Bower family papers and photographs
MSS.352
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
June 08, 2015
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements..................................................................................7
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001................................................................... 8
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1887-1996.......................................................................................................... 14
Series 3: Photographs, 1862-2000.........................................................................................................16
Series 4: Audio recordings, 1962-1986.................................................................................................21
Series 5: Film, 1950.............................................................................................................................. 23
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Bower family
Title
Bower family papers and photographs
Date [inclusive]
1862-2001
Extent
7.1 Cubic feet (10 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 map case folder)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Bower family papers and photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Biographical Note
The Bower and Dowell families thrived for many generations in Indiana, specifically in the LafayetteFowler region. The families played an important role in local economies of the area, especially in
agriculture, sales, and manufacturing. The collection spans nearly five generations of Bowers and
Dowells, and it demonstrates the strong relationships between the family members along with their
dedication to their communities and the Catholic faith.
The Bower family can be traced to Catherine Klein, a Luxembourgish woman who travelled to the United
States with her widowed mother Catherine Obertin Klein. Catherine married Bernard Wetli, a Swiss
immigrant, in 1862, and together they had eleven children: Mary, William, Emma, Elizabeth, John, Frank,
Charles, Annie, Jennie, Eva, and Robert. Their third eldest child, Emma Theresia, married John Bower
on January 25, 1887 in Kentland, IN. John and Emma relocated to Fowler, IN, and settled at Prairie
View Farm. Together they had fourteen children: Charles, Genevieve, Frank, Susan (Sister Johanella),
Emma (Sister Carralilla), Margaret, Bernard, Anthony, Edmund, Wilfred, Conrad, Harold, Loretta (Sister
Emmalita), and Gregory. The Bowers were devoted followers of Catholicism, and each child was baptised
in the same ancestral baptismal gown that was crafted by John's mother Ann Bower. Three of the Bower
daughters—Susan, Emma, and Loretta—eventually became Catholic nuns.
Gregory, the youngest son of John and Emma, met his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Dowell Mendenhall after
he returned to the United States from service in World War II. Betty, who was the fourth child of Ray
and Celesa Dowell, was born and raised in Fowler, IN. In 1941, she married Duncan Mendenhall, and
together they had a daughter, Marsha. Only one year later, Duncan was killed in combat in World War
II. Betty and Gregory married on August 23, 1947, and Gregory adopted Marsha. They opened Bower
Typewriter in their hometown, but eventually moved their shop to Lafayette, IN and added cards and gifts
to their sales.
Betty and Gregory added five more children to their family: Mary, John, Janie, Betsy, and Barbara. Their
only son John would eventually found the Healthy House Institute, which was dedicated to building and
maintaining healthy homes.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, genealogy notes, negatives,
and audio and video recordings from the Bower family of Indiana ranging from 1871 to 2001 regarding
Bower and Dowell family history.
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Arrangement
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1887-1996
Series 3: Photographs, 1862-2000
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Subseries 3.2: Slides, 1982
Subseries 3.3: Stereo slides, circa 1954-1959
Series 4: Audio recordings, 1962-1986
Series 5: Film, 1950
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from John Bower on
2014/10/17.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2015/06/03 by Lindsey M. Vesperry. EAD finding aid created
2015/06/03 by Lindsey M. Vesperry. EAD finding aid revised 2015/06/05 by Brandon Pieczko.
Related Materials
Related Archival Materials
Materials relating to this collection may be found in the following collections in Archives and Special
Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie IN:
SPEC.061: John Bower and the Healthy House records and photographs
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Correspondence
Family papers
Photograph albums
Photographs
Silent films
Sound recordings
Geographic Name(s)
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
•
•
•
•
Fowler (Ind.)
Indiana--History--19th century--Sources
Indiana--History--20th century--Sources
Lafayette (Ind.)
Personal Name(s)
• Bower, John, 1949Subject(s)
• Catholicism
• Genealogy
• Oral history
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Collection includes audio cassette tapes, a 33 1/3 LP phonograph record, and an 8mm film.
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Scope and Contents
This series contains the correspondence, yearbooks, family tree diagrams, funeral guestbooks, and
other genealogy and family history papers of the Bower and Dowell families for the years 1871-2001.
Included are a prohibition speech by John Bower, Gregory Bower's handwritten biography, Wetli family
directories and newsletters, and a transcript of an interview with Susan Bower (Sister Johanella).
