Matilda (Ford) Bower (abt. 1838 - 1913)

Born about Apr 1838 in Indiana, United States

Wife of Levi Votaw — married 12 Oct 1862 (to before 1870) in Hancock, Illinois, United States

Wife of Jacob Bower — married 20 Oct 1870 in Hancock, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1913 at about age 75 in Hamilton, Hancock, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Matilda Ford was born April 1838 in Indiana ^[1]. She was the fifth child out of eight children of Henry M. Ford and Jane Strain. Some time prior to 1850, the family moved to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois ^[2]. Matilda’s father died in 1856 and her mother and three daughters including Matilda moved in with Matilda’s oldest sister Mary A. (Ford) Jones ^[3].

At the age of 24 years, Matilda married Levi Votaw on 12 October 1862 in Hancock County, Illinois ^{[4] [5]}. The union of Matilda and Levi produced two children, Rosa Lee and Mary Ellen ^[6]. Levi was enlisted in the Civil War in 1863. He continued in the military until 1866. However, it is unknown what happened with the couple other than a Quaker document that showed Levi being “disowned due to marriage contrary to the discipline and military service” ^[7]. At this time, Levi may have denounced his marriage because again in 1869 at a Quaker meeting, Levi was “disowned due to marriage contrary to the discipline” ^[8]. On 9 October 1870, Levi married another woman in Missouri. The assumption is that the marriage between Levi and Matilda was dissolved.

In the 1870 federal census, Matilda owned land in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock County, Illinois ^[9]. She was living there with her youngest daughter, Ellen. Included in the household was Jacob Bower a 45-year-old widower and his five children. Later that year on 20 December 1870, Matilda married Jacob Bower in Hancock County, Illinois ^{[10] [11]}. The union of Matilda and her second husband Jacob produced six children ^[12]. In the 1880 census, the couple and six children were still living on the farm in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock County, Illinois ^[13]. According to Matilda's husband's obituary, the couple and their younger children moved to Knox County, Missouri in 1889 ^[14]. Matilda’s second husband Jacob Bower died on 21 December 1899, leaving Matilda as a widow with three children in her home ^[15]. Some time prior to the next census in 1910, Matilda moved to Hamilton, Hancock County, Illinois ^[16].

Matilda died on 3 July 1913 in Hamilton, Illinois from dropsy, which is swelling of the soft tissues due to accumulation of excess water most likely caused by congestive heart failure ^[17]. Matilda was buried beside her second husband, Jacob Bower at Novelty Cemetery in Novelty, Knox County, Missouri ^[18]. She was survived by six of her children.

Sources

1. ↑ "1900 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1900; Census Place: Shelton, Knox, Missouri; Page: 8, family: 151, lines 21-24; Enumeration District: 0045; FHL microfilm: 1240868.
2. ↑ "1850 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1850; Census Place: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois; Roll: M432_109; Page: 398B, family 1871, lines 19-29; Image: 266.
3. ↑ "1860 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1860; Census Place: Sonora, Hancock, Illinois; Roll: M653_184; Page: 479, family 1513, lines 19-24; Family History Library Film: 803184.
4. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940", database on-line. Hancock County, Film number: 001532142.
5. ↑ "Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920", database on-line. Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices.
6. ↑ "Matilda Bower", Edina Democrat (Edina, Missouri), 25 July 1913.
7. ↑ "U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943", database on-line. Hinshaw, William Wade, et al., compilers. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. 6 vols. 1936–1950. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991–1994.
8. ↑ "U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943", database on-line. Hinshaw, William Wade, et al., compilers. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. 6 vols. 1936–1950. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991–1994.
9. ↑ "1870 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1870; Census Place: Pilot Grove, Hancock, Illinois; Roll: M593_227; Page: 251A, family 199, lines 21-28; Family History Library Film: 545726.
10. ↑ "Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920", database on-line. Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices. County: Hancock.
11. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940", database on-line. County: Hancock; Film Number: 000954179.
12. ↑ "Jacob Bower", Knox County Democrat (Edina, Missouri), 4 January 1900.
13. ↑ "1880 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1880; Census Place: Pilot Grove, Hancock, Illinois; Roll: 211; Page: 212B, family 187, lines 10-18; Enumeration District: 075.
14. ↑ "Jacob Bower", Knox County Democrat (Edina, Missouri), 4 January 1900.
15. ↑ "1900 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1900; Census Place: Shelton, Knox, Missouri; Page: 8, family: 151, lines 21-24; Enumeration District: 0045; FHL microfilm: 1240868.
16. ↑ "1910 United States Federal Census", database on-line. Year: 1910; Census Place: Hamilton Ward 2, Hancock, Illinois; Roll: T624_290; Page: 23A, family 339, lines 3-5; Enumeration District: 0016; FHL microfilm: 1374303.
17. ↑ "Matilda Bower", Edina Democrat (Edina, Missouri), 25 July 1913.
18. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #54859431