Fair and Bowen families - Montgomery Co. AR

FAIR
For over 125 years Fair families have been farming in the Pencil Bluff - Sims area in Montgomery County, Arkansas where they homesteaded. Rev. Adam Fair and his second wife Mary Helen STEVENS and children from both marriages came in an oxen pulled wagon train from the Tuscaloosa area Alabama in the 1870s. They first settled around Black Springs then headed north to the Pencil Bluff area. Children:

William Joseph  "Joe" FAIR b. 15 Dec 1855 AL m. Martha J. Self b.1856 in AL. Joseph W. and Martha both died in 1935 and are both buried in Oden. Seven children include:
    1. James Theopolis "Jimmy" b. April 8, 1876 in AL. He married Manibel (Mannie Bell) Fryar 25 March 1900. Had ten children. Became a county surveyor, lawyer and school teacher. Buried at Macedonia Cemetery.
    2. Rebecca V. age 17 m. J.S. 'Capp' Knight age 30 3 Oct 1897 Montgomery Co. AR  Marriage book C page 336. Rebecca d. 12 July, 1965 Fisher Co. TX.
    3. Johnnie J. b. 24 Nov. 1882. d. 6 Oct. 1902 buried Oden
    4. William Major (Willie) m. Lillian Harberson buried Grenade Cemetery
    5. Oscar L. (Elonzo) Fair d. 1955 buried Oden. A surveyor and a business man. He owned a store in Oden for several years at Oden. 1st marriage Beula Thacker 25 Aug. 1909. 2nd marriage to Etta Wilhite 2 March 1921. She was b. in 1903
    6. Winnie Fair 1898-1902 buried Oden.

James Adam FAIR  b. born January 6, 1863 AL. At age 22 he m. Manelar M. Amerson (1868-1893) 5 Feb 1885. She was 16. Marriage book B. page 221. She is buried at Amerson Cemetery. Lillis Nona THOMPSON   b. 6 Oct 1874 Montgomery Co., AR m. James A. Fair 31 Dec. 1897. Marriage book B. page 578. Manelar Amerson was the daughter of Elijah Washington Amerson and Angeline Susan Bybee. Elijah was b. 3 Apr. 1825 in  Tuscaloosa, AL. James A. Fair died 27 Nov. 1918, widow Lillie N. Fair, Adm'rx: 3 Dec. 1918, Lillie N. Fair appt'd. James was buried at Grenade Cemetery.

John Fletcher FAIR at age 26 m. Sallie Rogers age 21 21 Dec. 1897. Montgomery Co. AR marriage book C. page 357

Oden Cemetery: W.A. Fair Feb 1, 1850-Mar. 31 1932 (Willie's Uncle) [sic. Cemetery book].  William Major (Willie) s/o Wm.  Joseph FAIR b. 1855 AL. s/o Rev. Adam Fair so was Arch the son of Rev. Adam Fair ??

William Archibald FAIR b. Jefferson Co. AL Jan. 3, 1850, d. Montgomery Co. AR, March 1932 and was buried in Oden Cemetery. Arch and his first wife had four children: William Archibald, Jr., Robert, Mary Jane and James Madison (1880 -1959). She probably who probably died around the time their last child was born in 1879.  Later Arch married Almira Roxy Page c. 1880. Two children born in Alabama were Carroll F. (Sept. 1881) and Henry Alvin in July 1883. The Fair's came to Montgomery Co. 1884/1885. Six more children were born here:
Juvenile N. (Jube)1885
John Wesley Oct. 1887
Rosa Etta 'Rose' Jan. 5, 1889
Queen Anne Nov. 1891
Roxy Elizabeth  'Lizzie' Feb. 1894
Mittie Jan. 1897

Adam Fair & M. Helen had four children. By 1900 she was a widow and her children still living. Children:

Dora Mc Crory FAIR b. 27 July 1875 m. William Thomas MARTIN Sept. 18, 1892 in Oden by Thomas L. Chapman.  Montgomery Co. AR  Marriage book B. page 529. Dora died on June 14, 1919 in Beaumont, TX and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery. She's buried along side William Thomas Martin who died 11 years later. 

Melinda Cathalene FAIR b. 1878 MS d. 6 June 1948. Minnie C. age 15  m. Daniel Boone EVANS age 2, 5 Feb 1893 Montgomery Co. AR  Marriage book B. page 550.

Benjamin Franklin FAIR b. 25 Oct. 1880 Montgomery, Co. AR.

