Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 30: The Bowden Family, 1900

Chapter 30: The Bowden Family

The original ancestor of the Bowden family in Spartanburg District was Benjamin Bowden, who was a native of Virginia and one of the early settlers. He was born in 1770. His wife was Nancy Roach, born 1771. They had six sons and no daughters. The names of the sons were Reuben, William, George, John, James and Benjamin. All of these sons moved West except Reuben, the eldest, who was well known to the older citizens of Spartanburg county.

Reuben Bowden was born in Virginia, October loth, 1798, and married i\ugust 21st, 1823, ^^ Nancy Linder, daughter of the elder Lee Linder, who was born October 27th, 1809. He was always prominent in liis neighborhood, filling such offices as magistrate, officer of the militia, deacon in the Baptist Church, etc. Later he was elected four continuous terms to the office of ordinary for the Spartanburg District, and made a most efficient and accommodating official, saving many lawyers' fees to those having business in that office. It is said that not one of his decisions during all those years was reversed by the higher courts. On account of declining health he resigned during his fourth term as ordinary, and removed to his plantation on South Pacolet near Gowersville, where he died in 1866.

He had six children, as follows : John Ramsey, a captain in the Confederate army, who married Miss Lucy Elliot of York District, S. S. ; Mary Ann, who married Robert J. Foster ; Charity L., who married Thomas Lipscomb, a gallant soldier in the Confederate army, killed Second

Manassas ; James Maybin, who married Aliss Virginia Nolly ; Romulus L., who married Miss IMary Fleck of Creenville, S. C. ; Wm. Jeffries, who never married ; and Cleopatra Telulah, who married Thos. C. Davis, now resident of Atlanta, Ga.

Captain Romulus Lee Bowden

of Spartanburg, S. C, son of Reuben and Nancy (Lin- -der) Bowden, was born near that city February 27th, 1834. His mother was, as previously stated, the daughter of Lee and Mary (Templeton) Linder, his descent on both sides being F^nglish.

reared on his father's farm in Spartanburg county, and at that age he became a clerk in a store at Spartanburg, which was but the beginning of a long and successful business career. In 1855 he went to Martin's Depot, Laurens county, S. C, where he was employed as a clerk in a mercantile establishment until 1858, when he became a partner in the firm, and continued in the business of general merchandizing until x\ugust, 1861, when he entered as a volunteer from Laurens county,

S. C, joining Company A, 13th Regiment, S. C. V., as a first lieutenant. Upon the organization of said regiment P. L. Calhoun, the captain of Company A, was elected lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and Lieutenant Bowden succeeded him to the captaincy of the company, and commanded the same until disability resulting from wounds compelled his retirement, in the summer of 1864. He commanded his company in the battles of ISIechanicsville, Gaines Mill (First Cold Harbor), Frazier's Farm, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. At Second Manassas he was wounded in the left leg, and at Gettysburg he was twice wounded, being shot in the left arm and left hand. For fifteen years after the war he carried a bullet in his left arm, and the loss of the index-finger of his left hand is evidence of one of the wounds he received at Gettysburg. As already stated, it was by reason of these wounds that he was placed on the retired list in 1864.

At Chancellorsville Captain Bowden was complimented by Colonel E. O. Edwards, the gallant commander of the 13th Regiment. It was on that terrible night when General Stojiewall Jackson was killed. His corps had been on a forced march all day to flank Hooker's army and attack his right and rear. It was natural that some should straggle. During a halt after dark Colonel Edwards passed down the line inquiring of company commanders as to any absent officers. On reaching Company A, and being informed that all were present, he replied, "Yes, and always are." Colonel Edwards himself received his death-wound on the following day.

On returning home Captain Bowden resumed his former occupation, and in 1867 began the mercantile business at Gowensville, S. C, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to Spartanburg, where he has since been engaged in the dry-goods business. He is a reliable merchant in every respect. He gives his personal attention to his business, and his elegant storeroom on Main street is one of the attractions of the city, and will compare favorably in point of size and beauty of arrangement with many others in cities larger than Spartanburg.

Captain Bowden not only looks well to his private business, but is a progressive and public-spirited citizen in every sense of the word. He has been three times alderman of his city, is director of a building and loan association, and a pillar of Spartanburg's financial strength.

In times of peace he has come up to the standard of an upright citizenship, and in time of war, we may say, that a more devoted patriot never drew his sword in defense of the rights of his cherished State.

J. Malcolm Bowden, ist Lieutenant Company K, 2d Regiment, S. C. V., served in Cuba in the recent war with Spain ; Maggie F., wife of G. W. Hodges ; Melvin E., Otis M., Mary R., and Agnes. -"^'''^^

The Mcdowell Family

The families of McDowells were Scotch-Irish, and were Covenanters and Presbyterians. They first emigrated from North Ireland to Pennsylvania, and from thence to North and South Carolina. Of this numerous family connection there were two brothers, Silas and Robert. Silas McDowell made settlement in North Carolina, while his brother, Robert McDowell, came further south and settled on South Pacolet, in the present county of Spartanburg, which was before the outbreak of the Revolution. He had two sons, Robert and.

James, and five daughters : Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Jeffries on Thickety Creek in Union county, S. C. ; Sarah, who married Robert Love on Broad River, in the same county ; Nancy, who married a Harper and moved to Tennessee ; Jane, who married Captain Hugh McMillen ; and Mary, who married John Clark, father of Oliver, David, Benjamin, Robert, Foster, James and Mrs. Polly Kelso, wife of Henry Kelso.

