Jacob Edward Bowsher
Jacob Edward Bowsher, one of the representative citizens and intelligent farmers of Amanda township, was born April 2, 1873, in Shawnee township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Israel and Elizabeth (Killian) Bowsher.
Mr. Bowsher comes of pioneer ancestry in Ohio, and of a family which is numerous all over the United States. His grandparents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (De Long) Bowsher, came to Shawnee township, Allen County, in 1836, settling in what was then a wilderness. The family lived in an Indian wigwam until the round-log house of the period was constructed, it being necessary to clear a site on which it could be erected. The father of our subject, Israel Bowsher, was not born here, being six years of age when the family came, but he was reared in Shawnee township, married here and reared a very large family. The survivors are: Elias, a farmer of Shawnee township; Franklin, of Shawnee township; Mary E. (Mrs. Ridenour), of Paulding County; Charles A., of Shawnee township; and Jacob Edward, of Amanda township.
Jacob Edward Bowsher was reared on the farm in Shawnee township, where like other youths of the neighborhood, he attended school through the fall and winter months, giving his assistance on the farm during the spring and summer. He also attended Lima College and the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and thus had an advantage over many of his companions. He taught school for some 12 months in Shawnee township prior to settling down to farming, and is one of the best read and most thoughtful, intelligent men of his community. Mr. Bowsher came to his present fine farm of 106 acres, situated in section 27, Amanda township, in December, 1896, this being a farm once owned by his father. It was mostly new land and Mr. Bowsher has cleared 22 acres and placed the cleared portion of the property under a fine state of tillage, has remodeled and erected buildings and has demonstrated his industry and ability as an agriculturist.
In 1895 Mr. Bowsher was married to Amanda E. Hocker, who is a daughter of Louis and Catherine (Herring) Hocker, and they have an interesting family of five children, viz: Brandon De Witt, Waldo Gern, Ethelind Joy, Lovell Constance and Audrey Rudolph.
Mr. Bowsher is one of the most zealous supporters of the public schools and for three years has been a member of the School Board. In April, 1904, he was appointed trustee of Amanda township and in April following he was elected to the office, in which he is still giving intelligent and effective service. He is one of the leading members of the Lutheran Church in Shawnee township near Cridersville.