Dutch Corner History Group

I have been researching my family (Bowser) history and with what information I have gathered to this point it seems that my 6th great-grandparents John Henry Bowser and Eve Maria Shellenberg were one of the early settlers in Dutch Corner. I will caution that I am early in my research and it is far from complete and subject to change as any research is, but I am posting this since it ties into the history of Dutch Corner.

The Bowser name was spelled different before America. Most have "Americanized" their name by 1850 to the English spelling of "Bowser". The old spellings were Buser, Bauser, Bausser, Bouser; which were used in different places at different times. I have read from my research that Buser was "High German" (Switzerland) spelling and Bausser was "Low German" (south Germany - Bavaria/Austria) spelling. I don't know what John Henry Bowser's original spelling was. His gravestone has "Bowser".

John Henry Bowser was born about Jan 1720. He lived in Lancaster County. His origin beyond that is currently unknown even though over the past 90 years several attempts have been made to determine his ancestry. This is documented in several books written over the years on the Bowser Family. The first book was written in 1922 by A. D. Bowser which was later amended by Charles A. Bowser. The third book was written in 2006 by Duayne A. Bowser. All refer to wills and land transfers for John and Eve. I have plans to obtain copies from the courthouse. John's will is in will book 1, page 270 of Bedford County.

Some people have posted family trees on the internet that list various parents for John, but none have sources to back them up. I am trying to only build me family history using sources to back it up. The Bowser book written in 2006 also refers to these attempts and notes the birth and death dates do not match up with John and Eve Bowser of Dutch Corner.

Eve Maria Shellenberg was the daughter of Hans Martin Shellenberg who emigrated from Switzerland to the British colonies in America with his wife, Freny, in the year 1735. Eve was born in 1728 so she would have been born in Switzerland and was about 7 years old when she arrived in America. Her parents were residents of Manheim Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Shellenberg has different spellings - Shellabarger, Schellenberg, Shellabarger, Shallenberger, Shallenberge.

John and Eve moved to Bedford County (then Cumberland County) in 1768

According to The Bowser Family History written in 1922 the first record of any Bowser in Bedford County after the creation of the county in 1771 is John Bowser. In 1772 Bedford Township tax records list John Bowser as a taxable with 100 acres of land, 2 horses and 1 cow. In 1774 he had 150 acres. The book lists Pennsylvania Arch, 3d series, Vol 25 page 456 as the source of the tax lists.

An application for a land warrant was filled 17 January 1774 for 150 acres. The patent was return 12 Oct 1774 which was surveyed at 153 acres. The name given for the tract of land in the 'loop of Dunnings Mountain' is "Bowser's Bowling Green"

Eve died 18 Dec 1802 and John died 19 May 1809. They are buried in a farm cemetery in Dutch Corner on what is believed to have been "Bowser's Bowling Greens" the land of John and Eve Bowser. This is believed to be part of the later and larger "Camp Ranch" which is the proposed "Old Ways Farm"

The headstones are still very readable for their age. John's headstone inscription reads "In Memory of John Bowser. Departed this life May the 12th in the Year of Our Lord 1809. Aged 89 Years and 5 months." Eve's headstone reads "In Memory of Eve Bowser. Departed this life December the 18th in the Year of Our Lord 1802. Aged 74 Years." Their headstones are the two that are side-by-side. In the same row two graves to the left (facing fromt of headstones) is the grave of John and Eve's granddaughter Elizabeth. She is the daughter of G. Bowser. She was born 1 Jan 1792 and died in 1805. Her headstone is of the same style as John and Eve's. Another headstone of the same style is in another row. I was unable to read the inscription, but according to information from old farm cemetery readings at the Bedford County Historical Society a Margaret Russell born 22 May 1839 aged 1 year is buried in the cemetery. I don't know if this is her headstone or not. Maybe a closer look at (or tracing of) the headstone would answer this. The info from the Historical Society is dated as copied 8 Oct 1939. I don't know if Margaret Russell was a Bowser relation (or Schnably relation?). There are clearly other graves that are marked with only "field stones". The one between Elizabeth and Eve has something carved in it, but I could not make it out when I visited the graves.

