"COUNTIES OF MORGAN, MONROE & BROWN, INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL."
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884.
F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
RAY TOWNSHIP, MORGAN COUNTY, INDIANA
PAGE 285
ELIJAH BOWEN, a pioneer and leading farmer of this county, was born
September 23, 1807, one mile east of Nicholasville, Ky., and is the seventh
of the eleven children of Elijah and Nancy Bowen, natives of Virginia. The
grandfather of our subject was one of the first settlers in old Kentucky.
Our subject was reared on a farm near the cave of Daniel Boone, where that
hero and family lived three months. In 1830, Elijah moved to Owen County,
Ind., and soon after to Morgan County, where he had purchased 120 acres, on
which is his present home. August, 1830, he married Nancy, daughter of
Abner and Polly (Hill) Alexander. This union gave being to ten children,
five of whom are living. Mr. Bowen, being a good manager and industrious
man, succeeded in acquiring 963 acres, and a good home as well. Of this
land, which was highly improved, he has sold 560 acres, and given the
proceeds, about $18,000, to his children, retaining the residue for himself.
Mrs. Bowen died, December 13, 1882, and Mr. Bowen married a second wife,
Mrs. Margaret, widow of John Asher. Mr. Bowen is a member of the Christian
Church, as was his first wife, who left at her death, a legacy of about
$5,000 and eighty acres to her youngest daughter. Mr.Bowen gave his first
vote for Henry Clay, and has been recently Republican.
Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn "ivie@tima.com"
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