George W. Bowers was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 9, 1853, and is of German descent, although several generations of the family have been residents of this country. Christian Bowers, the father of George W., was born in Merland, Virginia. He married Miss May Smetzer, a native of Pennsylvania, and sons and daughters to the number of thirteen were born to them. Of this family eleven are still living, namely: Catherine. Elizabeth, George W., David, Charles, Emma, Edward, Lotta, John, Alice and Dextor. The father was by trade a cooper, at which he worked previous to the civil war, and since then he has lived on a farm. He is now nearing his eightieth milepost marking the years of life, and his good wife is past seventy. Both are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have long been identified.
George W. Bowers was reared in Fairfield county, Ohio, and received his education in the public schools. Industry and careful economy in youth and early manhood, continued to the present, have brought him comfort and plenty. In 1884 he purchased his present farm, eighty acres of land, near Norway, in Miller township, LaSalle county, which is well improved and under excellent cultivation.
In March, 1883, Mr. Bowers married Miss Lorinda Knickerbocker, the daughter of James B. Knickerbocker, a well-known citizen of this county, and his wife, Catherine (Lattimer) Knickerbocker. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have six children, - five sons and a daughter, namely: Lester C, Benjamin H., Duncan G., Bessie Belle, Harald Dewey and James N.
Mr. Bowsers is a man well informed on all questions of the day, harmonizes with the Republican party, and at this writing is a member of the school board, on which he has served for some time.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 322-323.
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