St. Clair County People of Interest



DR. CHARLES P. BOWDEN (1867-1916)

Appleton City Centennial 1870-1970:

Dr. Bowden was killed in the tornado that passed through St. Clair County April 19, 1916.
He and E. F. Hirni were returning from the home of a patient, Mrs. Charles Scherick, who had just passed away. They noticed the approaching storm and thought they would get beyond its path, but had to turn in at the Henry Layher farm. They drove into the barn, followed by Oscar Underwood. The storm became worse, so they started for the house. The air was full of flying debris and something evidently struck Dr. Bowden a severe blow on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious, and from which injury he died at 5:15 the next morning.
Mrs. Bowden was taken to Rockville, arriving a short time before his death. His body was brought to Appleton City on the 3:45 train that afternoon. Mrs. Laurinda Jane Bowden died in 1951 and they are buried in Appleton City Cemetery.

St. Clair County Courier, April 2005:

April 27, 1916 tornado blows through county - The deaths were Dr. C.P. Bowden and E.F. Hirni of Appleton City. They were caught in the storm between that place and Rockville and sought refuge in a farm house along the way. The house was blown to pieces and Dr. Bowden received injuries from which he died later.

Lowry City Independent, 27 April 1916:

Tornado Accompanied By Hail – Great Damage. Dr. Chas. Bowden, Appleton City, A Victim. Dr. C.P. Bowden and E.F. Hirni of Appleton City were caught in the storm between that place and Rockville and sought refuge in a farm house along the way. The house was blown to pieces and Dr. Bowden received injuries from which he died early Thursday morning. Mr. Hirni was pretty badly injured but will recover.



Appleton City Tribune, 5 January 1909:

Messrs. J.B. Egger, W.A. Walker and Dr. C.P. Bowden left on the evening train Monday for Jefferson City, to be present at the opening session of the state Legislature and presumably to continue the contest proceedings commenced at Osceola some time ago against Mr. J.A. Luchsinger, who was elected representative at the November election by 143 majority.



Appleton City Tribune, 13 April 1909:

Board Organizes.
The board of directors for our independent school district met last Thursday night, the newly elected directors H.T. Pratt and W.F. Maxwell participating. Dr. C.P. Bowden was elected president, and H.T. Pratt vice president. Joe Klien continues as secretary and F.H. Miller, treasurer. It was ordered by vote that a special election be called to submit a proposition for an additional 15 cent levy, that another teacher might be added to the present staff. This is undoubtedly a move in the right direction, as it is an undisputed fact that the primary room has been so crowded during the past term that the pupils were not afforded the opportunity they should have for advancement.
With another teacher added this crowded condition can be done away with and at the same time our schools can be raised another grade. This would materially raise the standard of our schools and afford those who desire to complete the course a much better course of study.



Appleton City Tribune, 4 May 1909:

Republican At Head.
The Insane Asylum at Nevada in Control of Republicans.
Dr. G.W. Robinson who has been in charge of the State Hospital for the Insane at Nevada, was succeeded by Dr. G.C. Willson, an active republican and physician of that city, who on Monday was appointed superintendent.
Dr. C.P. Bowden of our city was an applicant for the position of superintendent and while the Tribune would like very much to have recoded the fact that the Doctor had been successful yet we are mighty glad after all that he is still to remain a resident and practicing physician of our city.



Appleton City Tribune, 1 June 1909:

Dr. C.P. Bowden made a business trip to El Dorado Springs the last of the week, returning home Sunday evening



The Appleton City Journal, June 24, 1915:

Names of Subscribers on The Appleton City Telephone Exchange – Bowden, Dr. C.P., Exchange 116. Office, 2 rings. Residence, 3 rings.



Appleton City Journal, 1 February 1917:

Monthly Missionary Meetings - M.E. Church – Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home of Mrs. C.P. Bowden. A good attendance is desired.



1870 Henry Co., MO Census – Deepwater Township:
Page 12, Line 24, 3 September, Germantown Post Office
86/97 John Covey, age 28, white male, farmer, $1300 real estate, $400 personal estate, birthplace MO, male citizen over age 21
Marinda, age 27, white female, keeping house, birthplace MO
Allace, age 8, white female, birthplace MO
Franklin, age 6, white male, birthplace MO
William, age 4, white male, birthplace MO
Lerandia, age 2, white female, birthplace MO
Leyma, age 2, white female, birthplace MO

1870 Bates Co., MO Census – Spruce Township:
Page 37, Line 24, 15 July, Butler Post Office
Benjamin Boudon, age 65, white male, farmer, $800 real estate, $350 personal estate, birthplace NC, cannot write, male citizen over age 21
Annie, age 65, white female, occupation listed as “Home”, birthplace NC, cannot write