Dowell family genealogy notes and correspondence, 1871-1970
Easter Day card, 1882
Bower, John and Emma marriage certificate and marriages, deaths, and
Box
Folder
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Map-case
Drawer
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Box
Folder
births lists, 1887-1972
Dowell, Celesa copy of The Self Pronouncing S.S. Teachers' Combination
Bible, 1902
Bower postcard collection, 1906-1962
Dowell, Ray and Celesa marriage certificate, 1907
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Bower, Conrad lock of hair, c.1907
Bower postcard collection, 1908-1957
Fowler High School Prairie Gold yearbook, 1909
Fowler High School Prairie Gold yearbook, 1910
Bower, John copy of With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections by
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Rev. F.X. Lasance, 1911
Bower, John and Emma Wetli silver anniversary card, 1912
Fowler High School Prairie Gold yearbook, 1912
Bower, John prohibition speech, c.1920s
Day to Day with Dickens calendar, 1921
Mendenhall, Duncan Indianapolis Academy of Commercial Art report
card, c.1930s
St. Anns' Church Golden Jubilee Souvenir program, 1934
Bower, Gregory passport, 1936
Bower, Ralph and Gregory Bower correspondence, 1936-1939
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Bower, Frank and Gregory Bower correspondence, 1937/09/30
Bower Typewriter Company advertisements and correspondence,
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Map-case
Drawer
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Box
Folder
1940-1958
Fowler High School Maroon and White yearbook, 1941
Pathfinder magazine, Vol. 54 No. 4, 1947/02/12
Hallmark Anniversary Times newsletter, 1947/08/23
Bower, Gregory and Betty marriage certificate, 1947
Bower, Conrad funeral guestbook and newspaper clippings,1951-1960
Brookston, Indiana Centennial program, 1953
The Fowler Shopper newsletters, 1953
Bower, Conrad, Emma Bower, and John Bower Association of the Holy
Childhood certificates, 1960
Bower's Typewriters article in Office Appliances magazine, 1960 Apr.
Bower and Dowell family tree diagrams, 1962, 1978
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
The Wetli World newsletters, 1964-1981
Lafayette Country Club News, Vol. 16 No. 1, 1965 Jan.
Dowell, Celesa 80th birthday gift list, 1968
D'Antonio, Ann Funk, Our Family Tree: History and Genealogy of the
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Obertin Family of America, 1973
Lundy, George, "The St. John's Story" article, 1975 Dec.
Bower, Susan (Sister Johanella) "Recollections of my Bower
Grandparents" transcript, 1977 Jan.
Bower, Gregory Driveway Seal Coating business card, c.1977
Birthday card from Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, c.1977-1981
Bower, John and Ralph Bower correspondence, 1979/09/25
The Bower Manufacturing Company, Incorporated mailing envelope,
1979/09/25
Bower, Loretta (Sister Emmalita) correspondence, 1980/08/21
Bower, Gregory handwritten autobiography, c.1980s
Wetli family directory, c. 1980s
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Dowell, Celesa funeral guestbook and sympathy cards, 1981/02/23
57th annual Wetli reunion program, 1981
Surprise dinner party honoring Sister Emmalita (Loretta Bower) program
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and planning materials, 1982/02/14
Healthy house project newspaper clippings and articles, 1983-1985
Bower, Betty Beta Sigma Phi materials, 1984-1989
Bower, Betty address book and rolodex, c.1985
Bower, Betty Christmas correspondence, 1988
Bower, Betty and Beta Sigma Phi sisters correspondence, 1989/05/02
Bower, Betty holy cards, 1990/01/20
Bower, Betty funeral guestbook, obituaries, and death certificate, 1990
Peters, Janie Bower correspondence, c.1990s
Bower, Gregory funeral guestbook, 1992/04/26
Bower, Gregory holy cards, 1992/04/26
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 1: Genealogy and family history papers, 1871-2001
Bower, Gregory newspaper obituaries, 1992/04/30
President George H.W. Bush to Gregory Bower family sympathy
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correspondence, 1992
St. Alexis Hospital programs and history, 1993-1994
Bower, Wanda L. obituaries, 1996/02/06
Bower, Loretta (Sister Emmalita) funeral announcement and tribute, 1996
Bower, Loretta (Sister Emmalita) funeral guestbook, 1996/08/20
Spencer, Matt, Gregory Bower timeline, 2000/02/22
Bower family baptismal gown article, 2001/10/21
Bower and Wetli family genealogy notes, undated
Bower, Frank advertising show prints, undated
Bower, Gregory and Betty house description, undated
Dowell, Celesa recipe newspaper clipping, undated
Dowell, William A. business card, undated
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1887-1996
Gordon, Marsha Mendenhall Bower business card, undated
Handwritten biography of Mohandas Ghandi, undated
Mendenhall, Lucille correspondence, undated
Recipe book, undated
Story of Johnny Long handwritten manuscript, undated
Tiney, Gail correspondence, undated
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Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1887-1996
Scope and Contents
This series contains scrapbooks made by Celesa Dowell, Gregory Bower, Betty Bower, Jessie Hayes
Dowell, and Loretta Bower (Sister Emmalita). The scrapbooks commemorate weddings, vacations,
military service missions, holiday parties, and family businesses and include materials ranging in date
from 1887 to 1996. Included is a scrapbook containing The Wetli World newsletters.
