The Bower Family from Rhode Island to Georgia and beyond:Information about John White Bower
John White Bower (b. December 07, 1808, d. January 13, 1850)
Notes for John White Bower:Excerpt from The Handbook of Texas Online:
John White Bower, early settler, soldier, and judge, son of Isaac and Frances Ann (Cuthbert) Bower, was born in Talbotton, Georgia on December 7, 1808.The family moved to arkansas Territory in 1819.
Bower traveled to Texas after may 2 and before November 28, 1835 when his certificate of election to the Consultation was presented to the General Council of the provisional government by Lewis T Ayers, although Bower himself did not attend.He operated a ferry on the San Antonio River opposite Carlos Rancho.He was one of the two representatives from San Patricio in the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos and there signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.Bower was also in charge of James W Fannin, Jr's spy system during the Goliad Campaign.Fannin was leading the Goliad garrison to reinforce William B Travis and his command inside the Alamo when Bower brought news that Gen. Jose de Urrea was quickly advancing on Goliad at the head of a large Mexican force.Bower's information influenced Fannin to abandon his plans to relieve the Alamo and return to Goliad.
In 1838 Bower married Bridget O'Brien.Their Daughter, Frances Elizabeth married James Power, Jr., son of the empresario James Power.Bower represented Refugio County in the House of the Sixth and Seventh congresses of the Republic of Texas, 1841 - 43, and was elected chief justice(i.e., county judge) of Refugio County on October 4, 1843 and again in 1847.He died on January 13, 1850 and was buried near the San Antonio River ferry he had operated years before.In 1936, the Texas Centennial Commission placed a monument at Bower's grave.
Bibliography: Hobart Huson, Refugio:A Comprehensive History of Refugio County from Aborigianal Times to 1953 (2 vols., Woodsboro, Texas: Rooke Foundation, 1953, 1955).
More About John White Bower and Bridget O'Brien:
Marriage: 1838
Children of John White Bower and Bridget O'Brien are:
- Frances Elizabeth Bower, d. date unknown.