Henry L. Bower
"The farm is and must always remain a chief source of our country's wealth, strength and power as well as the cradle of our ablest men." If this statement is true, every good farmer is a benefactor to the race, because his work is creative. The charge of being a dependent, therefore, can never be laid at his door. The gentleman here considered lays another claim to greatness, for when the integrity of the Union hung in the balance, he tendered his service to his country, forgetful of his own personal affairs, thus not only being true to his idea of loyalty, but also becoming a noble example for others to follow. A native son of Fairfield county, Henry Bower was born on April 5, 1843, his parents being George and Sophia (Macklin) Bower. This family is mentioned elsewhere in the present publication in the sketch of Jesse Bower.
Making the most of his early opportunities was characteristic of Henry Bower, for his later success was built upon his ability to get the best results out of every circumstance. Growing up on his father's farm he was early accustomed to arduous labor. After attending school in Fairfield, Pickaway and Madison counties, he labored at home until the breaking out of the Civil War. It was August 1, 1862, when he enlisted at Big Plain, Madison county, in Company B, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. It was his fortune to see much active service during the war for he was in battles at Richmond, Kentucky, August, 1862. During the siege he was wounded in the mouth. He also took part in the siege of Jackson, Mississippi, in July, 1863, and at Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864, as well as the siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama, in 1865. He served with honor under the commands of Generals Grant, Sherman and Thomas and was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, on August 14, 1865. He returned to Madison county and took up farm life.
About that time Henry Bower married and bought more land in Pleasant township. When this farm was purchased it contained only a log cabin and a barn, but improvements have been added since. Mrs. Bower was married to Mr. Bower in 1866, she being at the time Mrs. Lethy (Roberson) Gilliland, the mother of Charles Gilliland, now deceased. Mrs. Bower's birth date was December 25, 1843, her parents being John S. and Maria (Riddle) Robison, who were natives of Madison county. Mrs. Bower passed away on November 10, 1914, leaving three children, John L., a machinist of Mt. Sterling; Eva M. Wickle, deceased, and Lela M., now Mrs. O. E. Looffbourrow, of Pleasant township.
Mr. Bower has always voted the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Christian church and an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being the present commander of J.C. Bostwick Post No. 406, at Mt. Sterling. Having led an unusually active life Mr. Bower retired from business in 1912, and is now living in his own home in Mt. Sterling, where he owns also one hundred acres of valuable land.
The career of this estimable farmer and lover of his country has been a long, busy and useful one, and his service has been of a kind which it is impossible to estimate in the common standards of value. His qualities of head and heart, which go to make up the full measure of a man, have endeared him not only to his immediate friends but to a neighborhood of extensive dimensions. He is the type of man who readily awakens esteem and admiration.
Biographical Sketch From History of Madison County, Ohio - 1915, B. F. Bowen and Company, Inc - Indianapolis, Indiana