CHRISTIAN J. BOWERS.
Christian J. Bowers has gained a gratifying measure of success as a farmer and is still active in that connection although now a resident of Walla Walla. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 7, 1867, a son of George W. and Catherine M. (Brown) Bowers, also natives of that city, where they were reared. They continued to reside there for about ten years after their marriage and then removed successively to Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. From the last named state they crossed the plains in 1880 by horse team to Walla Walla, Washington, and located in the Dry creek hills, about seven miles north of Walla Walla. The father took up a homestead and also preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land and resided upon his farm until about 1896, when he disposed of his holdings and removed to Columbia county, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres on Patit creek, four miles from Dayton. He still owns that farm, but since 1905 has been a resident of Walla Walla. To him and his wife were born the following children: Christian J., of this review; Bertha S., who passed away at the age of eighteen years; Mae, who is now the wife of John W. Eby, of Walla Walla county; Charles E., a resident of Walla Walla; and Gertrude, who is the wife of Clarence Wilson, of Topeka, Kansas.
Christian J. Bowers received his early education in the district schools and in the Waitsburg public schools and at the Huntsville Seminary. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and following his marriage in 1888 he began farming on his own account in the Dry creek hills and maintained his residence upon his ranch until 1905, when he removed to Walla Walla. He still directs the operation of his holdings, which include three hundred and twenty acres near Lowden, and also owns about eight hundred acres in Whitman county. The financial independence which is now his is the direct result of his thorough knowledge of farming, his enterprise and his good management, and he justly ranks among the successful men of Walla Walla county.
MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN J. BOWERS
On the 13th of May, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bowers and Miss Laura V. Coplen, a native of Washington. Her grandfather, Henry Coplen, removed with his family from Indiana to Colorado and thence in 1864 located in the Willamette valley, near Vancouver, Washington. Six years later, in 1870, he removed to Whitman county, Washington, where he founded the town of Latah. His son, Benjamin, was a scout in the early days and took part in the Indian wars in the northwest. The mastodon skeleton which is now preserved in Field Museum in Chicago was found upon his farm. James W. Coplen, father of Mrs. Bowers and son of Henry Coplen, was married in 1865, in the Willamette valley, to Miss Elizabeth Hoskins, a daughter of Dillon and Rachel (Emery) Hoskins, who had removed to the west with their family from Iowa, crossing the plains with ox teams in 1851 and reaching their destination after six months spent en route. They settled at Scio, in the Willamette valley, where they secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. The parents both died in Oregon, the father passing away in 1888 and the mother in 1898. Soon after their marriage James W. Coplen and his wife took up a donation claim on the old battleground near Vancouver, Washington, at which place Mrs. Bowers was born, and while there Mr. Coplen became ill and accordingly returned to his old home in the Willamette valley, where his death occurred in 1868. To him and his wife had been born two children: William, a resident of Lewiston, Idaho; and Laura V., who became the wife of Christian J. Bowers. Mrs. Coplen later removed to Walla Walla county, where she met the Rev. William C. Gallaher, and in 1871 they were married. Mr. Gallaher was born in Putnam county, Illinois, in 1835, and died on a farm which he owned near Milton, Oregon, December 22, 1915, his widow passing away upon the farm in February, 1916. They were the parents of two children: Minnie E., now the wife of O. E. Phillips, of Walla Walla; and Ernest U., who resides upon the old home farm near Milton, Oregon. Rev. Gallaher was one of the pioneer ministers of the northwest, coming as a missionary to Oregon. He was one of the earliest settlers of "Old Oregon," having made the long journey across the plains with his parents in 1845, when a boy of ten years. The family settled in Oregon and there he grew to manhood. In 1861 he removed to Walla Walla and helped to organize the first United Brethren church in the state. He remained active in the work of the ministry until he reached an advanced age and was one of the best known divines of the northwest.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have been born four children, namely: Harry C., who is farming the Whitman county farm belonging to his father; George W., who is operating his father's farm in Walla Walla county; Violet B., the wife of Wayne Reid, who is also farming in Whitman county; and Sheldon H., who is at home.
Mr. Bowers gives his support to the candidates and measures of the democratic party and takes a commendable interest in the questions and issues of the day but has never been an office seeker. His wife belongs to the Christian church and aids in its work. She is also a member of the Sunshine Club and the president of the Woman's Educational Club of Walla Walla. He is a man of importance in his community and is also popular personally.