Bowers

Partial 1908 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 17, H. Bowers 100 acres.

Hiram Bowers
Hiram Bowers was born on September 28, 1860 at Sylvania, Racine County, and is the son of Isaac Bowers and Sarah Ann Lee, born in Lancashire, England.
He married Sarah Jennie Naylor, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Henderson) Naylor, on April 8, 1885 and farmed in Somers Township, Kenosha County.
Hiram and Sarah had three children.  Sarah died in childbirth with the third child on August 15, 1907.  A son, Hiram Kenneth died September 1907.  Two girls, Erma (Mrs. George Leet) and Marcy (Mrs. Frank Lichter).  Hiram died July 1, 1943 and is buried in Mound Cemetery with his wife Sarah.
(Source:  Sylvania Cemetery, Yorkville, Racine County, Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees, copyright 1991)


Sarah Naylor Bowers Obituary (wife of Hiram Bowers, son of Isaac Bowers)
"Mrs. Bowers was born in the Town of Paris, Kenosha County, forty-three years ago, and came to Somers when a child, where she has resided most of her life, esteemed and beloved by all who knew her.  She was kindhearted, generous, ever and always ready and willing to render assistance where it was needed.
She was a woman of joyous and sunshiny nature, diffusing her own happy spirit over those with whom she came in contact and few people had more sincere and devoted friends than she.  A sincere Christian, a loving daughter and friend, a devoted wife, a good mother.
She was united in marriage to Hiram Bowers, twenty-three years ago, who with two daughters, Misses Erma and Marcia Bowers, and an infant baby son, a mother, three brothers, William Naylor, Bloomington, Ill., George Naylor, St. Paul, Minn., Joseph Naylor, San Francisco, California; and two sisters, Miss Emma Naylor of Racine and Mrs. R. Neff, Gray's Lake, Ill. survive her.
The funeral services were held from her late home Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Williams, assisted by Rev. Gosling.  The  musical services were rendered by a trio, consisting of Mr. J.G. Mitchell of Evanston, Ill.; Mrs. L.L. Owen, Burlington and Mrs. Buchan, Union Grove.
The casket was embowered in flowers the testimonials of loving friends, among them a handsome floral design from the Somers Camp Modern Woodmen of America, attesting the regard with which the deceased was held by that society.  A large procession of sympathizing friends followed the remains to their last resting place in Mound Cemetery, Racine.
(Source:  Racine Journal August 21, 1907)

Leet and Bowers Marriage
On Thursday, April 4, 1912, Miss Erma L. Bowers, oldest daughter of Mr. Hiram Bowers, was quietly united in marriage to Mr. George P. Leet, son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Leet.
Rev. Bigler of the First Presbyterian Church of Racine officiated. After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Leet departed for a brief wedding trip south. The bride is one of our most popular and accomplished young ladies. The groom is one of Somers' most enterprising young men, a young man of force and sterling worth. Few young people launch into the world under more favorable currents and a host of friends are please to extend congratulations upon their happy union.
(Source: Racine Journal, April 16, 1912)

Lichter and Bowers Marriage
On Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock the marriage of Miss Marcia Bowers to Frank Lichter was celebrated at St. George's Church in Kenosha. Rev. Father Nickel, pastor of the church, officiated in the presence of a few close friends of the contracting parties. Miss Madeline Lichter was bridesmaid and Nicholas Lichter served as best man. The bride is the younger daughter of Hiram Bowers and is an accomplished young woman. The groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lichter, one of Somers most popular young men. After a short wedding trip to Chicago, the young couple went to housekeeping on the farm west of the village. Congratulations and best of wishes are extended by a host of friends.
(Source: Racine Journal, Jan. 18, 1915)