Robert ^McDowell, the eldest, who was a soldier in the Continental Line, served to the end of the war, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. His father, the elder Robert, was too old to take up arms when the Revolution began.

James McDowell, the other brother, served with the partizans, the Whig soldiers, during the Revolution, under the command of Captain Barry, who joined Morgan's army the day before that battle and participated in that battle. He married a IMiss IMcMillen, and had nine children - eight boys and one girl : David, Robert, James, Andrew, Hugh, William F., John Y. ,. Calvin and Jane. David married a daughter of Wm. Chapman ; Robert married a Miss Williams ; James married a Miss Ferguson of York county ; Andrew married Miss Harriet Liles of Polk county, N. C. ; Hugh married a daughter of Wm. Chapman; Wm. F. married a Miss Ramsey ; John Y. married INIiss Polly Ramsey (sister); and Calvin married a Miss Ballenger.

William Chapman, the father-in-law of David and Hugh McDowell, was one of the first settlers on the Pacolets. His wife was a Miss Jones ; they emigrated from Virginia, and had fifteen children - twelve girls and three boys. The names of the boys were John (called Jackey), William and James.

one to Lemuel C. Clements, one to Perry Clement, one to a Bullington of Tennessee, one to a Nicholls, one to Jackson Green, and one to Rice Ramsey.

David ]McDo\vell had nine children - three boys and six girls ; James had eight children - two boys and six girls ; Andrew had nine children - four boys and five girls ; Hugh had twelve children - seven boys and five girls ; William F. had nine children - six boys and three girls ; John Y. had five children - one boy and four girls ; and Calvin had four children - three girls and one boy.

Of the seven sons of Hugh McDowell, two died at the ages of about eleven and thirteen. The other five : James, Marcus, Martin \'an Buren (called Vanney), William J. (called Dene), and Hugh J. (called Hugy), deserve special notice.

James, the eldest, a member of Co. I, 5th Regiment, S. C. V^, was wounded at the battle of Frazier's Farm, in 1862, and died of same at Richmond a short time afterwards.

W^m. J., now residing on South Pacolet, was also second lieutenant in Co. I, 5th S. C. Regiment, and was wounded in the arm by the explosion of a shell at Sharpsburg, which necessitated amputation. He still lives within a few miles of his father's old homestead place, and is well known in his section as an honest, intelligent and progressive farmer. For quite a number of years since the war he has filled the office of trial justice. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and as 3. citizen is highly esteemed by all.

William F. McDowell (known as fifer Billy) had three sons, James, Rice and John, to volunteer in the Confederate army at the very beginning- of the struggle. Rice, a member of the 5th S. C. Regiment, died of fever in the camps at Germantown, Va., in 1861. He was buried near by in the honors of war, which the writer witnessed, being a member of the same company and regiment at the time.

It may be truly said of the entire McDowell connection on the Pacolets, that they are, and have always been, an honest, industrious, and law-abiding class of citizens, never aspiring for public office, but always ready to defend their State when called upon.

Of the older brothers mentioned, William McDowell was a deacon of New Prospect (Baptist) church for many years, and Calvin McDowell was major of the second battalion 36th Regiment, S. C. militia, which office he held for several years before the outbreak of the civil war.

Captain Joseph H. Mcdowell

only son of Major Calvin McDowell, was a gallant officer in the Confederate army and deserves more than passings notice. He was born September 26th, 1839, being at this writing (1899) sixty years of age. He was brought up on his father's farm on South Pacolet River, in Spartanburg county, and was educated in the schools of the neighborhood, his last attendance being at the New Prospect Academy in 1858, taught by Rev. T. J. Earle> At the outbreak of the civil war between the States he enlisted in the service, having previously served while in his teens as an officer in the State militia. He was a member of Captain Seay's company, 5th Regiment,

S. C. v., and in August, 1861, was elected a lieutenant in the same, which position he held until the following December, when he resigned by reason of a severe illness. He rejoined his company, however, a short time befo're the seven days battle around Richmond, and was in all the battles in which his regiment participated. He contin-

In the second bat tie of Manassas and in the Maryland campaign, which soon followed, including the battle of Sharpsburg, in which he was engaged, he had command of his company, the other officers being absent by reason of sickness. He performeed distinguished services during the last two years of the war, being assigned to the special command of the skirmishers of the brigade (Brat-

During the Tennessee campaign, in which Longstreet's corps was detached, he was wounded again, at Loudon, Tenn. He had charge of the skirmish line under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Logan, who, although young, was a brave and chivalrous officer. Colonel Logan ordered Lieutenant McDowell to charge the Federal line, which he did, and was shot down within twent yfive yards of their rear-guard or skirmish line. He was conveyed to the hospital in x^tlanta, where he remained three months. When he had sufficiently recovered, however, he rejoined his regiment in '64, and participated in the Virginia campaigns which followed. Early in '65, by reason of the resignation of Captain Choice, he was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and was at the surrender at Appomattox.

The fact has been stated to the writer that Captain McDowell discharged his duty in such a way as to meet with the highest appreciation of his superior officers, and especially with Colonel Coward, his regimental commander.

After the close of the civil war Captain McDowell married Miss IMartha Dodd, by whom he raised a family. For some fifteen or twenty years he continued to reside in his native county, but subsequently removed with his family to Clifford, Texas, where he at present resides.