 |
|
|
Farm Name |
Bowdle
Family Farm |
|
Owners |
John,
Judy, James, David, William, Charles, and Donald Bowdle, and Nancy Bozek |
|
Original Owners |
Henry
and Sarah (Withgott) Bowdle |
|
City |
Chillicothe |
|
County |
Ross |
|
Year Established |
1802
and 1803 |
|
Number of Acres |
175
acres on 5 tracts |
|
First Purchased |
1802 and 1803 by Henry Bowdle from Dorchester County, Maryland |
The
farm today. Today, the farm
is rented to distant cousins, Rick and Ron Bowdle, who grow a rotation of corn,
soybeans, wheat and hay. The existing fields are small and pose a problem for
today’s large farm equipment. Cattle, hogs, and chickens existed on the farm
until the 1940s, when the hogs and chickens were sold off. The cattle remained
until the 1960s.
The
farm in 1803. The earliest
farm records date back to the 1830s when the owner died in possession of items
that would indicate he had cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep, and grew corn,
wheat, and hay. It is believed they spun their own wool with a spinning wheel.
They also had 13 apple trees of which the fruit was sold to buyers at the autumn
estate sale. The inventory of the second generation estate lists two steers, one
bull, and two heifers valued at $16.
Notable
ancestors and accomplishments.
Four generations of Bowdles were surveyors, beginning with Henry, who surveyed
tracts for the Virginia Military Survey with Duncan MacArthur, Ohio Governor
from 1830 to 1832. In addition to farming activities, future generations held
important posts in the community: Thomas Bowdle was an Overseer of the Poor for
Union Township; Richard Whatcoat was a Justice of the Peace; and James Finley
was a school board member for Union Township School District 13.
Compiled
by Melanie Wilt, ODA Communications (614) 752-9811.