BOWER, John Conrad ^{3 4 5}

   Cause of his death was old age.³

   Another name for John was J. C..¹⁰

  General Notes:

History of West Osgoode and Osgoode Station:

History records that the first locomotive whistle alerted the sparsely-settled area east of the Rideau River in 1854. When the rail line was completed there was actually no Osgoode as it is known today. There was, however a settlement two miles to the east known as West Osgoode and in the years to follow, realizing the value of rail service, community growth began to shift nearer the then ultra-modern communication system, and thus Osgoode Station was born.

  Baptism Notes:

The witnesses and sponsors for his baptism were Conrad Frymier, John Crysler and Ann Weagant. Conrad and John must have been very good friends of William and Elizabeth to have named their son after them. The Conrad name was not a common name for either the Bower or Schwerdfeger families. John on the other hand could have been from either William's father or his brother John.

He was baptized by Rev. John Gunter Weagant.

  Facts and details for John Conrad Bower:

• He lived in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada from 1831 to 1842. ^{11 12 13 14 15 16}

• He worked as a farmer in 1842 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁶ In the 1842 census he is listed as a non-proprietor. It appears he operated a farm on his father's land. He produced the following crops: 20 bushels of Indian corn; 16 bushels of buckwheat; and 200 bushels of potatoes. He had the following livestock: 5 neat cattle; 17 sheep and 8 hogs. He produced 12 yards of fulled cloth and 7 yards of flannel. He procured 27 pounds of wool.

• He owned land SW corner of Concession 3,Lot27 in 1845 in Osgoode Station (now Osgoode), Carleton, Ontario, Canada. He donated this land for the building of the Blanchfield School. Originally it was a log school house and was later built of brick.

• He owned land consisting of the West Half of Concession 4 Lot 1 in 1848 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁷ This land was a total of 100 acres and was inherited from his father.

• He owned land purchased from Thomas Cook in 1848 in West Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. The property description is 50 acres of the N½ of the S. hundred of Lot 26, Con 3.

• He served in the military in the 3rd Battalion of Russell from 1850 to 1856. ¹⁸ He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in May 1856.

• He worked as a Postmaster from 1852 to 1873 in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁹ He served as postmaster until 4 Oct 1873.

Mitchell's Directory of Carleton 1864-65 indicates that, prior to the establishment of a Post Office in the village of Osgoode Station in 1880, residents were served by a Post Office located at West Osgoode, 2.5 miles to the east.

John C. Bower, according to that 'Directory' was Postmaster and also served as Councillor. It might even be interesting to note the population of the hamlet was 50 and box-holders included: Edward Blanchfield, John Blanchfield, James Blanchfield (all farmers); Albert Bower (book-keeper); John C. Bower & Co. (John C. Bower, Joseph Bower, James Porter, and Andrew Blackburn) (general merchants and proprietors of steam saw mill); Robert Cleland (farmer); John Clelland & Co. (general merchants); Peter Grant (farmer); Thomas Heaphy (cooper); Edward Murphy (wagon maker); Wm. Murphy (blacksmith); James Owens (sawyer); John Schwerdfeger (engineer); Peter Schwerdfeger (farmer); Samuel Schwerdfeger (sawyer); Emery Sherwood (blacksmith); and Benjamin Wright (farmer).

The same Mitchell's Directory describes that pioneer settlement in this manner:

"The village was first settled in 1841, by Philip Helmer and John C. Bower. The post office was established in 1852 and John C. Bower appointed postmaster. It contained two general stores, one steam saw mill, established in 1852 by John C. Bower & Co. There are two schools in the vicinity of the post office with an average attendance at each of about 20 pupils. Daniel O'Connor and Miss Lydia Van Allen, teachers. Within a mile from the village there is a Roman Catholic church, erected in 1855, of wood, Rev. Thomas O'Boyle, priest; and a Wesleyan Methodist church, built of wood in 1854. Mails tri-weekly. Population 50."

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• He lived in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada in 1852. From the birth of his children, ownership of the mill and records showing he was one of the founders of West Osgoode in 1841, it is evident that John Conrad Bower and his family lived there when the 1851-52 census was taken. However, the census documents for that year were lost for Osgoode Township.

• He was the owner of a business from 1856 to 1864 in West Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ²⁰ 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 elected as the Reeve for the Township in 1857 in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.