Wetli and Bower family scrapbook, 1887-1931
Dowell family scrapbook, 1901-1960
Bower family scrapbook, c.1910
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1887-1996
Wetli family and travel scrapbook, 1910s-1926
Dowell, Celesa Burns family and travel scrapbook, 1910s-1963
Bower, Gregory family scrapbook, c.1910s-1977
Bower family scrapbook, 1916-1919
Bower and Wetli family scrapbook, 1924-1926
Bower family, travels, and public auction scrapbook, 1928-1932
Bower, Gregory trip to Europe scrapbook, 1936
Bower, Gregory U.S. air force scrapbook, 1943
Bower, Betty, Gregory Bower, and Sister Emmalita (Loretta Bower)
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scrapbook, 1936-1979
Bower, Betty Christmas card scrapbook, 1950-1984
Dowell, Celesa scrapbook, 1954-1964
Bower, Gregory family scrapbook, 1956-1961
The Wetli World newsletters and family photographs scrapbook,
1957-1972
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 3: Photographs, 1862-2000
Bower Typewriters Market Square shop scrapbook, 1958-1992
Bower, Betty newspaper clippings scrapbook, 1960-1992
Bower, Betty and Gregory friends, trips, and parties scrapbook,
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1962-1970
Hayes, Jessie Dowell scrapbook, 1964-1975
Dowell, Celesa scrapbook, 1970-1971
Sister Emmalita (Loretta Bower) scrapbook, 1991-1995
Sister Emmalita (Loretta Bower) scrapbook, 1991-1996
Bower, Janie and David Peters wedding scrapbook, undated
P.278 Series 3: Photographs, 1862-2000
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs, slides, and stereo slides of members of the Bower family ranging in
date from 1862 to 2000. Included among the photographs are images of the Bower family farm (Prairie
View Farm) and the Bower Typewriter Company.
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Box
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Folder
Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Bower, Bernard photograph, c.1906
Bower, Charles photographs, c.1897, 1907
Bower, Conrad photographs, c.1905, 1914
Bower, Elizabeth "Betty" Dowell Mendenhall photographs, 1920s-1980s
Bower, Emma (Sister Caralilla) photographs, c.1903-1923
Bower, Emma Wetli photographs, c.1882-1935
Bower farm photographs c.1890-1930
Bower farmhouse photographs, c.1930s
Bower, Frank photographs, c.1900, 1913
Bower, Genevieve photographs, c.1898, 1908
Bower, Gregory photographs, c.1915-1950
Bower, Gregory and Betty family group photographs, 1951-1981
Bower, Harold photograph, c.1916
Bower, Jacob photographs, c.1890
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Bower, John and Emma family group photographs, c.1904-1970
Bower, John and Emma family photograph negative, 1909
Bower, John photographs, c.1873-1910
Bower, Joseph photographs, c.1930
Bower, Loretta (Sister Emmalita) photographs, c. 1910-1922, 1982
Bower, Margaret photographs, c.1904-1917
Bower, Mary photograph, c.1890s
Bower, Ralph photographs, c.1917-1922
Bower, Susan (Sister Johannella) photographs, c.1901-1912
Bower, William and Ann photographs, c.1900-1910
Bower Typewriters Company photograph, 1938
Dowell, Ray and Celesa (Berns) family group photographs, c.1910-1981
Dowell, Fannie Celesa Berns photographs, c.1950
Dowell, Ray photographs, c.1920-1940
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Dowell, William and Maria Elizabeth family photographs, c.1890-1940
Gordon, Marsha Mendenhall Bower photographs c.1943-1970
Scheetz, John and Mary photographs, 1908
Sister Emmalita (Loretta Bower) and Emmaline Jansing family
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photographs, 1995-1996
St. Elizabeth of Hungary statue photographs, 1991
Unidentified Bower family member, c.1890s
Wetli, Catherine Klein photograph, c.1862
Wiese, Mary Bower photographs, c.1968, 2000
Appliance demonstration photograph, undated
Bower family photograph, 1909
Bower, Frank and Lula photograph, undated
Bower School corn exhibit photograph, undated
Bower School pine exhibit photograph, undated
