Bowman.Anna.Mary.1940.Madison.NEWS

Newspaper and Date Unknown.

                    Berea Woman
                Mother of 13 Children
         Is Honored by Golden Rule Foundation


     New York, April 19 (Special) -- Mrs. Anna Mary Bowman of Berea, Ky.,
the mother of 13 children--eight boys and five girls--all living and in
important professional or homemaking positions, was a close runner-up
in the balloting for the American Mother of 1940.
     Mrs. Bowman is the wife of Prof. J. C. Bowman, well-known Kentucky
educator.  Five of their sons fought in the World War.  Mrs. Bowman was
considered until the final vote by the American Mothers' Committee of the
Golden Rule Foundation, which annually sponsors the American Mother as
"representative of the best there is in womanhood, the voice of
inarticulate motherhood."  Mrs. Bowman's high attainments were described
Wednesday night by Charles V. Vickrey, president of the Golden Rule
Foundation, at headquarters, following a luncheon meeting of the American
Mothers' Committee, at which Mrs. Charles H. Mayo, widow of the famous
Mayo brothers of Rochester, Minn., was elected.
     Mrs. Bowman was born near Knoxville, Tenn., and was a member of a
large family.  When she was very young her mother's health failed and the
responsibilities of a homemaker fell to the duty of the young girl.  When
she was about 18, she married J. C. Bowman, a school teacher, and they
started a home of their own in a log cabin in the mountain region of North
Carolina.  The youthful husband had been left an orphan when he was 10
and his education was obtained in just about the same manner as Abraham
Lincoln got his "learning."  His one burning desire was to teach others,
and this has ever been his aim, his wife helping him in his ambition.
     The Bowmans lived for years on Mr. Bowman's salary of from $30 to $45
a month.  Members of the family today admit that it took good management
to bring up so many children on such small resources, but Mrs. Bowman and
her husband knew how to "cut every edge," as they say in the southern
highlands.  As the children grew old enough to go to college, the Bowmans
moved to Berea, so the youngsters could attend Berea College.  Their
record as a family as given below is outstanding.

     David Oberon Bowman, a surgeon in the US Navy, with the rank of
commander, now stationed at Hong Kong.  He is a World War veteran.
     Robert O'Conner Bowman, a dentist of Berea.  He is a World War
veteran and was disabled in the service.
     Joseph Orlando Bowman, superintendent of city schools, Wadesboro,
NY.  Also served in the World War.
     Frederick Oscar Bowman, lawyer, Chapel Hill, NC; was disabled while
in the World War.
     Charles O'Neill Bowman, realtor and insurance man, Lamar, Colo.;
the fifth of this family to fight for his country in the World War; past
commander of his American Legion post.
     Mrs. Maude (Hinton) Hunter, homemaker, Lamar, Colo.; prominent in
American Legion Auxiliary and civic work.
     Mrs. Helen (Oscar) Harrison, homemaker, Whites, Ky., assists her
husband in raising fine horses, leader in farm women's club activities.
     George Omar Bowman, stone and brick mason and designer, Lamar,
Colorado.
     Mrs. Ola (Melvin) Brannon, homemaker, Kansas City, Mo., wife of a
minister active in community life.
     Mrs. Leela (Raymond) Musselman, homemaker and business woman,
Lamar, Colo.
     Ned Ornell Bowman, physician, New Brunswick, NJ, examining physician
for Rutgers College.
     Thomas Oliver Bowman, US postoffice clerk, Lamar, Colo.
     Willard Orlus Bowman, air-conditioning expert, Berea.

     A friend of Mrs. Bowman, who has known her and the family for more
twenty years, wrote the Golden Rule Foundation Mother's Day Committee as
follows:

     Mrs. Bowman never had any `hired help' except when she was under a
doctor's care, mostly when babies came.  She did all her own housework,
sewed for the girls, knit socks and stockings, made quilts and did her
canning for the winter's food supply.
     "The fact that the children all remained at home until they finished
school or married indicates that it was a happy home.  A small tract of
land just outside the town kept the boys busy during the summer months
while they raised provisions for the table.  I have frequently heard
members of the family say that they went to the store only for sugar and
coffee--they raised everything else.  An I know they always set a good
table.
     "The mother in addition to making a real home for her children and
their friends, has cheered up hundreds of homesick boys and girls and
encouraged them to remain in school when they would be on the verge of
leaving.  She took into her home and care for during the last two years
of her life her mother-in-law who was an invalid.
     Mrs. Bowman taught Sunday  [remainder of article missing].



Submitted by: WRFC71A@prodigy.com (MRS BEULAH A FRANKS)
Date: Thu, 8 May 1997