• He worked as a farmer from 1861 to 1871 in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ^{10 21}

• He lived in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1861 to 1871. ^{10 21}

• He was elected as councillor for the township in 1864 in West Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ²⁰

• He lived in Nepean (now Ottawa), Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1874 to 1886. ^{2 22 23 24} In the 1885 city of Ottawa directory, he is listed as living on Canal Road in Archville. This was a suburban community that was incorporated as the village of Ottawa East in 1888. In 1907 it became part of Ottawa. This is the location of the farm and land that now includes Bower Street.

• He owned land Concession II, Lot 21, 100 acres in 1879 in Osgoode, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ²⁵

• He worked as a farmer from 1881 to 1886 in Nepean (now Ottawa), Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ^{22 24}

• He lived at 3 Bower Street (current address -- originally Echo Drive) in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1891 to 1907. ^{6 26 27} The house was built by John Conrad Bower about 1867. Prior to his retirement from farming about 1886, the family resided on the farm in Osgoode during the farming season. After his retirement, the family moved here permanently. In the 1891 and 1901 census documents, he is listed as a retire farmer. The 10-acre property originally ran from Main Street to Canal Road (Echo Drive). The family lived there until J.C.'s death in 1907. At that time the property was passed to J.C.'s son Dr. Ira Bower.

On 9 July 1978, the City of Ottawa designated the property as architectural and historical value under the Ontario Heritage Act.

• He signed his Will on 17 Jan 1896. After the death of his wife in 1905, he wrote and signed a codicil on June 18, 1906. Following his death, affidavits were signed by Thomas Ballantyne, a witness to the original Will, and Ira Bower, his son and executor of the Estate. The following is a transcription of these 4 documents:

1. Will:
Dated 17^th January 1896
Will of John Conrad Bower, late of the Village of Ottawa East, Gentleman, deceased.
McLaurin & Millar
Ottawa, Ontario
(City Registry Office)

I certify that the within instrument is duly entered and Registered in the registry Office for the County of Carleton in Book 3 for the Municipality of Ottawa East at 3 o'clock and 30 minutes p.m. of the 17^th day of June, AD, 1907. No. 1316
(Signed) P. J. Coffey
Registrar C.C.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN,
I John Conrad Bower, of the Village of Ottawa East in the County of Carleton, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, being of sound mind and memory and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following to Wit/-

First of all I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine during her lifetime, that certain parcel of land lying and being in the Village of Ottawa East in the County of Carleton in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada being composed of that part of lot number Four in letter "I" in Concession "C" fronting on the Rideau River in the said Village of Ottawa East; lying on the east side of the Rideau Canal save and except one quarter of an acre of land on the south east corner next the Macadamized Road of the above mentioned lands which belong to my daughter Sarah Elizabeth, I further give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine, all my personal property consisting of stock implements, carriages and all tools of every description also all cash on hand and all money in any Bank in my favour at the time of my death. I also will that my daughter Sarah Elizabeth is to have a bed-room set, bed and bedding, Melodian bureau and to have a reasonable share of the house say at three rooms, her present bed room and wardrobe room to count as one of them, so she will have a home to live in if she remains unmarried. She, my daughter Sarah Elizabeth, after the death of my wife Catherine is to have control and benefit of the home and land now willed to my wife Catherine, in the event of my daughter Sarah Elizabeth marrying she is to have the balance of the East half lot number Four letter "I" Concession "C" of the above mentioned land her quarter of an acre included in the east half of said land, the last mentioned land to be taken into possession by my daughter Sarah Elizabeth as her own, after the death of her mother, my beloved wife Catherine. If my daughter Sarah Elizabeth dies before my sons John Campbell and Ira Bower, the house and land mentioned in this will is to go to them. I, also want it understood that my son Ira Bower is to have a home in the house and homestead with his sister Sara Elizabeth as long as they can agree, as I said before after the death of Sarah Elizabeth the land to be divided equally, so that each will share equal share alike. I also will that after the death of my beloved wife Catherine, and my daughter Sarah Elizabeth that the house and land now willed to them during their life time will go to my sons John Campbell and Ira Bower, to be divided equally as mentioned before and when they John Campbell and Ira Bower get possession of the Real Estate mentioned that each of them John Campbell and Ira pay to their brother, my son, Albert Bower cash ten Dollars, each (I would say more but I consider that my son Albert got his full share when and after he got married).

