and Arabella McGinnis and Dora's parents were John A. Bower and Louise Alexander.
GS Film number: 1533361 , Digital Folder Number: 004661424 , Image Number: 00561

Warren and Dora Eckles had two children:
1. Warren Franklin Eckles, Jr., born late Dec. 1909 or in Jan. 1910. (*Note: He probably died as an infant, but is not buried with his parents or brother in this cemetery.)
2. Robert Bower Eckles, b. Apr. 11, 1910 in York, York County, NE. and d. Jan. 22, 1993 in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX. Robert marr. first, Rachel Burhans Miller in 1935 and second, Mrs. Anne Ammerman in 1972.

Illustrated History of York, York Co., Nebraska
York, Nebraska
Dora Bower-Eckles, M.D.
Mrs. Dr. Eckles was born at Eureka, Kansas in November, 1873. Graduated from the Southern Kansas Academy in 1891. Graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa in 1898. In addition to regular college work, the Junior and Senior years were spent in special study of surgery, diseases of women and children, under Prof. of this chair in the college. Dr. Eckles practiced at Carthage, Ill., until fall of 1900. After spending several weeks in Post Graduate work in Chicago, she removed to New York.

In the 1900 U. S. census, 26 yr. old Dora May Eckler (Eckles), a Physician, b. Nov. 1873 in KS., was living in a rented home at 8 E. Main St. in Carthage Ward 1, Hancock county, IL. with her
27 yr. old husband, Warren F. Eckler (Eckles), a Physician, b. Mar. 1873 in IL.
Dora and Warren had been married for 1 year.
Dora's father was b. in OH. and her mother in KY.
Warren's father was b. in PA. and his mother in KY.
Dora and Warren had not yet had any children.

In the Jan. 18, 1910 U.S. census, 36 yr. old Dora Eckles, b. in KS., was living in York Ward 1, York county, NE. with her
36 yr. old husband, Warren Eckles, b. in IL.
infant son (0 months old), Warren Eckles Jr., b. in NE.
20 yr. old domestic servant, Violet Brenek, b. in IL.
22 yr. old nurse, Margret Smiser, b. in MO.
Warren Sr.'s father was b. in PA. and his mother in KY.
Dora's father was b. in IN. and his mother in KY.
This was a first marriage for Warren and Dora. They had been married for 12 years and Dora was the mother of one child. This child does not appear in the 1920 census.

According to his Sept. 12, 1918 WWI Draft Registration card, 44 yr. old Warren Franklin Eckles, b. Mar. 25, 1874, was married to Dora Bower Eckles and living in York, York county, NE. He was a physician, working on his own account.
He was described as tall and stout, with grey eyes and medium hair. He had no physical disability that would disqualify him from military service.

In the 1920 U.S. census, 43 yr. old Dora Eckles, b. in KS., was living at 702 Iowa Av. in York City Ward 1, York county, NE. with her
45 yr. old husband, Warren F. Eckles, an optician (?) in general practice, b. in IL.
9 yr. old son Robert Eckles, b. in NE.
Warren's father was b. in PA. and his mother in IL.
Dora's father was b. in OH. and her mother in KY.

Source: Book: York County, Nebraska and Its people: Together with a Condensed…, Vol. 2, P. 782, Published 1921
From: HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Excerpt from: DURING THE 90'S AND SINCE
In 1900 F.G. Snyder, Frank B. Slugger from Kearney County, Edwin Blair hanna from Fillmore County, Henry C. Williams of Johnson County, and Dora Bower Eckles and Warren F. Eckles registered. The latter have been constant practitioners at York since then, but Dora Bower Eckles is not now practicing.

The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, NE.), P. 25, Col. 4 & 5
Sun., Nov. 14, 1926
Excerpt from: Club Women of Nebraska Working Along Lines of Civic Improvement
York - The music department of the Women's club held its first meeting of the year Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Fay Copsey, 526 College avenue. A reception for new members was given and a program rendered by Mrs. Dora Bower Eckles and Mrs. Lena Pratt Bell from their own poems and music. Mrs. Eckles read an original poem entitled "As Seen Through a Child's Eyes." Miss Jessie Conway gave two of Mrs. Eckles' poems, called "To a Little Girl" and "Neighbors."
The leader of the club, Mrs. Fay Copsey, has the program of the year well outlined and ready for a successful year's work. refreshments were served by the hostess at the close of the afternoon.

The Lincoln Evening Journal, P.3
Lincoln, Nebraska
Wed., May 30, 1928
POEM PRIZE TO YORK POET
Mrs. W. F. Eckles' "Transmutation" Called One of Eighteen Best Works of Year.
YORK, Neb., May 30 - Mrs. W. F. Eckles, of York, received notice on Monday that she has been awarded a prize by the society of Present Day Poets for her poem, "Transmutation," published in a magazine about a year ago and voted one of the best eighteen poems written in America or Canada during the past year.
The prize is a medal and contains bits of heather from the home of Robert Burns in Scotland. The society is made up of members from America and Canada.
When the prize poems were selected the society members held a week's meeting at Seattle, Wash., to vote on the winners. Mrs. Eckles' name will appear in Anthology of Poetry for this year. Mrs. Eckles is the wife of Dr. W,. F. Eckles of York and for some years was herself a practicing physician.

In the 1930 U.S. census, 53 yr. old Dora B. Eckles, an Authoress of Short Stories, b. in KS., was living in a home he owned, valued at $10,000 at 702 Iowa Av. in York City Ward 1, York county, NE. with her
54 yr. old husband, Warren F. Eckles, an Eye, Ear, Nose, etc. Specialist, b. in IL.
19 yr. old son, Robert B. Eckles, b. in NE.
Warren's parents were both b. in IL.
Dora's father was b. in OH. and her mother in KY.
Warren was 24 yrs. old and Dora was 23 when they married.