The names in Red below I can't confirm, but may be helpful to the Dutch Corner research

GENERATION 1

1. John Henry Bowser and Eve Shellenberg's family

GENERATION 2

2. George Bowser m. Margaret Swartz (one researcher had notes that first wife was Margaret Stambaugh who died 1823 and second was Swartz, but I can't prove either as correct yet)

3. Michael Bowser

4. Elizabeth Bowser m. John Mauk

5. Ann Elizabeth Bowser m. Henry Beckley

6. Eve Bowser m. John Arthurs

7. Magdalena Bowser m. Peter Swoveland

GENERATION 3

2. George Bowser and Margaret Swartz (or Margaret Stambaugh) family

8. Issac Bowser m. Sarah Berkheimer *

9. Jacob Bowser m. Catherine Imler **

10. John Bowser m. Margaret Zimmer (I have seen this as Zimmer, Zimmers, and Zimmerman... needs researched)

11. George Bowser **** m Elizabeth Zimmer (sister of Margaret ??) George was known as "Blackhawk George"

12. Eve Bowser m. Peter Amick ***

13. Mary Bowser (killed in a fall) (could be the "Elizabeth Bowser" buried near John and Eve - maybe "Elizabeth Margaret Bowser"?- there was another daughter Margaret)

14. Catherine Bowser m. Jacob Berkheimer *

15. Magraret Bowser m. Peter Berkheimer *

* Bekheimers were the children of John Berkheimer and Catherine Bowser (4) David (3) Matthias Jr (2) Matthias Sr (1) - this is the other main Bowser Family of Bedford County. These marriages are considered important links between the John Bowser from Lancaster County and Matthais Bowser Sr from York County. There is speculation that John Henry and Matthais Bowser Jr may have been brothers or other close relative, but no proof as yet. Many Berkheimers are burried in the "Old Union Cemetery" between Osterburg and Churchville.

** Catherine Imler (3) Conrad (2) George Michael Imler (1) (see "Dutch Corner Families" elsewhere in this site)

*** Eve Bowser granddaughter of John and Eve Bowser married Petter Amick. Story from The Bowser Family History(1922): "In 1815 Peter A. Amick came from Adams County, PA., where he was born in 1793., and settled on the land where the borough of St. Clairsville, Bedford County now stands. Mr and Mrs. Amick moved into a house which was without windows and doors. At first they hung up quilts which served as doors. Shortly after settling here Mr Amick began keeping tavern, and as his means permitted he added to his house and otherwise improved it. He was commissioned the first postmaster of the town and the office has been in the hands of the family ever since. He kept hotel and worked at his trade (coopering) until 1877 when he died in the 87th year of his age." (History Bedford and Somerset Counties).

**** George owned a flour mill and "distillary" on Bobbs Creek near St Clairsville". His daughter Eve was married to Peter Amick (see above) who had a tavern.



4. Elizabeth Bowser and John Mauk family:

16. Dorothy Mock

17. George Mock

18. Jacob Mock

19. Maria Mock

20. John Mock m. Susanna Donner


7. Magdalena Bowser and Peter Swoveland family:

21. John Swoveland - died in Ohio

22. Magdalena Swoveland

23. Christian Swoveland - died in Ohio

24. Daniel Swoveland - died in Indiana


GENERATION 4

10. John Bowser and Margaret Zimmer family: - moved to Colerain ~1845

25. Catherine Bowser m. Michael Holderbaum Jr (member of the State Assemby, 1842) - lived in Bedford area

26. Jonathan Bowser m. Elizabeth Earnest (my line) - lived in Colerain Township

27. Elizabeth Bowser m. Jacob Biddle

28. Jacob H. Bowser m. Catherine Bittiger

29. Eve Bowser m. William Beegle

30. Susannah Bowser m. ________ Miller

31. Margaret Bowser m. Charles Helsel


The Bowser Family History book lists excerpts of wills. One states " John Bowser St Clair Township, Bedford County B.K. l. 270, I John Bowser give my plantation and tract of land whereon I now live, containing 180 acres, to my son George". The Bowser Family History book also mentions this property John Bowser bought from Starcher. This does conflict the fact that John and Eve were buried in Bedford Township. I am not sure if John owned more than one tract of land or if there was confusion as to which township his property was in. It may also be that his land straddled both townships? Is the present day line between Bedford and St Clair (now East St Clair) Township the same as in the early 1800's? The book goes on to say George's son John (grandson of John Henry and Eve Bowser) later owned the homestead in St Clair Township. I found reference to a Sheriff Deed dated Jan. 10, 1822 that listed 123-acre 110 perch tract in Bedford Twp as owned by George Bowser. I will need to carefully review the early deed books of Bedford county to sort this all out.

