Revision as of 10:13, 23 September 2007

Olive Samantha Bower was born in 1862, the daughter of David Bower and Caroline Snyder. She was born in the years that the Civil War was being fought and the young men of the county were enlisting, and later being drafted to service. Her father's brother was Dr. John Bower, one of five doctors in Salem Township, Clarion County.

Olive was four years old when her father died in 1866. David Bower had been drafted to serve in the Civil War, but as was accepted practice, he paid another man to serve in his stead. The war ended soon after this arrangement was made, but David Bower took ill and died of "white swelling". His wife, Caroline Snyder, was left with the debt of $400 to pay. Presumably because of having to find work, or possibly unable to withstand the stress of her situation, she gave her children to be raised by others.

(click here to read the full biography of Olive Samantha Bower)

Ancestry chart segment

 Generation 3            Generation 4               Generation 5
 
                     +-- James Francis Beals
                     |   (1846-1930)           
 James Elgie Beals --+                          +-- David Bower
 (1889-1982)         |                          |   (1825-1866)
                     +-- Olive Samantha Bower --+
                         (1862-1895)            |
                                                +-- Caroline Snyder
                                                    (1831-1905)

Sources:

Children

All children with James Francis Beals:

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
1	1870 United States Federal Census (Need this census)
2	1880 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Venango Co., PA, Enummerator's District 253, Page 13, lines 47-49 lists widow Hanah Porterfield, 74, living with farmer James Porterfield, 48, and servant Olive Bower, 18. Everyone and their parents were born in PA with the exception of Hanah Porterfield's father, who was born in Ireland. Everyone can read, write, and speak English. This census is dated 14 Jun 1880.
3	Gravestone at Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Clarion County, PA. Reads: "BEALS, James F. 1846-1930, Olive C. 1862-1894, Infant Daughter"
4	Will of James F. Beals, signed 12 Jan 1924. At this time, James F. Beals lived in Salem Twp., Clarion Co., PA. His second wife, named Olive E. Beals, died on 13 Mar 1895. His present wife is named Elizabeth Beals. The executors of his will are named Chales F. Beals[sic] and James E. Beals.
5	Cemetery Association Record listing the siblings of David Bower, 1826-1856. It also lists his wife, Caroline Snyder, 1881-1909, and their children Paris Bower (m. Maria Rugh), Theresa (Tacy) Bower (m. Peter Sheakley), Olive Bower (m. James Beals), Irvin Bower, and Laura Bower (m. [unknown] Tyler).	transcription
6	Cemetery Association Record from Salem Lutheran Cemetery Association lists Jacob Beals, 1806-1899, as married to Elizabeth Brey, 1808-1899. It lists their descendants down as far as four generations in some places. Some of those descendants are my anscestors, including son James Beals, daughter-in-law Olive Bower, grandson Elgie Beals and grandaughter-in-law Winnie Kline.	transcription
7	Obituary for J. Elgie Beals. Indicates that he died at the age of 92, having been born on 24 Apr 1889 in Richland Township, Venango County, PA. He died at the home of his daughter, Bertha Chambers, in Kossuth, PA, where he had been living for some time. His parents were James F. Beals and Olive Bower Beals. He married Winnifred Kline on 12 Oct 1910. Winnifred Kline died on May 4, 1966. At the time of his death, he had two surviving daughters, Ella Wilson and Bertha Chambers, and one son, Robert Beals. His other son, Loy Beals, died in 1978. J. Elgie Beals will be buried at the Old Zion church.
8	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, great-granddaughter of Olive Samantha Bower.	N/A
10	Research Manuscript of Ella May Beals (Wilson) researched 1975-1985, including personal knowledge and interviews of her siblings Robert Beals and Bertha Beals (Chambers), and of her aunt Mary P. Kline (Fillgrove). Ella Beals was a granddaughter of Olive Samantha Bower. Olive Bower died before Ella was born and they never actually knew each other. Ella was a daughter of Olive's son, James Elgie Beals.

Source Notes

Wish List

1870 census for Olive's mother, Caroline Snyder