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Subseries 3.1: Photographs and negatives, 1862-2000
Central Block grocery store photograph, undated
Forest in winter photograph, undated
Fowler, Indiana business men photograph, c.1910s
Kingsbury House photograph, undated
Man with camera standing near wall photograph, undated
Mendenhall, Duncan and Betty Dowell, c.1941
Older man with arms crossed photograph, undated
Prairie View Farm photograph, c.1922
Three boys at cave entrance photograph, undated
Three boys fishing photograph, undated
Three boys on construction site photograph, undated
Three boys on steps photograph, undated
Two men and woman in mirror photograph, undated
Two boys sitting on stoops of building photograph, undated
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Subseries 3.2: Slides, 1982
Wetli, Bernard and Catherine Klein photograph, c.1800s
Young boy on steps photograph, undated
Young boy photograph, undated
Young boy photograph, undated
Young boy riding carousel horse photograph, undated
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Slide
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86-91
Subseries 3.2: Slides, 1982
Sister Emmalita photograph slides, 1982
Bower family slides, undated
Subseries 3.3: Stereo slides, c.1954-1959
Bower family stereo slides, c.1954-1959
Graphic materials
Graphic materials
R.284 Series 4: Audio recordings, 1962-1986
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Box
10
Slide
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Box
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Slide
170-229
Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 4: Audio recordings, 1962-1986
Scope and Contents
This series contains audio recordings of oral history interviews and events involving members of the
Bower family between 1962 and 1986.
Other Finding Aids
An index was created by Archives and Special Collections staff to improve access to the Bower family
oral history recordings in this series. This index is available in Box 2 of the collection.
Index to Bower family oral history audio recordings
Box
Folder
2
35
Box
OVA 14
R.284.001 Farewell presentation to Sister Carorilla record, 1962
R.284.002 "Recollections of My Wetli grandparents, Berhard and
Box
Cassette
R.284
1
R.284
2
R.284
3
R.284
4
R.284
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R.284
6
Catherine (Obertin) Wetli," interview with Sister Johanella, 1976
R.284.003 Mass reunion audio cassette, 1981
R.284.004 Bower, Gregory to John Bower oral history audio cassette,
1986
R.284.005 Bower, Gregory to Ralph Bower oral history audio cassette,
circa 1986
R.284.006 Bower, Gregory oral history audio cassettes, circa 1986
R.284.007 Bower, Gregory oral history audio cassettes, circa 1986
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Bower family papers and photographs MSS.352
Series 5: Film, 1950
R.284.008 Bower, Gregory oral history audio cassettes, circa 1986
R.284.009 Bower, Gregory oral history audio cassettes, circa 1986
R.284.010 Bower, Gregory oral history audio cassettes, circa 1986
R.284
7
R.284
8
R.284
9
F.370 Series 5: Film, 1950
Scope and Contents
This series consists of an 8mm color film of John Bower's first birthday recorded in 1950.
Bower, John first birthday 8mm film, 1950
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Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
R.284.003: Mass reunion, 1981
Side A
Starts out with songs and prayer.
First reading from Isaiah, then continues with hymnal.
Second reading from Paul, then mass sings hallelujah.
Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.
Story told from theologians about Jesus’ death.
It will be Jesus’ return that will relieve us of all handicaps as told by the Samaritan with the dying
baby.
Mass stood and confessed in unison prior to prayer and hymnals.
Mass brings gifts, candles, wood, coat of arms, heritage, handicaps, water, wine, and bread to
the alter.
Communion then hymnals.
Lord’s Prayer
Hymnals
Side B
Hymnals and prayer.