John Bowser, son of George Bowser and grandson of John Henry Bowser married Margaret Zimmer, daughter of Frederick and Margaret Zimmer. (Margaret Zimmer mentions John in her will as married to her daughter Margaret).

I have one lead in my notes that Margaret (Zimmer) Bowser died 1846. The Bowser Family History John had a second wife _________ Shaffer. Shaffer was a dominant name in Friends Cove, Colerain Township.

The 1840 census lists John Bowser in Bedford Township. The 1850 census lists John Bowser in Colerain Township. John Died in 1860 and is buried in the "Twin Churches" cemetery in Freinds cove, Colerain Township. John Bowser's will (grandson of John Henry Bowser) lists him as residing in Colerain Township in June of 1859. Again I will need to research the land deeds carefully to see if the second John Bowser owned the "Old Bowser Farm" of Dutch Corner in 1840. Presently the "Camp Ranch" owned by Antonson is part of what I am calling the "Old Bowser Farm".

It appears that George Bowser lost his land in Bedford Township and St Clair Township in 1822 due to suits of the Allegheny Bank of Pennsylvania. Whether this included part the "Old Bowser Farm" on which John and Eve are burried is yet to be determined.

The following is some info that I found on PA-roots.com and need to do more research on these items. (the spelling is how I found it on the web; i.e "Culraine"?)

-- 7 Sep 1768. Articles of Aggreement between Jacob Starcher of Cumberland County and John Bowser of the same place. A proprietary warrant granted to John Fraser of Bedford. (Source:Calander of Tansaction, Deed Book A, p. 315, Bedford County, PA

-- 19 Aug 1773. Deed. John Bowser and Eve his wife of Bedford Twp, Bedford County, to Barnard Doughtery of Culraine Twp, Bedford County. A tract in Freinds Cove in Culraine Twp. (source: Calander of Tansaction, Deed Book A, p. 316, Bedford County, PA)

-- Henry BEEKLEY applied for 25 acres adjoining John BOWSER on the east and Michael FEATHER on the south in Bedford Twp. Price: 50 shillings per 100 acres, with interest to commence from 24 Jul 1793. Warrant granted 24 Jul 1793; executed 07 Sep 1795. Resurveyed 01 Jul 1802; executed same day. (Source: Early Land Applications, p. 31, Bedford County, PA)

-- 10 Jan 1822. George W BARKER Esq, High Sheriff, came into Court and acknowledged his deed to John BOWSER for a 20 acre 72 perch tract in St Clair Twp, adjoining Samuel SILLS and others, with the improvements and appurtenances thereonto belonging. Sold as the property of George BOWSER at the suit of the Allegheny Bank of Pennsylvania. Condideration: $10.00.
(Source: Sheriff Deeds, Bedford County, Common Pleas Docket 1, p. 160, Bedford County, PA)

-- Sheriff Deed dated Jan. 10, 1822. George W. Barker, Esq., High Sheriff to Dr. John Anderson, 123-acre 110 perch tract in Bedford Twp., adjoining Frederick Zimmers, Jacob Fetter, John Ickis (Ickes) and other land of George Bowser. This land was sold as the property of George Bowser because of the suit of the Allegheny Bank of Pennsylvania. Price: $500. (Source: Sheriff Deeds, Bedford County Common Pleas Court, Docket 1, page 161.)

-- Sheriff Deed, dated Aug. 06, 1822. George W. Barker, High Seriff, to Dr. John Anderson for (9) lots of ground in the town of St. Clair in St. Clair Twp., on one of which there is erected a good square log house and shop with a pump before the door. Sold as the property of George Bowser at the suit of The Allegheny Bank of Pennsylvania. Price. $155.
(Source: Sheriff Deeds, Bedford County, Common Pleas Docket 1, p. 178)


Note: Most (but not all) of the Bowser's in Bedford County are descendants of either John Henry Bowser from Lancaster County or Matthias Bausser II of York County. In my research John Henry Bowser and his family were the first Bowser's to settle "west" of the mountain in Dutch corner and a Matthais Bowser family descendant (another John Bowser) first settled "east" of the mountain in Hopewell township area. The families are now scattered on both sides of the mountain and across the country. Care has to be taken to keep the two John's straight since they resided in the county at about the same time.

Note to my original post: Most (but not all) of the Bowser's in Bedford County are descendants of either John Henry Bowser from Lancaster County or Matthias Bausser II of York County. In my research John Henry Bowser and his family were the first Bowser's to settle "west" of the mountain in Dutch Corner area and Matthais Bowser and his family first settled "east" of the mountain in Hopewell township area. The families are now scattered on both sides of the mountain and across the country.

