Nelson Bowsher
Nelson Bowsher, merchant, of Millersburgh, was born in DeKalb County, Ind., in 1844, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Clayton) Bowsher. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of DeKalb County, Ind., where he opened up and improved a frontier farm. His mother died when he was four years old, and his father when he was nine, and he was then taken to the home of an uncle, with whom he lived until eighteen years of age. In 1862 he enlisted in the defense of his country and was assigned to Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, serving three years and three months. He participated in several hard-fought battles, among the more notable being Cedar Creek, Winchester, Richmond and Petersburgh, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee. He was captured at High Bridge, and was in Libby prison six months.
In 1867 our subject was married to Sarah Parkinson, and to them have been born three children: H.F., Myrtle and Clyde. Mr. Bowsher came to Millersburgh in 1868, and for several years was engaged in various occupations. For eight years he was street commissioner, in which position he proved a valuable and efficient officer. In 1887 he embarked in mercantile business, in which he has been successful, and is now numbered among the prosperous and influential business men of the town. He is public spirited and enterprising, and is always mindful of what is of benefit to the material interests of the town. He is a member in high standing of the Royal Arcanum; in politics he is a Democrat.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889