Coat of Arms given to Ann due to her dedication to the church.
Closing blessing and hymnal.
R.284.004: Gregory Bower to John Bower oral history, 1986
Side A
Narrator speaks about the loss of Brent, Tony’s illness, and Joe’s new job in Elkhart.
He may have found a buyer for the lake cottage. Cottage was appraised at $51,000 but being
sold at $47,000 due to dismantling of the house. The cottage is also not on the lake, but is near
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
Tippecanoe Lake. They have disposed most of the equipment in the house. The estate was left
to several people.
Charlie and Frank knew very little about the family. The Bauer’s came from Pirmasens,
Germany or Schmitshausen, Germany.
Narrator is sending a map of Germany.
Talks about his interaction with Dick Datsman and how he knows him.
Narrator has a letter that was addressed to Dick from a German couple that asks for the missing
church books from Jakob Bauer (descendant of Peter). The books were later found and found to
have describe Jakob Bauer’s Baptism, Peter Bauer’s wedding, and Nikolaus Bauer’s wedding in
1774.
Mathias Bauer, father of Nick. Married Cathrina Ann Buffel.
Nickolaus Bauer, (Born Sept 10, 1748), son of Mathias. Living in Thaleischweiler. Married a
woman from Schmitshausen and moved there in 1808.
Peter (October 29, 1785) , son of Nick had four kids.
John 1809, born in Schmitshausen, died in 1874
Anna Barbara born in 1811
Jakob born in 1815
Catherine born in 1819
Jakob, son of Peter, moved to America in 1840 and married Susanna Burkhart and both came
from Thaleischweiler.
Susan’s father = Johann.
Mathias’ father = Johann Andreas.
Johan Andreas’ father = Johann Jacob Burkhart.
Jakob and Susanna sailed to New York from Hamburg or Bremen.
Dan and Ralph talk about how to look up maps and census to figure out where Jakob lived and
worked.
John diary, Jakob’s brother, suggested that all his children were born in Germany.
Jakob’s children had to be born in America because they were not married until they got to
America.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
John came to America then into the midwest in 1855 and Jakob left Brooklyn for the midwest in
1857.
John went Wisconsin to farm, but had 3 children in Germany.
Catherine born 1840- Married Henry Kauffung (Grandchildren are acquainted with
Ralph)
Joseph born in 1843- Married a Wagner
Elizabeth born in 1851- Married an Anton
Jakob’s son, John, was born in Chicago in 1860. The Bauers were in Chicago around that time.
Jakob died in 1888 and was a large landowner when he died.
Side B
Ralph’s family had 3 boys and one girl. The first boy is who he speaks of, and the second boy
committed suicide. Third boy is Joey who visited the narrator. The girl lived in Elkhart and has a
fair job. The oldests boy’s wife was chosen to Social Security law in Baltimore.
Ralph only had one grandchild named Matt who left a fourth of his estate to Ralph. Phyllis is
Ralph's present wife who owns another fourth.
Susanne Burkhardt left Germany with her husband Jakob so they could get married. They
could not get married because they were different religions.
Susanne and Jakob lived in Chicago then moved south of Chicago to farm.
Susanne and Jakob had eleven children and eventually moved to Kentland.
Joe moved to Kentland for land and married Mag
Bill moved to Kentland for land and married Ann
Bill’s daughter, Mary married Mike Peters
John moved to Benton County because he was jealous of the Kenland Bowers’ land.
Alec married Nora White then moved to Ashland Wisconsin and had three daughters.
Irene moved to California with a circus and married.
Mary never married
Katie married a Datzman
Jake stayed in Chicago and married Lena
Daughter named Nora
Pete stayed in Chicago
John started school in Newton County, northeast Kentland, and was asked to spell his last
name. He spelled it “Bauer.” The teacher told him he spelled it the “old country way” and not
the American way. From then on, John, Joe, Bill, and Alec changed their last name to “Bower.”
Mary did not change her name, and neither did the family from Chicago.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
R.284.005: Gregory Bower to Ralph Bower oral history, circa 1986
Jakob and Susanne raised all their children catholic.
John sold his land in Kentland and was able to buy twice as much land in Benton County.
**Most of what is on this tape was already said on tape R.284.004. Multiple tapes were made to
give copies to multiple people.