Charles Wesley FAIR b. 12 May 1883 d. 18 May 1961, Oden, Montgomery Co., AR m. Mary Seabell HICKEY b. 11 Apr 1886, Montgomery, Co. AR. Charlie own land at White Town and put in a small gas and oil station at White Town. Later he operated a sawmill up the road. Today all what is left of White Town is an abandoned house with an old well on the back porch. Mary taught school at Central School 1908-1910.

ADAM in ARK

The Rev. Adam Fair, Jul 31 1828 - Aug 6 1890, a Methodist minister. There are a few references to Adam being buried in Alabama but he is buried in Montgomery Co. AR.   He is buried at Grenade Cemetery, Pencil Bluff beside his wife Helen M. Aug 8 1840 - Feb 12 1918. The row continues with:
C.W. Fair 1883 -1961
Mary Fair  Apr 11 1886 - Sep 29 1938 wife of C.W. Fair
J.A. Fair  1863 - 1918
Fair infant son Jun 2 1916 - Jun 4 1916  of Mr & Mrs C. W. Fair

Pre-1908 Homestead Patents from the Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office search

Surname name First Init County         Sec Twp Rng Acres ---Date--- 
FAIR     Adam         Montgomery      14  1S 26W    0       1894/07/17
FAIR     Adam         Montgomery      15  1S 26W 160      1894/07/17
FAIR     James A    Montgomery       36  1S 26W 160      1903/07/01
FAIR     William A Montgomery      14   3S 26W 160     1906/10/15
FAIR     William A Montgomery       3    3S 26W 137.96 1899/12/30
FAIR     William A Montgomery     34    2S 26W 0         1899/12/30

Sandra wrote Jan. 2001. I now am trying to complete the picture of my father's family with additional information about his mother Effie May Fair and her side of the family "FAIR and THOMPSON." I am the only surviving grandchild of Effie May FAIR born Dec. 28, 1904 in Oden, rural route.  Effie May married William Louis BOWEN on Dec. 25, 1921. Their only son, John D. Russell BOWEN, was born July 28, 1922 in Pencil Bluff, Montgomery Co. AR.  Effie May Fair's parents were: James Adam FAIR and Lillis Nona THOMPSON b. Oct. 6, 1874 in AR.

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Children of James Adam Fair and Manelar M. Amerson Fair:
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1. F :    Katie Maud FAIR
Birth:    26 Aug 1886    Place:    AR
m. in July 1905 to John Waymon Jackson
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2. F :    Anna Nora Fair FAIR
Birth:    30 Nov 1889    Place:    Oden AK
m. Rufus Coon BELCHER b: 15 Oct 1886 in of Oden. Died 16 Nov 1964 .
m. Edward TROTTER . b: 1881 Oden AK

Children of Rufus and Anna Fair Belcher::
1. Grace Lee BELCHER b: 24 Apr 1907 in Oden, Montgomery, Arkansas. Gracie Lee Belcher was the daughter of Rufus Coon Belcher and Anna Fair who married  3 June 1906 in Oden. Gracie moved to Wetumka, Oklahoma which is near Shawnee, Oklahoma after marrying. Gracie d. in Grover, San Luis, California 31 Jan 1997.
2. Charles Bryan Belcher b: 15 Sep 1909 in Oden. 6 Apr 1982
3. Kati O. Belcher b: abt. 1911
4. James Roy Belcher b: 21 Jan 1914
5. Mary E. Belcher b: abt. 1916

In the 1910 Arkansas Census, in Montgomery Co., Polk Township , T624, Roll 59, Part 1, pg 285A. Rufus was living next door to his parents: Charles Wesley Belcher b: Jun 1840 in Alabama and mother Mary Janie Belcher nee Glover b: May 1848 in Alabama, married 1 Jun 1863 in Jefferson, Alabama.
Children of Charles W. Belcher and wife Mary Jane Glover:
Richard M. "Rick" Belcher birth b: Nov 1868 in AL
Frances V. Belcher birth b: 1870 in AL
Charles Wiley Belcher birth b: 17 Mar 1873 in Winston, AL
John T Belcher birth b: Oct 1875 in AL
Martha E Belcher birth b: 1878 in AL
Andy L Belcher birth b: May 1882 in AR
David J Belcher birth b: Feb 1884 in AR
Rufus C Belcher birth b: Oct 1886 in AR

On the 1900 census for Polk TWP, image 3b, dwelling 49, Charles Belcher, age 59, a farmer, married for 37 years is living with his wife Mary, age 52. Living with them are sons Andy L., David J., Rufus C.  age 13. Next door is John T 24 living with his wife Etta age 19 married in 1900. Anna Fair is age 10 on image 1a, dewelling 5.

