From the Chanute [KS] Daily Tribune - November 5, 1885

"Mr. John Bower, one of the oldest citizens of this township, died at his home four miles south west of Chanute, last Thursday. Mr. Bower had been a resident of this township for about fifteen years, during which time he proved himself to be an honest, upright and esteemed citizen. A large circle of acquaintances mourn his loss."

Moved from Ohio to Indiana to Chanute, Kansas in a covered wagon.

His spouse was Nancy Creachbaum.

From the Chanute, Kansas newspaper - February 4, 1914

"Mrs. Rebecca Bower, wife of Jacob Bower, died at her home, two miles west of the city, this morning. The funeral will be held from the Union Valley Freewill Baptist church, five miles northwest, at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning and interment will be made in the church burying ground. The services will be conducted by Rev. D. B. Howell of Earlton.

Mrs. Bower was 48 years old. A cancer, from which she had been suffering for six years, caused her death. Besides her husband she leaves two daughters, Mrs. Scott Neptune of west of the city and Mrs. Alvin Strack, who lives west of Humboldt.

Mrs. Bower was born in Kansas. Her maiden name was Rebecca Shope."

Obituary from Chanute Daily Tribune - September 2, 1922

"Mrs. Nancy Bower, 88 years old and for more than half a century a resident of this vicinity, died at 10 this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ellen McDonald, 1703 South Edith avenue. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon. The funeral party will leave the McDonald home at 3 and the services will be held at the Zion church, west of the city, at 3:30. They will be conducted by the Rev. W. H. Todd, Methodist pastor.

Mrs. Bower was born July 1, 1834, in Ross county, Ohio. The family moved here from Indiana in October of 1870. Her husband died here in 1885.

She is survived by eight children - five sons and three daughters. The sons are Jacob Bower, J. W. Bower, Daniel Bower and Fred Bower, all of Chanute, and Joseph Bower of Snyder, Okla. The daughters are Mrs. Ellen McDonald of this city, Mrs. Rose Ernzen of Petrolia and Mrs. Mary C. Davidson of Pittsburg."

From the Chanute, Kansas newspaper - April 9, 1930

"JACOB BOWER, A PIONEER, DEAD ___________________________ He Came From Ohio Fifty-Nine Years Ago and Settled South- West of the City ___________________________

Jacob Bower, 75 years old, died this morning at 3 o'clock at his home, two miles west of Main street. He had been ill for three weeks.

Mr. Bower was born December 2, 1854, in Ohio. He came to Chanute from there 59 years ago and settled on a farm four miles southwest of Chanute. March 10, 1887, Mr. Bower was married to Mrs. Rebecca Shobe in Labette County, Kansas. She died in 1913. He married Mrs. John Strack of Humboldt on October 12, 1918, and she died December 20, 1929.

Mr. Bower is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Scott Neptune of Chanute and Mrs. Alva Strack of Humboldt; four brothers, J. W. Bower, Dan Bower and Fred Bower, all of Chanute, and Joseph M. Bower of Snyder, Okla.; and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Davidson of Pittsburg, Mrs. Ellen McDonald of Chanute, and Mrs. Jacob Ernzen of Petrolia.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 0'clock at the Wilson & Johnson chapel, in charge of Rev. John Maclean. Burial will be in Union Valley cemetery.

From the Chanute, Kansas newspaper - 11 Mar 1950

J. M. Bower

"Joe M. Bower, 89, former resident of Chanute and vicinity, died Thursday at his home in San Diego, Calif. He had been in failing health only a short time. He left here in 1901 and made his home in and near Snyder, Okla., from where he went to San Diego with his youngest son, J. D. Bower, and family.

Two brothers, Dan and Fred Bower, live southwest of Chanute, and two sisters, Mrs. Ellen McDonald and Mrs. Rose Ernzen, in Chanute. He is survived by four sons, Sylvester, James and Verne, of Oklahoma, and J. D., of San Diego, and four daughters, Myrtle, Grace, Zella and Verle, all of Oklahoma.

