JAMES WESLEY "WES"BOWMAN, U S Deputy Marshal

JAMES WESLEY "Wes" BOWMAN, U.S. Deputy Marshal

Became interested in the Bowman families when I found that a kinfolk
Gaines Harris had married NARCISSUS BELLE BOWMAN in Johnson County,
Arkansas.
Gaines Harris was half-brother to our great-great grandmother,
Rachel Caroline Harris Flood (Mrs. George W "Uncle Wash" Flood).

Several people have helped me with this story and I appreciate it
very much.

Also, found that our great-great uncle, Simon Flud, had served as
U.S. Deputy Marshal under Judge Parker.This led me to plan a section
on U.S. Deputy Marshals who rode for Judge Isaac Charles Parker.
Turned into quite a job. There were about 3,000 deputies all told.
Visit that link and read about these brave men who were the only law
in Indian Territory.
SEE DEPUTIES WHO RODE FOR JUDGE PARKER OF FT.SMITH,ARKANSAS
Updated May2016

Left to right: Wes Bowman,Ab Allen, Paden Tolbert

It turns out that Ab Allen's wife was sister to MARY EVELINE BEASLEY
(wife of Wes Bowman), making Ab Allen the brother-in-law to Wes Bowman.

James Wesley"Wes" Bowman was born in Breathitt County, Kentucky
on 6 January 1869 on Lower Twin Creek. He was the son of John Wesley Bowman and Priscilla Elizabeth Mills

John Wesley and Priscilla Elizabeth Mills Bowman had the following
known children:
i: Mary Jane Bowman 1855
ii: Robert Bowman 1857
iii: Millard Fillmore Bowman 1858
iv: William Bowman 1860
v: Preston Bowman 1864
vi:Narcissus Belle Bowman 1865(Married GAINES A HARRIS)
vii: Emely Bowman 1867
viii: James Wesley"Wes" Bowman 1869 (HIS STORY HERE)
ix: John Bowman 1871
x: Madison"Mat" Bowman 1874
xi: Andora Bowman 1876
xii: Amesa Bowman 1878

John Wesley Bowman died in 1899 and is buried at Ft. Douglas,
Johnson County, Arkansas. Priscilla Elizabeth Mills Bowman is
buried in Hickson Cemetery, Franklin County, Arkansas.
Priscilla Elizabeth Mills Bowman lived with Gaines A Harris family
until her death ca 1910

The main reason for my researching Wes Bowman was due to the fact
that Wes's sister Narcissus Belle Bowman married GAINES A HARRIS, son
of William G. Harris and Louisa Anna Robinson. Gaines A. Harris was
half-brother to our great-great grandmother Rachel Caroline Harris
Flood(George W "Wash"Flood 1843)

The Bowmans are mentioned in Bud Phillips Book "New Ozark Cousins",
just one of over 200 families told about in this informative book.
This fully indexed book,"New Ozark Cousins" is available through the
Newton County, Arkansas Historical Society and their website:
NEWTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Newton County Historical Society

Wes Bowman is also mentioned in "Hell On The Border" where he was
referred to as the "beardless one" since he was so young when he
was a deputy marshal and did not yet have a beard.

Paul Bowman, a grandson of Wes, sent me the following information on
Wes Bowman and would like to share this with you.
This account was actually written by Paul's father, Charles Everett
Bowman and sent to Miles Nicholas Crawford for Crawford's book
"Early Pioneers On The Three Forks of the Kentucky River"

James Wesley Bowman

James Wesley Bowman,son of John Wesley Bowman and
Priscilla Elizabeth Mills Bowman, was born on Lower Twin Creek,
Breathitt County, Kentucky, on January 6, 1869, where he lived until
he was about 13, when he then moved with his family to Fort Douglas,
(Johnson County) Arkansas, about 30 miles back in the Ozarks from
Clarksville, Arkansas.

When he was about 20 years old he started assisting the local
officers in making arrests in the surrounding mountains of Johnson
County.
Paden Tolbert, who was already making a name for himself as a peace
officer, was impressed with the courage and coolness of Wes in
potentially dangerous situations, so he sent his name to the
Ft. Smith Court with a recommendation that Wes be given a commission
as a U.S.Deputy Marshal
In a few weeks Wes was called to Ft. Smith and sworn in by
Judge Parker as one of his deputies, and given his commission dated
10 February 1891.

His sphere of operations was vast, comprising all of the Indian
Territory and the Western District of Arkansas that the warrants he
was given to serve were for men ranging from the hip-pocket
bootlegger to murderers who would rather die than go before
Judge Parker.
There were White,Negro, and Indian outlaws and mixed-bloods of all
three roaming the Territory and some banded together such as the
Dalton, Doolin, Bill Cook and Rufus Buck gangs. The Henry Starr and
Cherokee Bill gangs were also active at this time. Sometimes Wes
teamed up with well known officers such as Paden Tolbert,Heck Thomas,
Ed Reed (Belle Starr's son), and others, but for the most part he
was alone with no way of communicating with his superiors or calling
for help when he needed it. The law-abiding citizens were afraid to
assist the marshals out of fear of reprisal from the outlaws.

