bowkerg
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
GEORGE M. BOWKER is certainly
one of the earliest pioneers in the Big Bend country, and since those days
of trials and hardship, has bestowed his labors here with becoming wisdom
and is now reaping the rewards of good possession due to his industry and
skill. He resides about twelve miles northeast from Wilsoncreek,
where he has a large estate of nearly one thousand acres. Three hundred
acres of this land are well supplied with irrigating water and produce
more hay than his stock is using. He handles well bred cattle, having
introduced some excellent red Durham bulls and other good breeds.
Formerly Mr. Bowker gave his attention to raising horses, but as the market
became low, he sold for nine dollars per head and is now handling cattle
altogether.
George M. Bowker was born in Phippsburg, Maine,
on June 28, 1852, the son of Timothy B. and Elizabeth (Morrison) Bowker,
natives of Maine. The father was one of the large lumber operators
in Maine and also a large ship builder. He was prominent in politics
and held a seat in the legislature. Our subject was educated in the
public schools of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in 1877, came west to Oregon.
Settling at Cooks bay, he operated in lumber lines, then journeyed to San
Francisco. It was in 1879, that he came to the Big Bend and here
worked for Peter Myer, on Crab creek. Later he wrought for George
Urquhart and during this time started in the horse breeding business for
himself. He bought a section of land from the Northern Pacific where
he now lives and has since added by government rights. Mr. Bowker
has continued steadily in the horse and cattle business here and is now
recognized as one of the leaders in this enterprise. He has won the
good will of all and is really a part and parcel of the Big Bend.
Mr. Bowker has two brothers, Freeman C. and William R., and four sisters,
Mrs. Maria Perry, Mrs. Emma Campbell, Mrs. Lottie Rogers, and Mrs. Lepa
Cutting.
The marriage of Mr. Bowker occurred in Spokane,
in June, 1892, Mrs. Olive A. Willis becoming his bride then. Her
parents, Oliver R. and Ruth E. (Malcolm) Spinning, are natives of Maine
and of English and Scotch ancestors. Mrs. Bowker was born in Phippsburg,
Maine, in 1859. By her former marriage she had one son, John Clarence.
He was born in Phippsburg, Maine, on June 14, 1880, and died in Douglas
county, on October 16, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Bowker are adherents of
the Congregational church. In 1897, they had the great misfortune
to lose their residence and all its contents by fire.
It is of note that Mr. Bowker's grandfather
fought in the war of 1812.
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