In 1951, Anna Lucille Bowles wrote down what she remembered of her family. Because it was written as a kind of list with arrows drawn to show some connections and with insertions written in blank areas, it is almost impossible to reproduce the document in transcribed form. For that reason I am taking some liberties as I relate the contents of this document below. However, no information has been changed except where I have solid reason to know that she was mistaken. In those few cases I have placed my changes in brackets.
Anna began by identifying her parents and grandparents. She wrote that her mother's name was Mary Ann Leydig, born 30 Sep 1859 to Levi and Rachael (Sturtz) Leydig in Iowa. Apparently the family came to Kansas in June 1872. She indicated that the family was "German Dutch."
She wrote that her father was James Marion Bowles who came to Kansas in the Fall of 1872 from Glover Creek, Kentucky; and that his family was Irish. His father was William Acres [Akers] Bowles, born 2 Nov 1818; and his mother was Lucinda Sarah Bowles, born 3 Mar 1825. [Lucinda's maiden name was Clark.] She also indicated that James' parents were dead when he moved to Kansas.
Next she listed her mother's brothers and sisters:
A side note says, "Grandmother Leydig was nearly 80 when she died."
She indicated that none of her father's brothers and sisters were living as she listed them and told where they were buried:
She wrote in a side note, "Papa's last brother died 3 yrs ago - Walter J. was 98 years old." [According to census records, he was born about 1848, so his age was closer to 100.]
On the back of the page she listed the brothers and sisters of her grandfather, William Bowles. It appears that she had the families confused for she titled the list "Grandma Bowles (Father's Mothers family)" but the list is clearly that of the Bowles line.
She indicated that William Bowles' mother was named Celia, but didn't know the rest of her name. Then she shows the father's name as "John Marcotte." [William's father was John Bowles, the name "Marcotte" was apparently a middle name.]
Next she listed William's siblings as follows:
Anna concludes with a list of "Our own family (Bowles)."
If you wish to view the original documents, follow these links: Side 1 | Side 2.
Effort has been made to eliminate errors, but their absence is not guaranteed. This document is copyright 2018 by Charles Hartley. Permission is hereby granted to individuals seeking family history information to copy the contents of this document for their personal use. It may not be sold, either separately or as part of a collection, without the written permission of the copyright holder; nor may it be placed at any other location on the internet without said written permission.