R.284.006: Gregory Bower oral history, circa 1986 [Tape 1 of 5]
Side 1
The Bower Story
John started school in Newton County, northeast Kentland, and was asked to spell his last
name. He spelled it “Bauer.” The teacher told him he spelled it the “old country way” and not
the American way. From then on, John, Joe, Bill, and Alec changed their last name to “Bower.”
Mary did not change her name, and neither did the family from Chicago.
Susan's tape will be tape one, this tape is number three.
Greg was not born until 1914 so the story is from what his brothers and sisters told him.
Greg’s father bought land east of Kentland.
Greg was born on June 1, 1914.
They lived on a farm, which was their job. They raised horses, hogs, and cows and sold cream
for groceries.
Greg's father read a lot of farm journals and was very progressive. He immediately made fences
around the hogs to eat the corn that was left after harvests.
They would use the horses to hedge their land quickly, and he tiled the pond.
The mother cooked for forty men.
The house had three bedrooms. One upstairs for four girls, another for the boys, and one
downstairs for the baby Loretta.
They would butcher hogs and cows for winter. The children got $50 a month for butchering.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
Gardening was supervised by the mother.
They would get up at 5 a.m. and would feed the animals. After that they would go inside and
eat breakfast. They would then need to tend to the fields at 6 a.m. They would stay out until
noon until they needed to feed the animals again. They would then eat a lunch before heading
back to the field until 6 p.m. in the evening. Every morning would be the same routine. They
would eat dinner then go to bed at 8 p.m.
The father did not believe in Purdue fielding so the family didn’t do Purdue farming. But ever
since his death, the family has been using Purdue farming.
Everything was horsepower in those years. They used horses to hedge. The wagons would be
pulled by horses to take to the sellers.
The father never made much money on cattle. Most money came from hogs.
In 1910, the parents built a new house because they needed more room.
They built a 14 room, 3 story, house that had a well, 4 toilets, 2 bathrooms, and wiring for
electricity. Water heat, radiators in each room, full attic with elevator from basement.
In the back was a building called the men house, where the hired men would sleep and where
the corn would be dried out.
In 1910, Suzy went to become a nun in Lafayette and Emma joined a year later.
Frank went to South America to be an international harvester, despite his father’s confidence in
him to stick it out. Frank left South America after one year because he didn’t care for
Europeans.
The mother decided to have a family picture taken of all 14 children. The picture is available in
John’s possession.
Greg was two when Wilfred died who just graduated in the eighth grade.
Charlie and Frank were married in 1912.
Mama could not go to Emma’s nun certification ceremony because she was pregnant with Greg.
Mama would supervise wash day on Mondays where they would wash the clothes in three
machines. The machines ran on gas and a line shaft. They would iron on Tuesday.
Jenny was married in 1917 to Pete Songkran. Hun was married a year later to Paul Ferrell.
They lived in Oxford and owned half interest in a theatre, and owned a grocery store, but sold it
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
because he had to go to the army in WWI. He got as far as Kentucky when the Armistice was
signed. Pete was called but only got to the depot. Burnette was stationed in Kentucky at Camp
Taylor. He got the flu. Edmund went to the liberty guard (National Guard)
Greg was pampered by his sisters. They would play dress up with him when he was a baby.
Greg was the only one born in the new house. The house had 6 rooms, all with walk in closets.
The house also had a library, reception hall. They only went in the library when they had
company. The sewing room was next to the dining room and the father’s office. There was a
large kitchen with a cook stove. There were two big cupboards and drawers. They also had
their own homemade bread. Everything was homemade. Off the kitchen was a hall where the
men would wash up. There were four porches that were separate. They had a wicker swing
and straw rug. Mama had baskets and porch boxes where she raised her flowers.
They all wore long stockings and a garter belt.
The mother would dress either in new clothes or old clothes. When she wore new clothes it
meant she was going out.
When Greg was six he went to the sacred art academy. Loretta, Harold and Greg boarded
there. They would stay from Monday through Friday.
They had a Buick.
Greg missed his first year because he needed to get his tonsils taken out. The second year,
they were boarded again. Greg became homesick and acted sick to see his parents again. In
the second grade, his siblings drove them to school until Greg could drive.
Greg would put rocks in the stove in the winter. He would then put the rocks in his clothes.
Harold would take off with the car after school to play with his friends. Greg and his sister would
be left at school. When they got home, Dick, the older brother, was in charge because the father
was getting old. Dick would raise hell at Harold.