I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Catherine, executrix and my sons John Campbell and Ira Bower, executors, of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills or wills made by me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety six.
(Signed) John Conrad Bower (Seal)

Signed sealed and published and declared by the said John Conrad Bower as for his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof in presence of said testator and in the presence of each other.
(Signed) Thomas Ballantyne
(Signed) Charles Thomas Ballantyne

2. Codicil:

This is a codicil to the last will and testament dated the 17^th day of January, 1896 of me John Conrad Bower of the Village of Ottawa East in the County of Carleton.

I will and direct that in the event of the death of either of my said sons John Campbell and Ira Bower after they shall have come into possession of my real Estate under the provisions of my said will that the share or interest of such of my said sons so dying shall and vest in the survivor of them my said sons John Campbell and Ira Bower.
Dated this 18^th day of June, 1906
Witnesses
(Signed) Thomas Potter M.D.
(Signed) H. Millar
(Signed) John C. Bower

3. Thomas Ballantyne Affidavit:

Province of Ontario, )I, Thomas Ballantyne of the Village of Ottawa East in the County of
County of Carleton )Carleton, Merchant, make oath and say:
To Wit)
John Conrad Bower as the same now appears as and for his last will and testament, and that the same who so signed by the said John Conrad Bower in the presence of me and Charles Thomas Ballantyne of the City of Ottawa, Physician who were both present at the same time, whereupon the said Charles Thomas Ballantyne and I at the request of the said John Conrad Bower and in his presence attest and subscribe the said will.

3. The said original was read over and explained to the said John Conrad Bower who appeared perfectly to understand the same and who wrote his name thereto in the presence of me and of the said Charles Thomas Ballantyne.

4. That the said John Conrad Bower died, as I am informed and verily believe on the ninth day of April, 1907.
Sworn before me at the City of Ottawa, in the County of Carleton, this 14^th day of June, AD., 1907
(Signed) T. Ballantyne
(Signed) E. J. Daly
A Commissioner and c.
This affidavit is filed on behalf of the Executors.

4. Dr. Ira Bower Affidavit:

Province of Ontario)In the matter of the registration of the last will and testament of John
County of Carleton, )Conrad Bower, deceased,
To Wit)
I, Ira Bower of the City of Ottawa, in the County of Carleton, Dentist Surgeon, make oath and say:

1. That I am the son of the said deceased, and one of the beneficiaries named in his last will and testament, a true copy of which is hereto annexed, the only other beneficiaries being Catherine Bower, wife of the said deceased, (now deceased) Sarah Elizabeth Bower a daughter of the said deceased, John Campbell Bower a son of the said deceased, Albert Bower a son of the said deceased and I the said Ira Bower a son of the said deceased.

2. That an account has been filled with the Registrar of the Surrogate Court of the County of Carleton pursuant to Section 5, Sub-Section 3, of the Succession Duty Act R. S. O. 1897 Cap. 24.

Sworn before me at the City of Ottawa,
In the County of Carleton this 14^th day of June, A.D. 1907
(Signed) Ira Bower
(Signed) E. J. Daly
A Commissioner and c.

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• His obituary was published in the Ottawa Citizen on 10 Apr 1907 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. It read as follows:

Served Many Years in High Position

John Conrad Bower, J. P., Prominent Carleton County Man Dead.

Mr. John Conrad Bower, J. P., father of Drs. J. C. and Ira Bower, dentists of this city, and one of the pioneers of Osgoode township, died at his residence, 208 East avenue, Ottawa East last evening. He was in his 87th year. The late Mr. Bower was the son of Dr. William Bower, of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was born in Williamsburg, on the St. Lawrence. He spent his boyhood days there, but afterwards moved with his parents to South Gower, and later took up his residence in West Osgoode. In the last named place he resided for many years, conducting a general store and engaging in the lumber business in connection with which he erected a mill. The deceased was the first postmaster of Osgoode and in fact gave it its name. He held the position for 21 years. He was a member of Osgoode township council for 15 years, and held the offices of reeve and deputy reeve. His contemporaries in township affairs were the late Capt. Ira Morgan and Adam Baker, both of whom were personal friends. He married Catherine Van Allen. Mr. Bower took an active interest in the development of the township and did much for the opening of roads there and elsewhere in the county. He also held a captaincy in a volunteer regiment of days gone by. The deceased has been in retirement for the past 30 years in Ottawa East.

A Methodist in religion, he attended Billings' Bridge church, of which he was a trustee at the time of its erection. There survive three sons, Albert of West Osgoode, Drs. Ira and J.C. Bower of this city, and Miss Bower at home. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Huntingdon of Brockville. There will be service at the house at 7:30 Thursday evening, and the remains will be taken to the Union station and thence to South Gower cemetery at 7:30 Friday morning.