Richard M Belcher age 19 married Maria L Fair age 19 11 Dec. 1887 in Montgomery Co. AR.
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Children of James Adam Fair and Lillis Nona Thompson Fair:
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1. F :    Molly Myrtle FAIR
Birth:    12 May 1895   
m. 1st time on June 4, 1913 to Albert Singleton. Listed on the Birth page of the bible is Leroy Singleton  b. April 14 1914 - d. Jan 1983 Fairfield Bay, Van Buren, AR
m. 2nd time on March 5, 1916 to John REHDER.
Children:
       Paul Utah REHDER Apr. 26, 1917 d. Aug 13, 1980 San Bernardina, CA
        Gladys Viola REHDER Dec. 21, 1918
        J.R. REHDER Dec. 2, 1922
        Eugene REHDER Mar. 22, 1928

1920 United States Federal Census Montgomery, Arkansas
John Rehder age 28 b. abt 1892
Myrtle Rehder age 24 b. abt 1896
Ray Rehder age 5 b. abt 1915
Paul Rehder age 2, b. abt 1918
Gladyse Rehder age 1, b. abt. 1919

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2. M :    Jessie Lee FAIR
Birth:    18 Jan 1898
Death:   Jul 1965  Springfield, MO
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3. M :    Ira Adam FAIR
Birth:    15 May 1900   
Death:   Nov 1969 Tulsa, OK
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4. F :    Effie May FAIR
Birth:    28 Dec 1904    Place:    Oden, AR
Death:   28 Feb 1983    Place:    Tulsa, OK
Burial:    2 Mar 1983    Place:    Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK
Spouse:    William Louis BOWEN d. Sept 3, 1947
Marriage:    25 Dec 1921    Place:    Oden Montgomery Co. AR
Children: John D.BOWEN b. July 28, 1922 Pencil Bluff d. Feb. 15, 1993
John D. Bowen and his son Russell Dee Bowen b. May 17, 1942 d. Feb 14, 1999 are buried side by side with a shared headstone next to John D. Bowen's grandparents James Shelton Monroe BOWEN and Sarah Emmaline Jane HUGHES and many other descendents of Francis Marion BOWEN and Temperance STANDRIDGE in the Lower Big Fork Cemetery. After the death of her third husband Effie May Fair Bowen Grimm Sheppy bought a cottage on a lake near Afton, OK because her brother Ira Adam Fair had property there. 
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5. F :    Mattie Viola FAIR
Birth:    14 Dec 1908  twin   Place:    Oden AR
Spouse:    Johnie BARER
Marriage:    12 Aug 1929   
Children: Bonnie May BARER b. Sept. 6, 1927
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6. F Child:    Dee Clement FAIR
Birth:    14 Dec 1908  twin  Place:    Oden AK
Death:   Aug 1975 Enid, Garfield, OK
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1900 Federal Census in Polk Township, Montgomery Co AR. dwelling # 5, line 32
James A. Fair (farmer) and Lillis Nona Thompson Fair and their children:
Katie Maud
Anna Nora
Molly Myrtle
Jesse Lee
Ira Adam

Nearby, dwelling #96, line 51, is George W. Thompson (1849) and his wife Elizabeth 'Betty' and their son George A.. Elizabeth Thompson was living with her daughter Lillis Nona Thompson Fair in   Montogomery Co., Polk Twp, when the 1920 census was enumerated. Elizabeth's grandson Lemmie Allen was also living with Lillis Fair in 1920.

