Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ROBERT A. BOWLAND. Robert A. Bowland has established a reputation for honesty and integrity which is attested by the high estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens, being a citizen and neighbor highly honored in his locality, and in his sphere of life, nobly and faithfully, has he performed every duty that presented itself. Formerly he was one of our efficient school teachers, and later served Greene county many years as treasurer, and thus is well known over the city and county. He is a man of positive temperament, firm in his convictions, forcible and fearless in his adhesion to principles, and is regarded by all who know him as an honorable man and obliging gentleman.
Mr. Bowland was born in Morrow county, Ohio. He is a son of Boyd M. and Mar Elizabeth (Colmery) Bowland, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they moved to Ohio when young and were married in the latter state, and were educated in the public schools. The mother of our subject taught school for some time prior to her marriage; Boyd M. Bowland devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He moved his family from Ohio to Greene county, Missouri, when his son, Robert A., of this sketch was a small child. Politically, the elder Bowland was a Republican. During the Civil war he was a soldier in the Union army, and after the war he served for some time as postmaster at Iberia, Morrow county, Ohio.
Eleven children were born to Boyd M. and Elizabeth Bowland, eight of whom are living at this writing. They were named as follows: Charles C. and Harry C. are the two eldest; Boyd M., Jr., is deceased; Robert A., of this sketch; William B. is deceased; David M., Cora E., Edward B., Leroy R. and Calvin are all living; and Samuel M., the youngest, is deceased.
Robert A. Bowland grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the work when a boy. He received a good education in the public schools and the normal school in Springfield. He began life for himself by engaging in farming for a few years, then taught school a number of years with much success, and later was a deputy assessor, and served as such in the Greene county court house for three years under W. A. Smith. During that time he mastered thoroughly the ins and outs of the office, and in 1904 made the race for county treasurer and was elected by a large majority. His record as a public official in this connection was so highly commendable and he proved to be such a careful, honest and obliging public servant, that he was re-elected and held the office eight years, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Bowland owns a good home in Springfield, which is tastily kept by a lady of refinement, known in her maidenhood as Emma V. Kerr, whom Mr. Bowland married in 1895. She is a native of Kansas, and when she was but a child she came with her parents to Greene county, Missouri, locating on a farm near Republic, where she completed her education in the Republic high school. To this union one child was born, Robert Paul, born at Republic, Missouri, August 19, 1900, and is at home attending public school. Her parents were born in Indiana and went to the Sunflower state many years ago, but remained only a few years.
Politically, Mr. Bowland is a Republican. He and his family are members of the First Baptist church, in which he is a deacon and an active worker. Fraternally, our subject belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Mrs. Bowland is a charter member of the Wild Rose camp, Royal Neighbors, of Republic.
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