• His obituary was published in the Ottawa Journal on 10 Apr 1907 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. The obituary was on the front page of the newspaper, indicating that John Conrad would have been a prominent resident of Ottawa at the time. It read as follows:

Sudden Death of Mr. J. C. Bower

One of the Pioneer Settlers of West Osgoode Passes Away at His Home in Ottawa East.

Very sudden was the death of Mr. John Conrad Bower which occurred last evening at his residence, 208 East Ave., Ottawa East. He had not been in good health since Sunday but yesterday was well enough to be up and take his meals. He retired at 9:30, seemingly in the best spirits and within a quarter of an hour was dead. He was 87 years of age.

The deceased was the son of Dr. Wm. Bower of Aberdeen, Scotland. He was born at Williamsburg, Ont., in 1819, but the greatest part of his life was spent in West Osgoode. One of the earliest pioneer settlers there, he became the leading resident of that community. He kept a general store, was the proprietor of a large lumber mill and was the postmaster of West Osgoode, which position he held for 21 years. For many years he was a member of the township council, serving in all capacities as a councillor, deputy-reeve and reeve. He was also a justice of the peace.

In 1838 he was married to Catherine Van Allen and together they spent a long and happy married life. Mrs. Bower predeceased her husband some two years ago. For the past 30 years they had lived retired in Ottawa. By his death four children are left to mourn his loss: Mr. Albert Bower of West Osgoode; Drs. J. C. and Ira Bower of this city and Miss Bower, also of this city. A sister, Mrs. Huntington of Brockville, survives him.

The service will be conducted on Thursday evening at 7:45, and the funeral will take place on Friday morning at 6 o'clock to the Union depot.

. ²⁸

• He was buried at the South Gower Cemetery, Section W, Lot 24 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada on 12 Apr 1907. ⁵

• A newspaper article entitled The Bower Will was published in 1997. ²⁹ The article was written by Don Fugler for the Mainstreeter, as follows:

John Conrad Bower, a gentleman' of the Village of Ottawa East, wrote his will 100 years ago, in 1896. It cost him $1.80 to have it drawn up by lawyers. Mr. Bower eventually died in 1907. The will passed into the possession of Liz Fulton's father, another Ottawa East resident; and Liz thought that it would be interesting to share this historical document.

The house in which Bower lived had grounds that were "fronting on the Rideau River ...[and] lying on the east side of the Rideau Canal". The house is now known as 3 Bower. It had been built for Bower upon his retirement in 1867. According to a reproduction 1876 map provided by Robert Bourbeau, there were three houses clustered in an otherwise empty Ottawa East. These houses were 3 Bower, 555 Echo, and another dwelling down by the canal, where Colonel By Drive now exists.

Bower's wife, Catherine, was to get the bulk of the estate including the house, personal property, and "all money in any Bank". The daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was unmarried in 1896 and was to have "a reasonable share of the house say at three rooms", so she would have a home to live in if she remained unmarried. She also received her bedroom set, her bed, her bedding, and a quarter acre lot next to the "Macadamized Road" (which might have been Mutchmor). [Editor's Note: the Macadamized road was the name that Main St. had early on]

The sons of John Bower, named Ira Bower, Albert Bower, and, curiously, John Campbell, did not receive much of anything in this will. Albert had already received "his full share when and after he got married". If the female Bowers died, then Ira and John split the estate and each was to give to Albert the princely sum of $10. Presumably in 1896 this amounted to more than the price of a lunch.

Ira was to share the Bower house with his sister Sarah Elizabeth after their mother's death but only "as long as they can agree"..

John married Catherine VAN ALLEN, daughter of Jacob VAN ALLEN and Catherine LOUCKS, on 11 Jun 1839 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada.^{1 2} (Catherine VAN ALLEN was born on 7 Oct 1819 in Matilda, Dundas, Ontario, Canada,^{6 30 31 32} died on 29 Apr 1905 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada ^{32 33 34} and was buried on 2 May 1905 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario, Canada ^{32 34 35}.). The cause of her death was old age.³

  Facts and details related to their marriage were:

• A wedding anniversary announcement was published in Ottawa Journal on 14 Jun 1889 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ³⁶

• A wedding anniversary announcement was published in Ottawa Journal on 12 Jun 1899 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ³⁷