Another Hugh Bowen mystery?

BOWEN

Posted By: Eric Huffstutler (email)
Date: 8/23/2003 at 19:18:59

Simple question but one that is a bit puzzling...

We have 3 different Hugh Bowens:

1) Hugh Bowen (c.1804-1865) married to Paulina Sheffield and died in CO

2) Hugh Bowen (1852-1942) married to Jane E. Simmons and s/o above Hugh and died in MO.

3) Hugh Legare Bowen (1844-1914), s/o William H.H. Bowen - brother to #1

We have much written about Hugh Bowen the Jones County pioneer and at least two towns founded by Bowen's (Bowens Prairie, now gone and Sand Springs, almost gone).

How come such high profile people who are so well know are yet so forgotten? Why can't we figure out who is who and who Hugh and brother William's parents were? Or how his step-brother Joseph Tanner Berryhill (1823-1914) figures into the family? How can their history be lost? I can understand John Doe who plowed corn for a living but large land owners and officials of the time as well as founders and pioneers?

Best guess right now is that some census shows William Henry Harrison Bowen's father born in VA. There is the following couple which fits the bill in both common name, place of marriage, and death:

Truman Jabes Bowen 2/25/1786 VA - 3/12/1831 Chalmers, IL married 6/8/1810 Pickaway Co., OH to Nancy D. Lewis 10/12/1793 VA - 10/1/1852 Chalmers, IL.

Now to figure out how Stephen Bowen (1792-1857), whose 3rd child was named Truman Hamlin Bowen (1825-1880), often referred to as T.H. Bowen, links into this picture? Stephen is supposed to be related to Hugh. Half-brother?

And the census listed age for the elder Hugh being c.1804, pre-dates any found possible parent marriage combination unless this is way off?

Eric