George William THOMPSON
Birth:    26 Aug 1848    Place:    Miss
Death:    16 Oct 1918    Place:    Montgomery Co. AR
Marriage:    25 Aug 1862   
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Wife:  Elizabeth Caroline REID
Birth:    12 Jan 1846    Place:    Alabama
Death:    20 Jul 1930    Place:    OK
Children...
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1. F Child:    Lillis Nona (twin) THOMPSON
Birth:    6 Oct 1874    Place:    AR
Death:    11 May 1947    Place:    Oklahoma City, OK
Spouse:    James Adam FAIR
Marriage:    29 Dec 1893    Place:    Oden, AK
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2. M Child:    George Allen THOMPSON
Birth:    May 1885    Place:    Arkansas
Spouse:    Mittie Melvina RISENHOOVER b. 20 Dec. 1885.
Marriage:  3 Sept.1904 Polk Co. AR
Children:     Lem Thompson b. 20. Jan. 1906  Oden
                    Ecil Oma Thompson  b. 4 Apr. 1908 Fort Smith, AR
Note: Mittie married three times. George died before 1910. 2m. to Elton J. Sanders Nov. 20, 1911 Montgomery Co. 3m. to George Thomas Caves Jan.15, 1917. Mittie died March 27, 1985 San Pablo, CA. at the age of 99. Her mother's maiden name was PHILPOT.
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3. M Child:    William "Willie" Martin THOMPSON
Spouse:    Cora A. JUSTICE.
Thompson, William M. age 24 m. Justice, Cora A. age 21, 21 Dec 1899 Montgomery Co. AR  Marriage Book C. page 547
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4. F Child:    Laura Bell THOMPSON
Spouse:    Benjamin TABOR
Laura at age 16 married Bennie F. Tabor, 20, 10 Oct, 1897 Montgomery Co. AR  Marriage Book C page 337
Burial: Macedonia Cemetery
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5. F Child:    Rhespia Rosanne Jane THOMPSON
Birth:    4 Feb 1866   
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6. F Child:    Elvira THOMPSON
Birth:    16 Jul 1873   
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7. M Child:    Willis (twin) THOMPSON
Birth:    6 Oct 1874    Place:    AR

In 1900, Smith Twp, Montgomery Co. AR., line 18
Fred and Malinda Rehder and their children John and Martha C Rehder. I am guessing this is the John Rehder that married Mollie Mrytle Fair on March 5, 1916.

1920 Federal Census Montgomery AR  Polk Township Supervisor's District #4, Enumeration District # 87 Sheet # 16A beginning on line 31 lists Lillis N. Fair as widowed and head of household of her children Ira, May (Effie), Mattie, and Dee.  Also in the household are Elizabeth Thompson (age 73) and a nephew named Lemmie Allen or Allen Lemmie (age 14) living on Oden & Mt Ida Road.  On the same page Jess Fair (age 22) and his wife Iona (age 20) is listed a head of household and farmer as occupation.

Marriage Celebrants

Throughout the Montgomery County marriage books at the courthouse the Fair surname appears.
Rev. Adam Fair - a Methodist minister. His name appears in the Montgomery Co. Marriage Books at the courthouse in Mount Ida as early as 1880 for marrying couples around the Oden area. Adam Fair, M.G. Credentials in Book B. Page 230.
W.H. Fair -credentials are recorded in the Recorder's office, Montgomery County, Arkansas, Book B Page 611. Married couples in the Hog Jaw area 1910s.
William Archibald Fair b. in Jefferson Co. Alabama on January 3, 1850, died Montgomery Co.AR March 1932. Arch was a farmer and a Methodist Minister. He rode a circuit including several counties. He preached at the Pore Horse (Cedar Bluff) Methodist Church (near Norman's present water system).
A. Fair - L.D. Licensed Deacon

Marriage book "B" Page 47l
Mr. J.A. SPURLIN 25, Oden, Ark. to Miss Nancy FRYAR 18, Oden, Ark -License date 18th July, 1891-married 19th July,1891 by A. Fair, L .D. Filed 19th July,1891 J.S. Nelson, Clerk.

Notes: Sandra wrote: I do not know where any of the descendants on my Grandmother's side of the family are living today.  I have several pictures of my grandmother and her family when she was a young girl 16 or 17 years of age living in the Mena area and near Pencil Bluff and Oden. I would love to hear from any one who has additional information to add to this research. I have attached two text documents that have one family group sheet on the Bowen and Fair descendents.

Links

BOWEN
Sandra Kay Bowen Wright together with three of her distant relatives from the BOWEN / STANDRIDGE family tree (Russell Pierce Baker, Debbie Jacobs and Michael Lacefield) have collected family history on the BOWEN family going back to Thomas  Bowen (before 1784 in Wilkes Co, NC) and his two sons Isaac Bowen (wife Mary "Polly" Ray) and Thomas Ray Bowen - Mar 8, 1788 - Wilkes Co. NC (wife Elisa Beth "Betsy" Hunt - Mar 15, 1796 Greenville Co. SC).

Sandra's father descends from a son of Thomas and Betsy Hunt Bowen, Frances Marion Bowen:
Frances Marion Bowen - Jan 31, 1834 Shoal Creek, White Co. GA d. 1861 and his wife Temperance M.A. Standridge - June 11, 1836 Shoal Creek, White Co. GA to:

John Hunt Bowen - Feb 1, 1855 - GA and his Mary Rose Ann Hutchison "Roseanna" - Apr 8, 1852 - Boone Co, AR to:

James Shelton Monroe Bowen - Nov 9, 1878 - Polk Co. AR and his wife Sarah Emmaline Jane Hughes Jun. 19, 1880 - Arkadelphia, Clark Co. AR to:
William L. Bowen - b. May 16, 1902 - Montgomery Co., AR and his wife Effie May Fair b. Dec. 28, 1904 - Oden, Montgomery Co. AR.

