The News-Sentinel 1937 - Fulton County Public Library

Thomas E. BOWEN, aged 89, one of the last three members of the McClung Grand Army Post of this
city, died at 8 o’clock Thursday morning at his home 412 West Eighth Street from a heart attack. The aged
man had been up only a short time when he was stricken. He had been ill for the past week with a cold but
his death was entirely unexpected.
The deceased was born in New York City on November 1, 1847 and was the son of Thomas and Mary
BOWEN. His parents were employed on sailing vessels which plied between the United States and Europe.
They were drowned when their sailing vessel sank during a storm on the Atlantic ocean.
Mr. Bowen was placed in an orphanage in New York City when quite young and was later bound out
to a farmer who resided in southern Illinois. Mr. Bowen, fired by stories told by wounded veterans
returning from the Civil war, ran away when he was 14 years of age and joined the Northern forces.
Mr. Bowen’s bondsman on two different occasions forced army officers to release him because of his
age, but on his third enlistment, when only 15 years of age, the bondsman permitted him to remain in the
army.
He took part in many of the major engagements of the war, was wounded twice and marched with
Sherman to the Sea. Following the war, Mr. Bowen went to Dubuque where he was a tanner. Later he was
engaged as a carpenter.
In a ceremony which was performed in Dubuque, Iowa on January 7, 1875 the deceased was united in
marriage with Elizabeth BURNER. The aged couple celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary at
their home in this city in January.
Mr. Bowen was proud of the fact that 497 members of his family took part in the Revolutionary war
with the American forces. In addition to being a member of the G.A.R. the deceased was a member of the
Presbyterian church.
Mr. Bowen was the father of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Charles
BOWEN, Plymouth; Mrs. A. HOWER, Rochester; Mrs. L. SCHNEIDER of Mt. Kisco, New York; George
BOWEN, at home; Mrs. J. DAWSON of this city, and Mrs. V. WHEATON, Chicago. He has seven
grandchildren, Mrs. Viola SMITH, Mrs. Lucille SHORTE, Oren DAWSON, who is in Hayford, Calif.,
Charles E. BOWEN, of Plymouth, Miss Viola Ruthie BOWEN, of Plymouth, Harry William DAWSON, of
Rochester, and one great-grandchild.
The funeral arrangements will not be completed until word is received from relatives living at distant
points.
Friday, March 19, 1937
Mrs. Laura [FOGLESONG] SHAFER, aged 76, for many years a resident of this city died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Bert MAURER in South Bend Thursday evening. Death was due to complications
and followed an illness of two years.
The deceased was born on a farm near Lucerne and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth
FOGLESONG. She had lived in Rochester and Kewanna all of her life except for several years spent in
Chicago. For a number of years Mrs. Shafer lived on West Eighth Street in her home just west of the
Carnegie Library.
She was married to John SHAFER, who preceded his wife in death. Mrs. Shafer was an active member
of the Grace Methodist Church, Rebekah Lodge and Victoria Reading Circle.
Survivors are the adopted daughter, Mrs. MAURER; sister, Mrs. Rhoda PFEIFFER, Evanston, Ill.;
brother, Frank FOGLESONG, Missouri and a number of nieces and nephews. The funeral services will
be held from the Grace Methodist church at 10 o’clock Saturday