“THOMAS BENTON BOWYER.

  This sketch is a biographical outline of the first child born within the present limits of Linn county.

  Mr. Bowyer was born on Locust Creek, one and a half miles west of Lin-neus, near where the Bowyer Bridge formerly stood, on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1833.  He is the son of William and Martha (Tyre) Bowyer, the latter a daughter of Frederick Tyre, formerly of North Carolina.  William Bowyer was a native of Tennessee, and came with his father, Henry Bowyer, to Missouri, and settled in Howard county.  It was while living in Howard county that he was married to Miss Tyre, and they had one son and one daughter, before moving from there.  He had veen on some hunting expeditions up in Linn county (then a part of Chariton) and became so impressed with the value of the lands here that he resolved to make it his future home.  Accordingly, in January, 1831, Mr. Bowyer came with his family, and struck camp on Locust Creek.  His brother came with them but had left his family back in Howard.  After fixing the family comfortably, the two Bowyers went back to Howard to bring the family of the brother.

  The country was still the abode of the red man, and the husband and brother had not been long gone till the Indians began to infest the camp, much to the discomfort of Mrs. Bowyer.  There were in the camp, besides Mrs. Bowyer and her two children, a brother, Lewis Tyre, aged sixteen, and a young colored girl of eleven.  The family were relieved in course of time by the return of the Bowyer brothers.

  Four white families lived in this county at the time Thomas B. Bowyer was born.  His education was such as the county and town of Linneus then afforded.  The first school he attended was taught by Mr. Thomas T. Woodruff, a gentleman still living in Linneus.

  Our subject was raised a farmer, and has always followed that occupation, and has always lived in Linn county.  He was married on the third day of October, 1855, to Miss Mary A. Alexander, daughter of Edward Alexander, an old settler of this county, now deceased.  They have seven children living, all single, and two dead.

  Mr. Bowyer belongs to no secret order, but himself and wife are both members of the Baptist Church, and hold membership in Linneus.

  In point of politics, Mr. Bowyer is a conservative Democrat, and has voted for every Democratic candidate for president since the dar.

  From having spent his entire life in Linn county, Mr. Bowyer is possessed of many facks and incidents pertaining to the early history of the county, and the historians are indebted to him for much information compiles in this volume.

Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch ©2007  All Rights Reserved.