The funeral service will be at San Diego, and interment will be at Snyder, where his wife is buried."

Obituary from Chanute Daily Tribune - June 20, 1951

"Mrs. Sarah Ellen McDonald, 83, 614 W. Cherry, died at 12:15 o'clock early this morning after an illness of two years. A Chanute pioneer, she had lived here for 82 years.

She was born Sept. 6, 1867, at Warsaw, Ind., to John and Nancy Bower, who came here when she was about two years old, and Chanute was merely a settlement. Sarah Ellen Bower was married to Archibald McDonald, in 1886, and she died here May 29, 1935.

Mrs. McDonald was a member of the Baptist church at Union Valley. Survivors are a son, Alex, of Ottawa; three daughters, Mrs. M. U. Glover, of the home; Mrs. G. R. Sheffler, Chanute; and Mrs. M. C. Hull, Baxter Springs; 19 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in Wilson -Johnson chapel, with Rev. Judd Jones officiating. Burial will be in Zion cemetery west of town."

Sarah was known as "Ellen" or "Ella" - going by her middle name.

From the Chanute, Kansas newspaper - August 8, 1956

Bower Rites

"The funeral service for Dan E. Bower will be held in the Wilson-Johnson Chapel, Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Bower, 86, died Tuesday at his home 2 1/2 miles west of Chanute following an illness of 10 days.

Born on Oct. 15, 1869, in Chillicothe, Ind., [sic] Bower, a retired farmer, had spent more than 80 years on the same section of land near Chanute.

He was married to Laura Hodgden on March 19, 1903 in Chanute. He was the son of John and Nancy Creachbaum Bower and a member of the Christian church and IOOF.

Surviving are his wife; four sons, Dan Jr., Emmett W., W. Fred, and Hugh C., all of Chanute; three daughters, Mrs. Glenn E. (Arletta) Hanson, and Mrs. C. W. (Ellen) Huffman, Chanute, and Mrs. Roy (Nellie) Brower, Moran; one sister, Mrs. Rose Ernzen, Chanute a brother, Fred Bower, Chanute; 13 (?) grandchildren and one great grandchild. A daughter preceded him in death.

The Rev. Ted D. Hurst will officiate and interment will be in Elmwood cemetery."

From the Chanute Newspaper - May 20, 1963

Mrs. Fred Bower

"Mrs. Myrtle Ellen Bower, 83, died Wednesday morning at the Neosho Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient for a week.

She was the daughter of John and Henrietta Biggs, born Jan. 10, 1880 in the Union Valley community southwest of Chanute where she grew to womanhood. On Nov. 24, 1898, she was married to Fred Bower. They have lived continuously in the Union Valley Community since that time. They moved to their present home 50 years ago. Mrs. Bower was a member of the Union Valley Baptist church and was active in church and community work until eleven years ago when her health began to fail.

She is survived by her husband of the home, three daughters, Mrs. John (Velma) Thielen, R. 1, Opal of the home, Mrs. Homer (Ruth) Waggoner, R.1., eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one brother, W. S. Biggs, 401 N. Garfield. An infant daughter preceded her in death.

Funeral service will be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 at the First Baptist church in Chanute with the Rev. Dale Sneeringer officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery under the direction of the Johnson Mortuary.

From the Chanute newspaper - 21 Jul 1975

Rose May Ernzen

"Ill three days, Rose May Ernzen, 96, 211 N. Garfield, died Saturday at Neosho Memorial Hospital.

Born Rose May Boiner [sic] in Neosho County, she was a lifetime resident of the Chanute area and a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. On Feb. 5, 1902, in Chanute she was married to Jake Ernzen, who died March 7, 1945.

Survivors include three sons, Ernest of the home, Arthur, Bartlesville, Okla., and Frank, Coffeyville; a daughter, Mrs. O. W. (Marie) Ivins, 1309 S. Evergreen; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. today at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Vincent Hogan as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Johnson Mortuary is in charge of arrangements."