Descendants of Michael Bower
of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

I.

MICHAEL BOWER (1755 - 1822)

 

Veronica (1755/6 - 1824/6)

 

II.

JOHN BOWER (1774/5 - 1823)

 

 

Anna Margaret Weaver (1776 - _?_)

 

 

III.

ELIZABETH BOWER (1805 - 1835)

 

 

 

Henry Hoon (1804 - 1866)

I.

MICHAEL BOWER

(1755 - 1822)

 

Veronica

(1755/6 - 1824/6)

The date and place of birth of Michael is not known, however, analysis of the Federal Census records indicates the date to be between 1755 and 1765 and the ages of his children indicates the date to be about 1755. His will indicates that he died in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania prior to February 12, 1822.

Michael married Veronica whose maiden name, date and place of birth are not known. The date and place of marriage also is not established, however, the birth of their children indicates that it occurred prior to 1774. She died in Halifax Township between 1824 and 1826 as shown in the settlement of her husband's estate.

The first record of Michael in Dauphin County is found in the Federal Census of 1790 where he is listed 1-5-3 as being the head of a household consisting of vie sons under the age of sixteen years, his wife and two daughters.

On May 25, 1791 Michael Bower, yeoman, of Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, purchased from Michael Harman and Ludwich Shellman a plantation in Upper Paxton Township consisting of 146-1/2 acres of land on the Susquehanna River by the lands of Joseph Brubaker, Reuben Heans and John Meetch (Deed Book G-1-250).

On May 16, 1795 Michael Bower of Halifax Township, Dauphin County, bought by bill of sale from John Lytle 50 acres in Halifax Township (Deed Book U-1-531).

Joseph Lytle established Lytle's Ferry about four miles north of Halifax, two miles south of Millersburg and about one-half mile south of Berry's Mountain which he operated until his death in 1791. His only son John Lytle and Michael Bauer continued to operated the ferry until 1806 when it was sold to William Moorhead (History of Dauphin County, Pa., L.R. Kelker, 1907, v.1:455).

Michael and Veronica Bauer were sponsors at the baptisms of Jacob Weber on September 9, 1792; Michael Weber in 1795; and John Georg Scheitt born January 15, 1794 in St. David's Evangelical Reformed Church in Killinger, Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton Townships, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Church Records v.1:12; v.2:5).

They were also sponsors at the baptisms of Lidia Veronica Singer on August 13, 1798 and Sarah Reisch on June 16, 1800 according to the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church records, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

On January 18, 1797 Michael bought at public sale from Catherine Burmeister lot #64 in the plan of Halifax containing 59-1/3 square perches on Water Street and Chestnut Alley in Halifax Borough. This lot was given to his son John on May 1, 1805 (Deed Book T-1-386).

The Federal Census of 1800 shows that Michael Bowers was living in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, with his wife and nine other individuals, six males and three females up to the age of twenty-six years of age. His son is not found in this census and it is possible that he, his wife and son are included in Michael's household.

Michael was appointed one of the executors of the will of Martin Weaver, Esquire, of Upper Paxton Township, on September 6, 1803 (Will Book 1-B-163).

Michael Bower, Senior, had granted to him 100 acres of land by warrant dated January 16, 1804 (Pa. Archives, s.3, v.24:574), adjoining his other tract of land and that of John Brubaker, which was not surveyed or patented (Warrant Register of Dauphin County). On April 17, 1805 he assigned his interest in this land to Robert McCleery (Deed Book O-1-297).

On January 10, 1807 Michael Bowers, Senior was appointed one of the executors of the will of Peter Rise (Will Book C-29).

On April 1, 1810 Michael Bower, "The Elder", and Peter Williamson bought from John Swiegert, administrator of the George Strach estate, Hog Island about one mile below Halifax in the Susquehanna River containing thirty-eight acres (Deed Book U-1-486).

On May 20, 1816 Michael Bower, Senior, yeoman, and Freny his wife sold to their sons John and Adam (unmarried) the plantation (including his copper mill and the rest of the distilling utensils) consisting of two tracts: (1) 150 acres on the Susquehanna River by lands of John Brubaker, John McCleery and John Meetch; and (2) 50 acres adjoining the first tract and Widow Scott (Deed Books U-1-365, 531, 533 and W-1-434).

The will of Michael Bower, yeoman of Halifax Township, Dauphin County, was signed in German script on March 9, 1820, proved February 12, 1822 and mentioned wife Veronica; six living children: John, Adam, Michael, Jacob, Elizabeth and Polly Dunckle (who was to receive his large folio bible); two children and widow of his deceased son George (Betsy Montgomery who married George Williamson to hold for the children); and named sons John and Adam Bower and Frederick Fetterhoff as executors (Will Book 1-D-266).

Included in his estate were lots #91, 92, and 93 in the general plan of the Town of Halifax, corner of Cherry Alley and Plumtree Alley, which his executors sold on April 1, 1829 to John Shammo, Esq. (Deed Book M-2-501).

Administration of the estate disclosed that son John Bower died 1822/6, widow Veronica Bower died 1824/6 and son Adam Bower died 1833/5 (Orphans' Court, File 27; F-51; I-7, 47).

