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Page content last modified: January 25, 2009, added Clarence's middle name and birth date; amended Clara Maud's name; added detail on several of the children.
May 6, 2005, updated children, added 1910 census transcription,
added marriage documents.

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CLARA EVA MAUD CALLIHAN & CLARENCE ELVIN BOWLES

 

Clara Eva Maud (or Maude) Callihan was born about 1878 in Hancock County, Illinois, probably in Hancock Township.  She was the daughter of Simon Thomas Callihan and Margaret Anzonetta Williams.

Maud married Clarence Elvin Bowles on August 6, 1894.  The marriage was performed at her parents' home in the village of Tennessee, McDonough County, Illinois.  Witnesses were Mrs. A. E. Decker and Miss Lutie "Callian".  Marriage Documents

Clarence, also known as Cal, was the son of William E. Bowles and Maggie Smith. He was born in Illinois on May 23, 1874, according to his WWI Selective Service registration.


The Daily R______
August 8, 1944

Golden Wedding Day Celebrated By the Bowles'

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bowles of 662 Day street celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at a dinner and open house on Sunday.  Seventy-five guests gathered in the dining room of the United Brethren church for a potluck dinner at one o'clock in the afternoon.  A program which followed included a piano selection "I Love You Truly" by Mrs. Floyd Newland of Peoria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bowles; and a poem covering the life of C. E. Bowles family written by Vernon Bowles and read by his father, J. H. Bowles.

In behalf of the guests present, the Rev. Claibourne Johnson presented the honorees with a gift of money to which they graciously responded.

In the afternoon a reception was held at the home where 250 friends and relatives to to extend congratulations to the couple for their half a century of married life.  Mrs. Bowles was attired in a white formal and wore a corsage of yellow rosebuds.  Mrs. Levern Berg and Miss Colleen Haggerty escorted the guests to the dining room where the table was beautiful with decorations in colors of gold and white.  The center piece of flowers was the gift of the granddaughters.

The Misses Pauline and June Bowles poured and Mrs. Stanley Gustafson and Mrs. Robert Newland served.  All the girls were lovely in formals of pastel shades.  The array of nice gifts received by the Bowles included many baskets of flowers.

Mrs. and Mrs. Bowles were married at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Callihan, in Tennessee, Ill. on August 6, 1894.  Mrs. Bowles received her education in that town to which Mr. Bowles' grandparents came from the state of Tennessee many years ago. Mr. Bowles is now retired from the C., B. and Q. railroad after having seen 54 years of service with the road. His father, three brothers, two sons and a grandson were all railroad men.  In 1938 at the Burlington Veterans' convention in Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Bowles with his son, Harold E., and his grandson, Clarence Elvin Bowles, were honored as being the only family present with three generations in the employ of the Burlington.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowles are the parents of four children and have nine grandchildren, with four of the latter in the service of their country.  Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bowles, a brother and sister-in-law of Brookfield, Mo., also celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year.

Out of town guests were Mrs. C. F. Newland and Mrs. Robert Newland of Peoria; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bowles, Brookfield, Mo.; Miss Forrest Ruggles and Mrs. Lovenia Sembach of Detroit, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Thompson and daughter Elizabeth, Macomb; Asa and Effie Miller, Tennessee; Charlie Campbell and Alta Francis Woods, Mrs. Alice McGee Burford, Mabel Burford Eakle, Mrs. Claud Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Day, Colchester; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Hobart, Carthage, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. John Rings, Tennessee, Ill.; Miss Grace and Catherine Houck, Monmouth; Mr. and Mrs. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Canton, Ill.

According to the research of Goldie Beatrice Read Williams, Maud was buried at Galesburg.

The children of Maud Callihan and Clarence Bowles were:

i. Harold E. Bowles, born December 1, 1894, in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, according to his WWI Selective Service registration.  He died in Galesburg on April 24, 1946.  His wife was Ethel G., born about 1893 in Illinois, maiden name possibly Culver.
 
ii. Dale L. Bowles, born March 2, 1896, in Galesburg.  He died December 27, 1949, in Knox County.  Dale's wife was Elva (maiden name undetermined), born in Illinois about 1903.
 
iii. Lucille Bowles, born about 1898 in Illinois.  She married Clarence Floyd Newland about 1921.  Floyd was born December 16, 1892, at Toulon, Stark County, Illinois, the son of Harry E. and Elva (Crum) Newland.  Floyd was also a railroader, employed by the CB&Q at a minimum between 1917 and 1930.

As of 1930 Floyd and Lucille had one son, Robert P. Newland.
 

iv. Glen C. Bowles (or Glenn), born about 1901 in Illinois.  Glen married Bernice M. (maiden name undetermined), born in Iowa about 1905.
 
v. Fifth child, born and died before April 1, 1910.
 

1880 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Hancock Township, page 124B
enumerated June 7, 1880, dwelling #46

Callihan, Thomas, 33, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born PA
Margaret A, 28, wife, married, born IL, father born NC, mother born SC
William E, 9, son, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Clara E M, 2, daughter, single, born IL, both parents born IL
Williams, Lutitia, 74, mother-in-law, widowed, keeping house, born SC, father born NC, mother born SC

1880 Illinois Census, McDonough County, Tennessee Township, Tennessee, page 559C
enumerated June 24, 1880, dwelling #162

Bowles, Elizabeth, white, female, 59, widow, keeping house, born VA, both parents born VA

Ottice A, white, male, 11, grandson, single, laborer, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL

James H, white, male, 9, grandson, single, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL

William E, white, male, 7, grandson, single, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL

Calv Elvan, white, male, 6, grandson, single, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL


1900 Census Record for Clarence Bowles and family not found

 

1910 Illinois Census, Knox County, Galesburg Township, Galesburg ED 164, page 219A
enumerated April 16, 1910, dwelling #53, 662 S. Day Street

Bowles, C E, head, male, white, 36, married (1st) for 16 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, switchman, railroad, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write, owned his home free of mortgage

Maud, wife, female, white, 33, married (1st) for 16 years; mother of 5 children, 4 living; born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Gerald, son, male, white, 15, son, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Dail, son, male, white, 13, son, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Lewcial, daughter, female, white, 11, daughter, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Glen, son, male, white, 8, son, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

 

1920 Illinois Census, Knox County, Galesburg Township, Galesburg ED 175, page 262B
enumerated January 3, 1920, dwelling #47, 662 S. Day Street

Bowles, Clarence, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 45, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, switch "forman", railroad, employer

Maud C E, wife, female, white, 42 ?, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Lewseel L ?, daughter, female, white, 21, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, student, Brown Business College

Glen C, son, male, white, 18, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, car checker, railroad, working for wages

 

1930 Illinois Census, Knox County, Galesburg Township, Galesburg ED 30, page 68B
enumerated April 4, 1930, dwelling #42, 662 Day St.

Bowles, Calarence E [sic], head, owned his home, home value 4000, owned a radio, male, white, 55, married, age at first marriage - 21, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, switchman, steam railway, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Maud C, wife, female, white, 52, married, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

 

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