Dunbar Saga #12 – Brother And Sister, Daniel & Eliza”Bet”H

Daniel Dunbar was the 12th child, 9th son born to Lewis and Polly Powers Dunbar on 27 January 1842 near Colfax; however, he must have passed away as he does not show up on the 1850 census or thereafter (Dana, an excellent Dunbar researcher has the same birth date for Daniel and passed 5 June 1850, which would be very close to his mother’s death in childbirth ten days later which we believe was with a daughter). Makes me sad just to give a reader the birth/death date – no stories, no description, just the facts – so other than that, not much to add on Daniel.

Thus, we will continue the Dunbar Saga with the next child, 4th daughter, 13th offspring. This little one was tagged as Bet (birth name Elizabeth) early on and as she aged, those in the upper portion of Sugar Creek Township never needed to say her last name as everyone knew Aunt Bet! Her birth occurred November 4th in 1843 and she lived quite a long, mainly happy life, passing away Feb 12, 1933 at the age of 89 years 3 months and 8 days, the last of the original Dunbar children to pass away.

She was just 16 years old when she married Martin Bowers (the oldest child of Edmond and Charlotte Bowers, early settlers in the county and six years older than his wife of about 30 years before his death). He ministered at her beloved White Church which she attended young, then joined not long after their marriage. It was often noted that “much of the Rev.’s success could be contributed to the spiritual assistance of his wife.”

Three daughters and a son blessed this marriage and the Bowers’ decided they needed a larger place, thus in the summer of 1869, they completed a nice, new home in Sugar Creek Township not far from the church. Life was good, the Rev. becoming a well-loved and trusted community minister of the (White) Dunkard Church. Then, in late May (died 29th) in 1890 the good minister became ill and passed away with a fever, leaving Aunt Bet alone. His funeral was attended by many of all denominations and all over the northern section of our county as well as Tippecanoe. “We will miss him,” was the general notation!

Well, Aunt Bet was quite capable, however, and unusual for a female of the times, was appointed executress to Martin’s estate and care of the property, instituting a sale, gathering and paying bills, wrapping-up the whole affair in perfect timing on 9 Sept 1891.

It was obvious she could take care of her own business, her family, but of the times, her children had to have men appointed guardians for them. First was Franklin Johnson appointed almost immediately upon the Rev’s death, later George Boots and later yet, Lucien Coyner for just her son. Mainly, the kids were about grown and I’m pretty sure Aunt Bet would have (and did) take very good care of them!

So, what happened to their children and Aunt Bet, too for that matter?

Mary Charlotte was the first born to Rev. and Bettie Bowers in 1862. She married George W. Boots in 1879. Don’t believe they had children and she passed away quite young 27 Oct 1889 the year before her father. Believe the George Boots appointed guardian of the kids was her husband and when ya’ think about it, that’s pretty awesome, helping take care of his wife’s (passed) family, although as noted above Aunt Bet was quite capable.

Their next child, also a girl was born 10 May 1864 and passed the same year as her mother. Her name was Viola May but rarely did you see Viola – instead Ola or Ollie. She was married to Jonas Allen Peterson, a Sugar Creek farmer. They were parents of George (also farmed and lived to be 92 years old – married Rose Maguire and fathered: Don, Della, Dorcas, Rachel, Kenneth, Betty Lou and Phyllis), Martha (married Forrest Groff, had at least one child and lived into her 80s), and David (married Dorris Henry passed away at age 85 and had at least Charles Martin who was in the Navy during WWII) and were blessed with several grandchildren.

Martha Susan was next and she was always referred to as “Mat,” born Aug 12, 1868, passing in Lafayette 12 July 1957 not long before her 89th birthday (buried Bowers). She married a Peterson as well, Paris B., younger brother of Jonas. As far as I know the Peterson’s had one son, Harley Martin Peterson born July 9, 1895 and as a young man, served twice in the Army, first in South America and second in WWI. After the service, he was in the restaurant business in Clarks Hill and later Mulberry then retired due to health from Kentland Dairy Products. He married Frances Bowles, and they had one daughter, Luella. Found it neat that he was in the Masons, American Legion, Eagles, Eastern Star and … the White United Brethren Church but sad he died at age 48.

Then we have the only son of the Bowers’, Robert Miller (b 12 Dec 1871) died at age 87 on 1 June 1959 (buried Bowers Cemetery). He wed Sarah Rice in 1888 and sadly she passed away two years later. He married Ella Olive Conrad in 1891 and she passed away 13 years before him. Don’t believe he was blessed with any children, as in his obituary it said no immediate survivors, but he was a good son. Once as a young man, he saved the family home his parents had built from burning to the ground. With his smart, quick actions, it had but little damage. Elizabeth Dunbar Bowers was most often pretty collected but that scared her and got her very upset (stands to reason to me) but Bob took care of it all, including his momma.

The girls were good to their mother as were their husbands, as well. Aunt Bet lived in her own home for many years, hiring much of her work done but family members also pitched in to do farm work (once, there was a huge disaster the people who were threshing for her had left their brand-new machine for the next day and someone set a fire in the engine, ruining the brand-new threshing machine). In 1920, heading toward old age, she lived with Mat and Paris (although I would guess in her home) and in 1930, Mat and Ola (both having lost their husbands) lived with Bet.

Bet loved to travel, spending quite some time in Iowa with her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, visiting friends, helping church members, enjoying the yearly family reunions. A peach of a lady (and cute as can be – see photo from Lynne Ream – FindAGrave), think she might be my fav of them all! Thus, you have read the Dunbar Saga #12!

Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].