Michael and Veronica were the parents of seven children - five sons and two daughters, born between 1774 and 1790:

*II

JOHN BOWER

b. 1774/5, d. 1823; m. Anna Margaret Weaver, b. 1775, d._?_

II

Elizabeth Bower

b. 1774/84, d. _?_

II

Adam Bower

b. 1774/84, d. 1833/5

II

Michael Bower

b. 1784/90, d. _?_; m. Sarah Williamson

II

Jacob Bower

b. 1784/90, d. _?_; m. Elizabeth Weaver

II

George Bower

b. 1784/90, d. 1800/10

II

Anna Mary (Polly) Bower

b. 1790, d. 1870; m. Jacob Dunkel, b. 1784, d. 1849

 

II.

JOHN BOWER

(1774/5 - August 1823)

 

Anna Margaret Weaver

(22 December 1776 - _?_)

John was probably born in Upper Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, or possibly in Manheim Township. He died in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

He married about 1793 Anna Margaret, daughter of Martin and Anna Marie (Grubb) Weaver (Commem. Biog. Ency. of Dauphin Co., Pa., Runk, p. 1059). She was baptized on Easter 1777 in St. David's Evangelical Reformed Church in Killinger, Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (vol. 1, p. 5). Sponsors were Wilhelm and Anna Margaretha Klein. Record of her death has not been found although she survived her husband.

On May 1, 1805 John received lot #64 at the corner of Water Street and Chestnut Alley in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from his father. He and his wife Margaret of Halifax Township sold it to Thomas Gery on November 15, 1813 (Deed Book T-1-386).

On May 20, 1816 John and his brother Adam jointly received two tracts of land, one containing 150 acres and the other 50 acres, in Halifax Township from their father (Deed Books U-1-365, 531, 533 and W-1-434). This land remained in their possession until the death of John when his administators sold it on April 30, 1825 to George and Bernard Geiger of Harrisburg (Deed Books Z-1-263; A-2-9, 11).

Joseph Brubaker in his will written September 27, 1814 and proved October 18, 1819 appointed "my trusty friends John Bower and Nicholas Boyer of Halifax Township" as executors (Will Book D-211; Deed Book W-524).

The 1820 Federal Census shows that John Bowers was living in Halifax Township with his wife, seven sons and a daughter.

On June 1822 John purchased a house and lot #11 on Market Street in Halifax Township which his administrators sold on February 4, 1825 to Joseph Geiger (Deed Book Z-1-445).

John was fond of horse racing and met his death on a track along the Susquehanna River at Halifax in August 1823 (Notes & Queries, W.H. Engle, s.3, v.1:383).

He died intestate and letters of administration were granted on August 14, 1823 to John Meetch and Philip Miller. On September 4, 1824 the administrators reported that John's estate consisted of:

  1. half interest in 148 acres of land in Halifax Township bounded by the Susquehanna River and lands of John Meetch and John Brubaker;
  2. half interest in 50 acres of land adjoining the above 148 acres and the lands of William Noblit and others;
  3. 150 acres of unimproved land in Powell's valley;
  4. three vacant lots in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, containing about one-third of an acre;
  5. house and lot #11 on Market Street in the town of Halifax containing about one-quarter of an acre.
  6. One quarter of a shad seine fishery at Sheaffer's Island in the Susquehanna River (Orphans' Court E-538).

On August 30, 1824 Margaret Bower, widow and relict of John Bower, late of Halifax Township, stated that John left eight children, five of whom (Jacob, Adam, Washington, Martin and Joseph) were minors under the age of 14 years.) The court appointed Jacob Byrode and Joseph Straw guardians of the minors (Orphans' Court E-522).

On February 4, 1825 the administrators sold the house and lot #11 in Halifax (item 5 of his estate) to Joseph Geiger and one lot in Millersburg (part of item 4) to Jacob Weaver (Orphans' Court E-575; Deed Book Z-445).

On April 30, 1825 they sold the 148 acres and 50 acres (items 1 & 2) to George and Bernard Geiger and one lot in Millersburg (part of item 4) to George Leebrick and the other lot to John Geist and interest in the shad seine fishery (item 6) to Joh Boyer (Orphans' Court E-625, H-32).

The administrators settled on September 5, 1826 (Orphans' Court F-80).

John and Margaret were the parents of eight children, the first three being over the age of fourteen years of age and the last five under the age of fourteen years in 1825 (Orphans' Court E-522, 538).

III

Michael Bower

m. Elizabeth Noblit

III

John W. Bower

b. 1803, d. 1862; m. Anna Catherine Lentz, b. 1803, d. 1880

III

ELIZABETH BOWER

b. 1805, d. 1835; m. Henry Hoon, b. 1804, d. 1866

III

Jacob Bower

b. 1810/24, d. _?_

III

Martin Bower

b. 1810/24, d. _?_

III

Joseph Bower

b. 1810/24, d. _?_

III

George Washington Bowers [sic]

b. 1815, d. _?_; m. Mary Miller, b. 1820, d. 1893

III

Adam Bower

b. 1818, d. 1833/5; m. Mary A., b. 1816, d. _?_

 

Submitted by Catherine Comeau [5Aug00]