1870 Bates Co., MO Census – Spruce Township:
Page 37, Line 26, 15 July, Butler Post Office
(Living next door to Benjamin Boudon)
John Boudon, age 40, white male, farmer, $6000 real estate, $3000 personal estate, birthplace NC, male citizen over age 21
Eunice, age 40, white female, home, birthplace MO
Margary, age 14, white female, home, birthplace MO, attended school
Georgia, age 12, white female, home, birthplace MO, attended school
Elizabeth, age 10, white female, home, birthplace MO, attended school, cannot write
Susan, age 8, white female, home, birthplace MO
Ella, age 5, white female, home, home, birthplace MO, attended school
Charles, age 3, white male, home, birthplace MO
John Reece, age 15, white male, home, birthplace MO, cannot write
Henry Reece, age 12, white male, home, birthplace MO

1880 Henry Co., MO Census – Walker Township:
Dist. 6, ED 166, Page 16, Line 39, 11 June
8/8 John Covey, white male, age 37, married, farmer, birthplace MO
Mary I., white female, age 28, wife, married, keeping house, birthplace NC, both parents born NC
John F., white male, age 16, son, at home, attended school, birthplace MO, both parents born MO
William O., white male, age 14, son, at home, attended school, birthplace MO, both parents born MO
Lourinda J., white female, age 12, daughter, at home, attended school, birthplace MO, both parents born MO
Minnie V., white female, age 8, daughter, at home, attended school, birthplace MO, both parents born MO
Hester E., white female, age 8, daughter, birthplace MO, father born MO, mother born NC

1880 Bates Co., MO Census – Spruce Township:
Dist. 6, ED 155, Page 10, Line 30, 9 & 10 June
81/82 J.K. Bowden, white male, age 51, married, farmer, suffers from Sprained Leg, birthplace NC, both parents born NC
Ernesine, white female, age 50, wife, married, keeping house, birthplace MO, both parents born KY
Margary, white female, age 25, daughter, single, at home, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
Betsy, white female, age 20, daughter, single, attended school, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
Susan, white female, age 18, daughter, single, attended school, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
Ela, white female, age 15, daughter, single, attended school, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
Charles, white male, age 13, son, single, works on farm, attended school, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
Ema, white female, age 9, daughter, single, attended school, cannot write, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO
James Aderson, white male, age 18, servant, single, attended school, birthplace KY, father born KY, mother’s birthplace unknown

1900 Bates Co., MO Census – Spruce Township:
Dist. 6, ED 22, Sheet 2B, Line 94, 2 June
40/41 Charles P. Bowden, head, white male, born February 1867, age 33, married 9 years, birthplace MO, father born NC, mother born MO, Physician, unemployed 0 months, can read & write, speaks English, owned mortgaged home
Jennie L., white female, born April 1868, age 32, married 9 years, 1 child, 1 living, birthplace MO, both parents born MO, can read & write, speaks English
Glynn, daughter, white female, born December 1894, age 5, single, birthplace MO, both parents born MO

1920 St. Clair Co., MO Census – Appleton Township, Appleton City:
Dist. 6, ED 133, Page 10A, Line 26, 2nd Ward, 10 January
Living on Hickory Street
248/265 Lorenda J. Bowden, head, owned mortgaged home, white female, age 51, widowed, can read & write, birthplace MO, father born U.S., mother born MO, speaks English, Millinery, Own Shop
Glynn C., daughter, white female, age 24, single, can read & write, birthplace MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, Banking, Bank
John H., son, white male, age 18, single, attended school, can read & write, birthplace MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, no occupation
Julia Rains, housekeeper, white female, age 45, single, can read & write, birthplace MO, both parents born U.S., speaks English, housekeeping, private home

1930 Jackson Co., MO Census – City of Kansas City:
ED 48-107, Dist. 5, 7th Ward, Block 5, 12 April
Living at 9 Westport Avenue, household of Lelos B. Adams
Glynn Bowden, lodger, renting, $35.00 monthly rent, white female, age 35, single, not attending school, can read & write, birthplace MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, Assistant to Vice President, bank

International Genealogical Index, LDS:
Charles Bowden and Laurinda Jane Covey, married 1888 Henry Co., MO

LDS Family Group Record:
Laurinda Covey, born 29 March 1868 Henry Co., MO; died 16 September 1960 Henry Co., MO

St. Clair Co., MO Cemetery Records:
Dr. Charles P. Bowden, 1867 – 1916, Appleton City Cemetery
Laurinda Jane Bowden, 1868 – 1951, Appleton City Cemetery