Thanks for that, bbowser. It was very interesting. I have looked pretty closely at the old deeds for this place, which was the Bowser home place. I will have to get them out and look at them again in the light of the information you gave us.

I don't think this place should be called the "Old Openheimer Farm" because I don't think the Oppenheimers should be thought of as farmers. Norbert Oppenheimer was an entrepreneur who mined the farm for iron ore. He destroyed the land as a farm.

But this hollow should have an agreed name. Antonson's place, Camp Ranch, Openheimer (Oppenheimer is misplaced on the maps. This might be my chance to get people to pronounce it the old way.) Schnably farm, Bowser farm. In my prospectus for an Old Ways Museum I proposed to call it the Falling Water Farm.

We'll have to think about it.

The spring where Openheimer Run starts has always been called "The Barley Spring" after, I think, John Barley.

I am pretty sure that much of the story if this place is going to have to be put together through archaeology. I know of the footprints of many buildings, roads, railroads, mines, mine cart tracks, mills, and an inclined plane. When I eventually start to use a GPS and a metal detector, this effort will get a boost.

Also, my neighbor Andy Purke, a blacksmith, is very skilled at manipulating the maps available online.

Frank,

I agree maybe I shouldn't refer to the area as the "Oppenheimers". I edited my original posts as I mixed up some of the quotes from The Bowser Family History and got some of the other facts crossed. I will edit or add as I refine the data once I have a chance to study the actual deeds and wills since the book seems to conflict itself some.

I changed my reference of the Farm in Dutch Corner. I think for myself I will refer to it as the "Old Bowser Farm" since that would be more appropriate for my research as it seems to be the first owners, but also give reference that it is in part currently the "Camp Ranch" owned by Antonson when posting on this site. The Oppenheimer Farm reference was due to the cemetery listing at the Bedford Historical Society. When the headstone readings were done the Oppenheimer's owned the land, but the land should be referred to either Bowser or Camp depending on context of the post. Hmmmm..... it is something to ponder.

I am still not sure why the second John Bowser moved from Bedford Township to Colerain Township. If he did move between 1840 and 1850 as the census suggest, then it may be that his son Jonathan (also in my line) married a Mary A. Her last name I have not confirmed as of yet, But I speculate it was Diehl. The Bowser Family History says Jonathan's first wife was Elizabeth Earnest and second wife was a Mrs. Diehl, but I am pretty sure it was the other way around since I found an obit for Mary A, wife of Jonathan Bowser that listed death of 14 Feb 1847. I also found a marriage listing for Jonathan Bowser and Elizabeth Earnest for Dec 1848. Diehl was and still is a very common name in Friends Cove area of Colerain Township. John may have followed his son to live with him on land that could have been in the Diehl family. This is just a guess at this point. I have also seen several references to land transaction in Colerain Township tying into the Bowser family going all the way back to John and Eve of Dutch Corner. There was also a land transaction in Colerain Township for Frederick and Margaret Zimmer who would have been John Bowser's in-laws. This may take some careful study of deed transfers to get a better guess on why the move. Do you know the time frame from the deed history of your property when the land changed from the Bowser's to the Schnablys?

I also added the following to my original post:

I have one lead in my notes that Margaret (Zimmer) Bowser died 1846. The Bowser Family History John had a second wife _________ Shaffer. Shaffer was a dominant name in Friends Cove, Colerain Township. (another hint as to why the Bowser's left Dutch Corner?)


Henry BEEKLEY applied for 25 acres adjoining John BOWSER on the east and Michael FEATHER on the south in Bedford Twp. Price: 50 shillings per 100 acres, with interest to commence from 24 Jul 1793. Warrant granted 24 Jul 1793; executed 07 Sep 1795. Resurveyed 01 Jul 1802; executed same day. (Source: Early Land Applications, p. 31, Bedford County, PA)

We have a lot to work on.

I think we should in general call this place The Camp Ranch because that name precedes the more recent subdivisions and is basically the same land that Oppenheimer owned (more of which later).

I am very curious to find out the extent to which the Bowsers married other locals like Zimmers, Helsels, and others. I am a bit hurried at the moment so I will have to expand on this later.

