Surnames: Catlin, Chase, Spencer, Stone, Vail, Walworth
Regions: Lenox, Madison Co., NY; Janesville, Rock Co., WI
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County Wis., publ. 1889
Pages 505-507
CHARLES C. BOWERMAN, of Janesville, is one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, who in the fall of 1842, settled in Racine, six years before Wisconsin entered the sisterhood of States. He is a native of Ontario, then called Canada West, and was born almost opposite the city of Oswego, N.Y. His father, Stephen BOWERMAN, was also a native of Canada, but his paternal grandfather was born in the State of New York.
Stephen BOWERMAN in the year 1836 removed with his family from Canada to Michigan, settling first in Detroit, and later in Battle Creek, where he continued to make his home until his death. His wife also died in the same town. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to mature years, and five are yet living, namely: Charles C., who is the eldest; Sarah Ann, wife of Charles VAIL, of Battle Creek; Zulema, a maiden lady, also living at Battle Creek; Milton, whose home is in Springfield, Mo.; and Thomas Henry, who is living in Cold Water, Mich.
The subject of this sketch removed with the family to Michigan in 1836, and in the fall of 1843, came to Rock County, where he purchased forty acres of land in the town of Fulton, and also entered a claim of 120 acres. In 1844, he settled on that land, immediately beginning its cultivation, and the following year further completed his arrangements for a home by his union with Miss Mary WALWORTH, a daughter of John WALWORTH, who served his country in the War of 1812, and died in December, 1842, in Lenox, Madison Co., N.Y., leaving his wife with seven children, four sons and three daughters. After the death of her husband, in the autumn of 1844, Mrs. WALWORTH emigrated with her family to Wisconsin, locating in Racine County, and two years later came to Rock County, and settled in the town of Fulton. The mother passed the last years of her life with her children, and died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. BOWERMAN, Aug. 17, 1875, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. This lady was a native of Germany, but when an infant was brought by her parents to America. One son and two daughters of the family are deceased, while the remaining three brothers are residents of the town of Fulton.
Mr. BOWERMAN improved the farm upon which he settled previous to his marriage, and continued to reside thereon until his removal to Janesville in the autumn of 1876. He has since sold the old homestead, where he first located, but is the owner of two fine farms in South Dakota. The discovery of gold in California having attracted his attention, on the 1st day of January, 1850, he started for the scenes of the excitement, accompanied by Robert STONE. The time necessary to make a trip to the Pacific Coast, and the dangers incident to such journey forty years ago are in wide contrast to the pleasure excursions by rail which are made the present day. The travelers proceeded by stage to St. Louis, and then to New Orleans on a Mississippi steamboat, remaining at the Crescent City for about two weeks. They then took passage on a sail vessel called the "Joseph Fish," commanded by Capt. Seaver, and made the stormy and dangerous passage around Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean and on to San Francisco, the passage consuming the long period of six months. The vessel made but one landing after leaving New Orleans until reaching its destination, and that was at Valparaiso, Chili, where they remained for four days. Owing to the heavy storms and adverse winds that prevailed while "doubling the cape," the "Joseph Fish" sailed several thousand miles more than would be necessary could she have taken a direct course. In just seven months after leaving Janesville, Mr. BOWERMAN and his companion landed in San Francisco. There they took passage on a small sloop and went to Stockton, then a little village, where they chartered an ox team for a point on the Taulaoma River, where they engaged in mining, prosecuting that occupation for six or seven months, when the death of one of his children and the sickness of other members of his family, induced Mr. BOWERMAN, at the solicitation of his wife, to return. The journey home was made by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, stopping at Havana on the return trip, and thence to New York. In 1882, Mr. BOWERMAN went to Dakota and secured 320 acres of land in Beadle County, a distance of but four miles form Huron. He has also a farm of 160 acres about eighty miles from Huron.
On the 23d day of July, 1853, our subject was called upon to mourn the death of his wife. By their marriage four children were born, three sons and a daughter - Cordelia E., born Oct. 17, 1845, is now the wife of John CATLIN, a resident of Nebraska; Nelson H., born Dec. 4, 1846, resides in Beadle County, South Dakota, his farm adjoining that of his father's; Byron N., born Jan.26, 1847, is in Colorado; Milton S., born May 1, 1852 resides at Sioux City, Iowa; Charles O., who died while his father was in California, was born Dec. 12, 1849. On the 18th day of October, 1854, Mr. BOWERMAN was married to Miss Nancy Catherine WALWORTH, a sister of his former wife, and the only surviving daughter of the family. By his second union five children have been born, four of whom are living - Stephen E., born July 25, 1855, is now living in Albion, Neb.; Byantha A., born Nov. 6, 1857, married George W. CHASE, and lives in Huron, S. Dak.; Mina A., born March 20, 1859, is the wife of F. W. SPENCER of Faribault, Minn.; Glenn is the youngest and resides in Janesville; Willis is now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. BOWERMAN reside in a pleasant home on Ruger Avenue, which was erected in 1887. In politics, he is a Republican, but has never aspired to political distinction. Both are membered among the respected citizens of Janesville, and we are pleased to record their sketch in the history of their adopted county.
Contributed
by Carol