Greg had to deal with the eggs when he was younger. When Greg got older he got to milk the
cows.
Side 2
Greg got in trouble for sticking a pin in a girl’s bottom.
Greg was competitive with another student about who could get the better grades.
Greg went to an academy for high school.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
The family sold the farm in 1930 and moved to Fowler, Indiana.
In 1922, Charlie bought a farm where he could make gravel. He learned out of Purdue and
made the father mad.
The family would get their ice from a nearby city. Charlie had electric lights before his father.
The mother became jealous and made the father sell the playhouse to get electric lights.
After ten years of farming, Charlie went into debt because his wife was a big spender. The
father took over the farm to prevent Charlie from going bankrupt.
In 1920, the father bought an 80 acre farm at 100 dollars an acre and improved many farms
around the area. He built a new barn, gas powered chicken house, two car garage. Took a year
to build the new house made of all oak.
Frank did not like farming so he invented an adjustable trailer to haul heavy objects. Frank
moved to Fowler and bought a blacksmiths shop. He met a man from Indianapolis who sold
stock and made Frank and the family lose a lot of money. He then worked in the printing
business, where Greg worked in high school.
Greg also had a job plowing corn for long hours.
Farming was good until 1926. So the family started to foreclose.
The father had a stroke in 1927 and died on June 1st. The insurance companies all foreclosed
the farm while the family got half the earnings.
Harold ran away when he was 16 and went to Gary and worked in a garage.
Conner didn’t like farming and went away to become a checker for theatres around America.
Harold went with the royal Hawaiians.
Burnette moved to Fowler to drive a truck.
Charlie got a good job at a packing company but was fired for overstepping boundaries. He then
got another job selling real estate. Jenny got sick and died around the same time.
Paul sold real estate but didn't’ do well.
Greg saved money to raise ducks for fun.
Greg finished high school and worked at a cafe for a dollar a day. He quit. Then worked at a
printing shop.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
Greg got a job to drive a widow to California.
Suzy was at an orphanage in Lincoln, Nebraska. Greg convinced the widow to stop there so he
could see Suzy.
Greg made it to California and had to hitchhike to LA to find a job. He wanted to look into the
movie picture studio business.
R.284.007: Gregory Bower oral history, circa 1986 [Tape 2 of 5]
Side 3
Greg ended up joining the Air Force in California.
Greg was sent to the West coast when he was 29 years old. He ended up in Angel Island as a
jumping off point for overseas. The next day they followed the coastline and ended up in
Panama north of a canal.
He got a perfect score as a typewriter mechanic and met Lester the barber who knew Captain
Hicks. He ended up being a typewriter mechanic with Captain Hicks for a year. He left because
he felt discouraged because he got low ratings. He signed up to go to school to learn how to do
typographic work decoding messages at Albrook Field. He then went to Howard Field to
teletype planes. He stayed four months and went to radio teletype. Then went to The Rock for
four months to do cryptographic work. He went back to Albrook Field met a guy in the FBI who
spied on him.
He was called up by the first sergeant who told him he would be sent to Miami to be transferred
by GI transportation to Chicago so he could go back home in Fowler, IN.
When in Fowler, he continued the typewriter mechanic business.
He decided to settle down with a girl named Betty Mendenhall whose father just passed away.
He went back to Miami until the war ended. He was discharged and sent back to Indianapolis.
He continued the typewriter business, which had done very well.
He married Betty.
Greg obtained several typewriters from a war surplus and sold them.
Children started coming so he sold one of his houses he was renting out. With that money he
added an addition to the house.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
He went into town and rented a place to do his typewriter business.
Side 4
Greg worked for Conrad for two years in the bakery and was an agent for a typewriter company.
Some of Greg’s best years was being a water boy during the threshing season.
Greg fell off a horse and got a brain concussion.
He went to Lafayette to get fitted for a pair of glasses that he hated wearing.
When he first moved Fowler, before starting his printer business, he mowed yards for Mrs.
Sleeper. She gave Greg a job with a lawyer.
Greg bought a safe from a random guy in an alleyway.
The word grew that he was a typewriter repairman.
Greg didn’t have a car while working at the bakery, but he borrowed Conner’s car to deliver and
repair typewriters.
When Greg was in Europe, he visited Rome, and London. The most interesting thing he saw
during the trip was the Statue of Liberty.
