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John H. Bowers – 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 1, 2018
John H. Bowers is named on the Millersburg Soldier Monument as “J. H. Bowers.” During the Civil War he served in the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry.
The Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives shows that at age 34, John H. Bowers enrolled in the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry on 28 February 1865, at Harrisburg, and was mustered into service in Company K as a Private at the same place on 3 March 1865. He declared that he had been born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and that his occupation was tobacconist. At that time, he stood 5 foot 10 inches tall, had brown hair, a dark complexion and blue eyes. He served until 28 June 1965, when he was mustered out with his company.
On 26 February 1876, John H. Bowers applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service. He was awarded the pension, as shown on the Pension Index Card (above) from Fold3. John died in 1909, leaving no widow.
Several obituaries were located for John H. Bowers.
The Elizabethville Echo of 29 April 1909, stated the following:
John H. Bowers, a former resident of Millersburg, died at the home of his daughter in Harrisburg last Friday aged 77 years. The funeral was held in the M. E. Church at Millersburg on Monday afternoon. Interment was made in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Bowers was a Civil War veteran and a member of the Odd Fellows.
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 24 April 1909:
Death of John Bowers.
John J. Bowers, aged seventy-seven years, died yesterday morning at 4:45 o;clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Kirchner, 1925 North Sixth street, after an illness lasting for several months. Besides his daughter he is survived by three grandchildren. The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock in charge of Rev. John Daugherty, pastor of Ridge Avenue Methodist Chrurch. Monday morning the body will be sent by Undertaker Sourbier to Millersburg for interment.
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 26 April 1909:
Funeral of J. H. Bowers.
The funeral sevrices for John H. Bowers were held yesterday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Kirschner, 1725 North Sixth Street. The body as sent this morning by Undertaker Sourbier to Millersburg.
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 26 April 1909:
JOHN H. BOWERS
The remains of John H. Bowers were shipped today by Undertaker Sourbier to Millersburg for interment. Mr. Bowers died Friday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alda Kirchner, 1725 North Sixth Street, aged 83 years. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Millersburg. Funeral services were conducted at the home of Mrs. Kirchner at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon by the new pastor of the Ridge Avenue Methodist Church.
The final resting place of John H. Bowers, as previously stated, is Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg. There is some dispute over his birth year. The stone appears to indicate 1822, but has been read by some, including Findagrave, to be 1832. The age at death of 83, if the 4th obituary above is to be accepted, would make his birth year about 1826. If the other three obituaries are to be believed, then 1832 would be the correct birth year. If the Veterans’ File Card is to be believed, and he was 34 at the time of enlistment in 1865, then he was born in 1831.
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News clippings from Newspapers.com.
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