The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, NE.), P. 17, Col. 1
Sun., Dec. 24, 1933
Excerpt from: York
York Business and Professional Women met for the regular dinner at the Hotel McCloud. Mrs. Dora Bower Eckles, a member of the club, who has published several short stories, read her latest one "Blue Violets in a Brass Bowl". This story is built upon the same theme as her "Old Trails," which was selected for the O'Brien honor roll for 1933, and also upon the same theme as another story by Mrs. Eckles, "Return Engagement," which was published in a woman's magazine. Special music for the program was a violin solo, by Mrs. Muriel Clark, accompanied by Mrs. Eda Rankin.
Decorations for the dinner were small Christmas trees, red tapers and emblem seals, used on the place cards. The members exchanged gifts.

After her husband died (on Aug. 16, 1934), Dora wrote the words to a song called 'I Know A Road' (S.S.A.), in memory of her husband, Dr. W. F. Eckles, ©1941. Music was by J.A. PARKS - Three-part Arrangement was by Marion Moore. The Kilgore Memorial Library is York County, NE. owns the original or a copy.
Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, NE.), P. 3, Col. 2

The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, NE.), P. 16, Col. 1
Sun., Jan. 23, 1938
Item from: WOMAN'S CLUBS OVER THE STATE
York - The members of the American home department enjoyed a luncheon at Hotel McCloud. Honor guests were the women who have, or will have opened their homes for department meetings. About 45 attended. Mrs. W. F. Eckles was guest speaker, her subject being "New England Homes, Old and New." The department made a donation to the fund being raised at the state reformatory for the moving picture machine.

The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, NE.), P. 1, Col. 3
Sat., Apr. 29, 1939
Excerpt from: Writers Guild To Hear Kansan
The Nebraska Writers Guild held its annual spring meeting Saturday at the Lincoln hotel, with round table discussions on various writing phases featuring an all day meeting. Kirk Mechem, secretary of the Kansas State Historical society, will be the guest speaker at the banquet culminating the meeting.
At the morning meeting, Mrs. Emma B. Whisenand of Harvard, poet laureate of the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs, led a discussion on poetry of today, and Prof. Gayle C. Walker, chairman of the journalism department at the University of Nebraska, led the discussion of newspapers.
An informal luncheon, was followed by a business meeting where new members and district chairmen were introduced. The chairmen were Dr. Dora Bower Eckles of York (and five other from around the state).

On Aug. 16, 1934, Dora's 60 yr. old husband, Dr. Warren Franklin Eckles died in York, York county, NE.

In the 1940 U. S. census, 58 yr. old widow, Dara (Dora) Bower Eckler (Eckles), b. in KS., was living alone in a home she owned, valued at $4,000 at 702 Iowa Ave. in York, York county, NE.
Dora was living in the same house in 1935.
She was a college graduate.
She didn't work at all in 1939, but she had income from other sources.

In the 1950 U. S. census, 66 yr. old widow, Dora B Eckles, no occupation, b. in KS., was living alone at 700 East St. in York, York county, NE.

Thu., Aug. 30, 1956
Dora B. Eckles, Dies; York M.D.
YORK - The ashes of the late Mrs. Dora B. Eckles will be sent here for interment in Greenwood Cemetery from Lafayette, Ind., where she died Monday night. A memorial service for her is planned at the Episcopal Church here.
Mrs. Eckles was the widow of the late Dr. Warrem F. Eckles of York and had been hospitalized since July 1, in Lafayette where she had lived in recent years. Her son, Dr. Robert Eckles is professor at Purdue University. Two granddaughters also survive.
Mrs. Eckles was a physician also and had written a number of short stories and some poetry. Her writings had appeared in the Prairie Schooner, Kansas Magazine, Household Magazine, Country Bard and others.
Three of her short stories were chosen by Edward J. O'Brien of Oxford, England for inclusion in a yearly anthology of "Best Stories of America."

The Lincoln Star, P.5
Lincoln, Nebraska
Fri., Aug. 31, 1956
Mrs. Eckles Dies; Physician, Writer
YORK, Neb. - Mrs. Dora B. Eckles, widow of Dr. Warren F. Eckles of York, died in Lafayette, Ind. A memorial service for her is planned at the Episcopal Church here.
She had made her home in recent years in Lafayette where her son, Dr. Robert Eckles, is professor of history at Purdue University.
Mrs. Eckles, who was a physician, also had written a number of short stories and some poetry. Her writings had appeared in the Prairie Schooner, Kansas Magazine, Household magazine and others. Three of her short stories were chosen by Edward J. O'Brien of Oxford, England, for inclusion in a yearly anthology of "Best Stories of America."
In addition to her son, two granddaughters also survive.

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Dr. Dora Mae Bower-Eckles
Born 1873-11-11 Eureka, KS (USA)
Died 1956-08-28, Lafayette, IN (USA)
Buried : Greenwood Cemetery, York, NE (USA)
Places Lived: Eureka, KS., Keokuk, IA., Carthage, IL., Chicago, IL., New York, NY., York, NE. and Lafayette, IN.
Author Of: Fiction, Music and Audio, Poetry, Short Stories; Poetry; Music
Education:
College Degree, 1891, Southern Kansas Academy, Eureka, KS.
Medical Degree, 1898, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, IA.
Post-Graduate Work, Chicago, IL.
Occupation: Physician, Writer, Poet
Honors: Award for one of the best poems of the year ("Transmutation") by the Society of Present-Day Poets
Bibliography: Published Short Stories; three short stories included in Best Short Stories of America
Poetry, including the prize-winning poem "Transmutation"
Wrote the lyrics to the song "I Know a Road" in memory of her husband
Has published two stories in the Prairie Schooner