In 1938, Greg went full time in the typewriter business from his basement. Business was
booming so Greg got a Chevy as his first car. $10,000 a year around the time of the
Depression.
In May 1942, Greg was sent to Indianapolis to enter the Army after Pearl Harbor. Soon after
joining, he got a call that his mother was ill and in the hospital. He went to the commanding
officer to see if he could go back home. He went home. His mother was in the hospital but still
alive when Greg arrived. Soon after his arrival, Greg’s mother passed away. Greg only got to
stay for ten days before he had to go back to the Army. So Greg spent the remainder of his ten
days to go to his mother’s funeral and collect accounts from people for his typewriter business.
R.284.008: Gregory Bower oral history, circa 1986 [Tape 3 of 5]
Side 5
Greg made his way around the west coast before coming back to Indiana.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
When he came back to Indiana, Greg wanted to buy the house. He bought the house from
Charlie for $4500. In the meantime, Betty had built a home and Greg liked the heat furnace and
bought it before installing it in the house he just bought.
Betty and Greg got married and sold Betty’s house. Greg and Betty lived in their newly bought
house from 1947 to 1955. The first years were great because they both made around $12,000
a year. Then in 1953, they sold everybody a typewriter and didn’t have anybody else to sell a
typewriter to. So they started to start a mimeograph business and sold ads in a booklet.
Overtime, they found it was hard and not a lot of money.
They started a store to make more money, but it didn’t last long.
They then started their typewriter business again in one of the first shopping centers in
Lafayette. Since the shop was moving they needed to sell their store in Fowler.
It was hard to compete with other furniture stores so they put the typewriters and furniture stores
together. They then made a deal with a guy who would eliminate the use of cash by taking loans
and making the buyer make payments toward the loan rather than Greg’s store.
Greg bought a new place very cheap to build up a gift shop. The kids worked for him, so labor
costs were low. They ended up making a respectable profit.
Once the kids left for college they started to lose money. In 1979 they sold the store and moved
to Florida in a house they owned half interest.
Side 6
Greg was contracted to sell typewriters with his boss’s wife Edna only because she had a liking
to young boys.
Greg is 73 years old in this tape. He was married to Betty at 34 years of age. Although he did it
briefly, Greg was the only person in real estate in Fowler. When an international harvester
came into town, Greg sold him a house higher than the actual value because international
harvesters are used to high prices for homes.
R.284.009: Gregory Bower oral history, circa 1986 [Tape 4 of 5]
Side 7
Greg talks about his time at Germany, England, and France.
When he got back from overseas, he went to work for Studebaker selling automobiles.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
When Greg moved to Lafayette, there was another business owned by the Bowers (no relation).
Greg used coincidence of the same last name to coast with their reputation within the city.
When Greg and Betty went to Dallas, they met with Gill Bower.
The reason Greg made side 7 & 8, was because John said that he missed a lot of stories.
Greg went to several places for winter vacation.
Greg talks about his time in Mexico City.
Side 8
In 1936, there was an ad for an all-expenses paid trip to Europe.
Greg went to Chicago to take a train to New York to ride the Queen Mary ship, which was built
to break the world record of fasted trip across the ocean. Greg’s trip broke the record.
His roommate was Ed Elliott, who was played basketball at Purdue. The trip from New York to
Europe took five days. Ed and Greg were the only two single men in a train full of potential
women. They spend a lot of their time looking for women.
They arrived at England and spent five days there. They then went to Holland, Germany,
Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
R.284.010: Gregory Bower oral history, circa 1986 [Tape 5 of 5]
Side 9
Greg and his family went to California to visit the rest of the Bowers. They got free tickets to
Disneyland. They also visited many movie studios. They did the entire trip for less than $1000.
The family went around Illinois to visit the life of Abe Lincoln.
One day the family just wanted to get away, so they drove to Louisville to visit a cigarette
factory, a bourbon factory, and visited the president.
The Bowers did not drive to Chicago from Lafayette because the cost for car upkeep carrying
seven people was more expensive than flying.
Greg talks about his time in Chicago and his connections within the city. Most of his
connections would pay for Greg’s family to do several things in Chicago.
Appendix: Index to Bower Family Oral History Audio Recordings (R.284)
Greg wanted to start a gift shop in a Georgia mall, but only lasted a year because of the
department stores in the malls. When a mall opened in Lafayette, Greg decided to retire.