Frank, I added the following to the post:

John Henry Bowser and Eve Shellenberg's family

George Bowser m. Margaret Swartz (one researcher had notes that first wife was Margaret Stambaugh who died 1823 and second was Swartz, but I can't prove either as correct yet)

Michael Bowser

Elizabeth Bowser m John Mauk

Ann Elizabeth Bowser m. Henry Beckley

Eve Bowser m. John Arthurs

Magdalena Bowser m. __________ Swoveland


George Bowser and Margaret Swartz (or Margaret Stambaugh) family

Issac Bowser m. Sarah Berkheimer *

Jacob Bowser m. Catherine Imler **

John Bowser m. Margaret Zimmer (I have seen this as Zimmer, Zimmers, and Zimmerman... needs researched)

George Bowser m Elizabeth Zimmer (sister of Margaret ??)

Eve Bowser m. Peter Amick

Mary Bowser (killed in a fall)

Catherine Bowser m. Jacob Berkheimer *

Magraret Bowser m. Peter Berkheimer *

* Bekheimers were the children of John Berkheimer and Catherine Bowser (4) David (3) Matthias Jr (2) Matthias Sr (1) - this is the other main Bowser Family of Bedford County. Many Berkheimers are burried in the "Old Union Cemetery" between Osterburg and Churchville.

** Catherine Imler (3) Conrad (2) George Michael Imler (1) (see "Dutch Corner Families" elsewhere in this site)

You're doing great! You have so much information, you should be proud to have that much! I totally understand your hesitation to believe what other people have posted on the internet. The 'net is a great place to get research, but you have to really be careful, because not everyone cares to research things as well as they should be. (I have to admit though, I've gotten quite a few ideas of where to at least look!).

I'm sure you already have this, but I thought it was neat. If you go to this link: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/BedfordPages/Bedford9.pdf , and look at number 25, there is listed a "Bouser, John" who was listed as getting a land warrant for 150 acres "on Br. Dunnning Cr. 7 mi. fr. Bedford", where the warrant date was 1/13/1774 and it was returned 10/12/1774 (it ended up being 153 acres). They did spell his name right for the patentee, and the survey drawing is located in C-7 p 99 (the link is http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20C1-C234/Book%20C007/Book%20C-007%20pg%20200.pdf for it). So, from that map, it looks like his land adjoined Michael Fetter (listed as "Michael Fedder"), William Trent and "Adam Griel" (which may be Adam Croyle, as I've seen it listed that way for Croyle).

I hope you can find some information that is helpful in your search!

Thanks Lora,

I never seen the web site for the land warrant registers. I'll check it out sometime. I have only started venturing into researching where the land was that my ancestors owned so land patents, warrants, and deeds are all new to me.

The Bowser name was spelled different before America. Most have "Americanised" their name by 1850 to the English spelling of "Bowser". The old spellings were Buser, Bauser, Bausser, Bouser; which were used in different places at different times. Bouser may have been the original spelling of his name. I have read from my research that Buser was "High German" (Switzerland) spelling and Bausser was "Low German" (south Germany - Bavaria/Austria) spelling. We don't know which we are of, but I was in Germany for three years while in the air force and visited the Bavaria region. I had this weird felling this was "home". Who knows. Sometime this week I plan on getting the copies of wills and looking into the deeds of some of the early Bowser's of Bedford and St Clair Townships (I already have some book and page numbers). I already have a copy of John's grandson John's (a.k.a "Miller John") will. I know the grandson could not write since he "signed" with a mark. I would like to see if John Henry Bowser signed or placed a mark on his will.

Bill

Frank, I added a little more:


*** Eve Bowser granddaughter of John and Eve Bowser married Petter Amick. Story from The Bowser Family History(1922): "In 1815 Peter A. Amick came from Adams County, PA., where he was born in 1793., and settled on the land where the borough of St. Clairsville, Bedford County now stands. Mr and Mrs. Amick moved into a house which was without windows and doors. At first they hung up quilts which served as doors. Shortly after settling here Mr Amick began keeping tavern, and as his means permitted he added to his house and otherwise improved it. He was commissioned the first postmaster of the town and the office has been in the hands of the family ever since. He kept hotel and worked at his trade (coopering) until 1877 when he died in the 87th year of his age." (History Bedford and Somerset Counties).

**** George owned a flour mill and "distillary" on Bobbs Creek near St Clairsville". His daughter Eve was married to Peter Amick (see above) who had a tavern.

Wow! This is awesome! But I can't keep up.
From my perspective, I would like to know if, through marriage, there were any Bowsers that remained in this neighborhood after the Bowser homestead passed to the Schnablys.