Husband:    James Shelton Monroe BOWEN
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Birth:    9 Nov 1878    Place:    Polk Co AR
Death:    29 Mar 1941    Place:    Mena, Polk Co AR
Burial:        Place:    Lower Big Fork, Polk Co AR
Father:    John Hunt BOWEN (1855-1910)
Mother:    Mary Rose Ann "Roseanna" HUTICHISON (1852-1926)
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Marriage:    3 Jan 1897    Place:    Sulpher Springs, Montgomery Co AR
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Wife:    Sara Emeline HUGHES
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Birth:    19 Jun 1880    Place:     Arkadelphia, Clark Co. AR
Death:    24 Feb 1973    Place:    Opel, Polk Co AR
Burial:        Place:    Lower Big Fork, Polk Co AR
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Children...
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1. M Child:    William Louis BOWEN
Birth:    16 May 1902    Place:   Alf, Montgomery Co. AR
Death:    3 Sep 1947    Place:   Mena, Polk Co., AR
Burial:        Place:    Cherry Hill Cem, Polk Co., AR
Occupation: Carpenter
Spouse:    2nd wife:  Zula Garmon. (Her parents are
Jimmie and Ada L. Garmon)
Spouse:    Effie May FAIR
Marriage:    25 Dec 1921    Place:    Oden, AR

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2. M Child:    Living
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3. M Child:   Living
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4. M Child:    Joseph Wesley BOWEN
Birth:    9 Oct 1904    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    15 Jan 1987   
Spouse:    Velma MOURTON
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5. M Child:    Wiley Ransom BOWEN
Birth:    2 Sep 1906    Place:    Montgomery Co AR
Spouse:    Mary Ester HAWVER
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6. M Child:    Cecil James BOWEN
Birth:    20 Jan 1908    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Spouse:    Willie Mae FOSTER
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7. F Child:    May Jane BOWEN
Birth:    16 May 1902    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    5 ? 15 May 1982    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Burial:    Cox Head Cem., Montgomery Co., AR
Spouse:    Wayne Winton BECK 1896-1986
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8. M Child:    Wilson Hugh BOWEN
Birth:    4 Dec 1909    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    27 Mar 1974   
Burial place:    Lower Big Fork, Polk Co., AR
Spouse:    Eltha Mae STANDRIDGE
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9. M Child:    Ida Rosalee BOWEN
Birth:    4 Oct 1911    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    26 Sep 1983   
Burial place:    Mena, Polk Co., AR
Spouse:    George HARRIS
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10. M Child:    Thomas Morris BOWEN
Birth:    13 Feb 1915    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Spouse:    Mary Catherine STERNER
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11. M Child:    Cornelius Tyrell BOWEN
Birth:    13 Jan 1919    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    16 Dec 1992  Mena, Polk, AR 
Spouse:    Amanda Lee JOHNSON
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12. F Child:    Mary Elizabeth BOWEN
Birth:    1 Nov 1920    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:  Jun 1987 Perry, Houston, GA
Spouse:    John Adrian LACEFIELD
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13. F Child:    Gladys Lorene BOWEN
Birth:    20 Mar 1923    Place:    Montgomery Co., AR
Death:    1 Aug 1937   
Burial place:    Lower Big Fork, Polk Co. AR
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14. M Child:    G. Gifford BOWEN
Birth:    10 Oct 1897   
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15. M Child:    James Granville BOWEN
Birth:    7 Apr 1899 
Death:    29 Apr 1943
Burial:        Place:   Opal, Polk Co. AR
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16. M Child:    O. C. BOWEN
Birth:    11 Jun 1900
Death:    22 Jun 1900 
Burial: Sulphur Springs Cemetery, Montgomery Co. AR  
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Montgomery County ArkansasGenWeb Project  This page was last updated January 29, 2022

References:
Information, family group sheets and bible page courtesy of Sandra K. Bowen Wright. Please contact Sandra if you would any additional information or have information to share.
Federal Census for Montgomery Co. AR.
Montgomery County: Our Heritage published by the Montgomery County Historical Society 1986.
Some headstone information transcribed by myself from the cemeteries.

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU