BOWER, Joseph ^{2 3 4}

   Cause of his death was congestion of the lungs.³

   Another name for Joseph was SCHWERDFEGER, Joseph.^{5 6}

  General Notes:

According to a Rootsweb reference, he had a common school education. He was a general merchant at Kemptville, Canada, during his active life. In politics he was a Conservative, and he served the county as coroner. He was a member of the Church of England and was warden for a number of years.

Certain references indicate that Joseph Bower was the son of William Bower. However his date of birth precedes the marriage of William Bower to Elizabeth Schwerdtfeger. Also, the will of Rev. John Bower indicates that part of his estate was divided among his brother William's children, since William had died before John. The disbursement from John Bower's will only lists 3 children for his brother William i.e., John Conrad Bower, Robert Samuel Bower and Anne Bower or Huntington. Therefore it is unlikely that Joseph Bower was William's biological son.

The following information was provided by Dixie Cutler:

Now for the skeleton! I became convinced some time ago that my GGG Grandfather, Joseph Bower, was not William's biological son. It simply did not make sense that they had Joseph in 1813, married in 1819 and then had three more children. (There is an LDS record somewhere that puts him as their son, but I have concluded it was an error.)

I found William J. Bower's will when on holiday in the area some years ago. I was struck by the phrase "what I always looked upon as my constituted family consisting of Joseph, John Conrad, Ann Catherine and Robert Samuel Bower." That seemed to confirm that, while William may have raised Joseph, he was not his father. I was pretty sure Elizabeth was his "real" mother, however, as he named his first daughter Elizabeth.

A distant cousin of mine who lives in Ottawa was kind enough to track down the Lutheran Baptism records. Due to the defection of Rev. Weagant to the Anglican Church, the Anglican diocese holds them. I am convinced that this is the baptism of Joseph Bower. He was baptized as Joseph Schwerdfeger on May 14, 1815 by John Weagant, the mother is listed Eliz. Schwerdfeger and father "uncertain". The witnesses were John Weagant, Henry Schwerdfeger, and Mary Schwerdfeger.

Joseph's headstone gives age at death as 56 years, 10 months and four days. That puts his birth as 3 December 1813. Perhaps the uncertain father was involved (Canada or USA) in the War of 1812 and the pregnancy was a wartime event. I do not see any way to ever find out, of course! I feel certain it must have been quite a scandal at the time, with her being the granddaughter of Rev. Schwerdfeger. It is nice to see, by the names of witnesses, that some of her family stood by her. Also nice too that William treated Joseph as one of his own. ^{6 8 9}

  Baptism Notes:

The sponsors for his baptism were Jacob Weagant, and Henry (Elizabeth's cousin) and Mary Schwerdfeger (Elizabeth's sister). It is nice to see that Elizabeth's family was supporting her since she was on her own, as Joseph's father is listed as "unknown" in the baptism register.

  Facts and details for Joseph Bower:

• He lived in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada from 1813 to 1830.

• He was adopted on 14 Mar 1819 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada. Although there is no record of a formal adoption, the date of William and Elizabeth's marriage is being used.

• He lived in Mountain, Dundas, Ontario, Canada from 1830 to 1831.

• He lived in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada from 1831 to 1834. ^{10 11 12}

• He owned land consisting of the west 80 acres of lot 3, Concession 7 in 1848 in Mountain, Dundas, Ontario, Canada. ¹³ This property was inherited from his father. This property is currently located between Hyndman and Shaw Roads at about 10237 Hyndman Road.

• He worked as a postmaster before 1851 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁴ Before the establishment of a postoffice on 6 July 1851, the mail came in by stage running from Prescott to Ottawa, and was left at a small office near the eastern boundary of South Gower, where Joseph Bower was installed as the postmaster.

• He was the owner of a store and is listed as a merchant in 1851 in Oxford Township, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁵

• He lived in Oxford Township, Grenville, Ontario, Canada in 1851. ¹⁵

• He was the owner of a saw mill in 1856 in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. The John C. Bower and co-operative company began in Osgoode in 1856 along the Old Prescott-Bytown Road that would be known as West Osgoode. The members of the company were John Conrad Bower, Joseph Bower, James Porter and Andrew Blackburn, general merchants and proprietors of steam saw mills. The mill was established at a cost of $300 with a 16 horsepower engine and capable of turning 800,000 feet of lumber per year. In connection with the sawmill there was an extensive turning factory where table legs and bedsteads were turned out in large quantities.

• He was the owner of a store and is listed as a merchant in 1861 in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁶ In 1851 he was the owner of a store and is listed as a merchant in Kemptville. In 1859 he built a new store on the North-West corner of Clothier and Barnes Streets (119 Clothier Street East) in Kemptville which he operated until his death in 1870. It was a general store and also housed a tailor shop on the second floor. In 1888, an Agricultural Fair was being held in Kemptville, and it became the first building in Kemptville to be lit by electric lights, as lines were run especially for the occasion. In 1892 the building was bought by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, two years after they had arrived in Kemptville. The store was remodeled with lodge rooms on the second floor, and an Opera House on the ground floor. This hall had been used by the community for public and private events, annual Fireman's Balls and regular dances, plays and concerts. For a few years in the 1940's, Mr. Vincent Kelly used it as a movie theatre on Saturday nights.

• He lived in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada in 1861. ¹⁶ Their house was located on the southeast corner of Clothier and Lydia Streets and backed on to Kemptville Creek. The house was torn down in the 1900s and new homes were built in its place.

• He owned land in 1862 in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁷ Joseph owned several properties in Oxford Township. The property that is now contained within the town of Kemptville was 100 acres at Concession II, lot 26 which is now the north-west corner of regional roads 43 and 44.
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• He owned land in 1862 in Oxford Township, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁷ Joseph owned several properties in Oxford Township. The properties include:
- Concession III, lot 19 (100 acres); and
- Concession V, lot 22 (50 acres).
.

• He owned land in 1862 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁷ He owned land identified as Concession IV, lot 13.

• He worked as an as a director on the Board of Directors for the Ottawa and Prescott Railway in 1864 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ^{18 19} This appointment resulted from Joseph's involvement in the very early meetings commencing in December 1850 to consider building the railway to replace the stage coach service that operated on a wagon trail at the time.

• He was buried at the St. James Anglican Church Cemetery in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada on 9 Sep 1870. ⁴

• A legal document entitled Release of the Estate of Joseph Bower to J. C. Bower was signed on 11 Jan 1871. The reason for this document was likely the numerous partnership and joint business ventures between Joseph and his brother John Conrad. The text of this release is as follows:

This Indenture made on Eleventh day of January AD 1871.

Between Mary Ann Bower of the Village of Kemptville in the County of Grenville, widow of the late Joseph Bower, in his life time of the same place, merchant now deceased of the first part and John Conrad Bower, of the township of Osgoode in the County of Carleton, merchant of the second part.

In hereas there have been divers partnership accounts dealings and transactions between the above named Joseph Bower (whose Executrix the above named Mary Ann Bower) and John Conrad all of which have now been finally adjusted, settled and disposed of, and the said Mary Ann Bower as such Executrix and the said John Conrad Bower have respectively agreed to give each other the mutual releases and discharges - hereinafter contained in manner hereinafter expressed.

Now therefore these present witness that in consideration of the promise and of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of Canada to each of them no said man of Ann Bower and John Conrad Bower respectively paid by the other of them at or before the execution hence the receipt of them is hereby acknowledged the said money Ann Bower as such Executrix doth hereby Release, acquit and forever discharge the said John Conrad Bower his heir/heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assessors of all debts actions of causes of action suits and demands whatsoever either at Law or in Equity or otherwise howsoever, which the Estate of the Late Joseph Bower how has or was had or might or could have against the said John Conrad Bower prior to the date of these presents. And the said John Conrad Bower, doth hereby Release and acquit and forever discharge the said Estate of the Late Joseph Bower of all debts actions or causes of actions suit and demands whatsoever either at Law or in Equity or otherwise howsoever which the said John Conrad Bower now or ever had or might or could have against the late Joseph Bower prior to the date hereof arising out of said partnership dealings and transactions. In witness whence of the said parties have hereunder set their hands and seals on the day and year first above written - in Duplicate.

Signed and sealed in the presence of J. W. Bower

Mary Ann Bower
John C Bower.

• His biographical sketch was written in 1903 by J. Carr Anderson in his book Kemptville Past and Present. ²⁰ Exerpt as follows:

In 1835 there came to Kemptville a young man who in after years became prominent in commercial circles. We refer to the late Joseph Bower. He was born on a farm on the 4th concession of South Gower (Note: acutally born in Williamsburg then moved to South Gower with his family), near the Mountain line. He was first employed by Beauman & Henderson for a year, then (1836) by Averell & Hooker for a similar period. He then started business for himself in a small frame building on Clothier street, which was for years known as "The Brown Front." This building furnished him both store room and dwelling for many years. It is yet standing and is one of the few relics that remind us of pioneer days, when neighbors were few and hospitality though less formal was none the less genuine and freely given. Here Mr. Bower remained until 1850 when he moved into the stone building formerly occupied by Beauman & Henderson. He did a very successful business and rapidly acquired property. In 1859 he built a large brick block on the corner of Clothier and Henry streets, which was for three decades the commercial emporium of this locality. It was, after his death (1870), for several years continued by his sons and son-in-law. The firm, of which he was the head, was at different times known as Bower & Huntington; Bower, Porter & Blackburn, and Bower, Porter & Bower. By the latter it was known when the firm went out of business in 1870. In 1847 Mr. Bower started a distillery which he operated for some time, William McGregor being his distiller. All his ventures seem to have been successful financially. In addition to his fine business block, which is now the property of the I.O.O.F. lodge and by them converted into a hall and opera house, he built a very fine private residence on the corner of Clothier and Lydia streets, which is to-day among the finest in town. It is still occupied by his widow. Mr. Bower was for many years treasurer of the village, was connected with the School Board and in other ways identified with the interest of the community.

Joseph married Mary Ann HUNTINGTON, daughter of Dr. Silas HUNTINGTON and Mary ADAMS, in Jan 1837 in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada.¹ (Mary Ann HUNTINGTON was born on 20 Jun 1818 in Madrid, St. Lawrence, New York, United States,²¹ died on 1 Dec 1908 in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada ^{21 22} and was buried on 1 Dec 1908 in Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario, Canada ^{21 23}.). The cause of her death was listed as infirmities of age.³