Wes rode the trains and stages when available, but the men he was
after usually stayed off the beaten path, so he traveled mostly by
horse back. He would go into a particular area, arrest as many as he
could find, then hire someone with a team and wagon to transport his
shackled prisoners to Ft. Smith or the nearest railroad town.

In the last of October 1892 he was called to Ft. Smith to join the
select group of 16 marshals being sent to bring in Ned Christie, the
Cherokee outlaw who had evaded capture for several years. The group
arrived at Christie's house-fort,each of Tahlequah,Indian Territory
during the night and surrounded the place. Christie had cleared away
the trees and brush for several hundred feet around his fort making
it difficult for the officers to find cover very close to the house.
Next morning, after calling on Christie to surrender and being
answered by several shots, Christie was told by an Indian guide to
send his women and children out, which he did.
Christie, another adult Indian named Arch Wolf, and a sixteen year
old boy named Soldier Hair remained in the house and began firing at
every-thing that moved. The marshals also kept up a sporadic but
ineffectual fire. They had brought along a small cannon which they
fired many times. But due to the sturdy construction of the fort and
the inexperience of the gunners with such a weapon, it was also
ineffective.
On the morning of November 2, 1892, four marshals stood close
together and firing their winchesters rapidly, laid down a smoke
screen with the black powder ammunition.
Charley Copeland, a volunteer, ran with a bundle of dynamite with a
lighted fuse and shoved it under the corner of the house. The
explosion demolished part of the house and fire from the fireplace
set the rest on fire.
Arch Wolf ran out, and because of the smoke and confusion, escaped.
Christie came out firing his Winchester and in the uncertain light
he was mistaken for a marshal until he almost collided with
Wes Bowman.
The two men fired at the same time but Christie was moving and his
shot missed, but was so close the muzzle blast of his Winchester
powder-burned the face of Bowman. Wes didn't miss and Ned Christie's
career as an outlaw was ended.
The sixteen year old Soldier Hair was afraid to come out and stayed
in the burning building until he was badly burned. Finally one of
the Indian guides assured him that he would not be shot and only then
did he come out.

On 2 March 1893 Wes married MARY EVELINE BEASLEY of nearby Mt. Levi,
Arkansas where they set up housekeeping. Wes farmed in addition to
his police work, but marriage had complicated things for him.
His young wife Eveline was afraid when she was left alone in their
isolated mountain home while he was out rounding up criminals. She
also worried that he might be killed, so she begged him to give it up.

Their first son, Loyd McKinley Bowman, was born 26 February 1895 and
this was an added reason for Wes to get into another line of work.

In 1902, Eveline's nagging finally paid off. He gave it all up, and
they moved to Bristow Indian Territory where Wes went to work in a
dry goods store.
However, Wes's reputation followed him to Bristow. Soon, he was
persuaded to take a deputy's commission under the veteran
U.S. Deputy Marshal William Freshour, peace officer since the Civil
War.
Bristow and the surrounding country held many tough men during the
early 1900s. Through the teamwork of Wes and Freshour, many of the
toughest men were brought to justice.
Later, Wes served as a deputy sheriff, then as Chief of Police of>br> Bristow, Oklahoma.
While Chief of Police, a rancher who was considered to be a real
"bad man" came into town and started drinking and bragging that he
was going to run the Chief out of town. He finally went up to a
motel room with some drinking friends. Wes went up to the room and
told him it was time for him to leave town. The man said he would
leave when he got ready, and he wasn't ready yet. Wes told him that
if he didn't start in five minutes, he was coming back after him and
take him to jail. Wes went back to the street and took out his
watch and waited.
Before the time was up, the man came down the stairs, got on his
horse,and rode out of town.Freshour complimented the bad man on his
good judgement.

Two more sons were born to Wes and Eveline.
Charles Everett was born 31 December 1904 and
Omer Cecil on 17 August 1908.
The old worry was still with Eveline, and this time Wes gave up
police work for good.
About 1910 they moved back to Arkansas, to Ozark this time, where
Wes's Mother, brother and sister were living. From then on, he was
engaged in farming. Occasionally Wes was called upon to help
transport prisoners to jail or work in place of officers on vacation,
but his days as a peace officer were over.
In 1921 he moved his family back to Oklahoma and farmed til he
retired.
Wes died in Seminole, Oklahoma on 20 September 1957, at the age of
88,and was buried in Wetumka, Oklahoma.

James Wesley Bowman when older

Wes Bowman was a quite, unassuming man, a good husband and father,
and one of the best mountain fiddlers to come out of Arkansas.

James Wes Bowman and his brother Madison"Mat"Bowman

Wes was easy going and had a good sense of humor. Following are a
few of the true stories Wes told about his experiences as a lawman.

He liked to tell the story about going with Freshour to evict a woman
whose house had sold for taxes. The woman was Black and weighed over
300 pounds. After they had carried out all the furniture, the woman
was left sitting in a cane bottom chair in the middle of the room,
refusing to move. After all persuasion failed, the two men, with
great effort, picked her up, chair and all, and carried her out.
Wes said he still couldn't figure out how they got her through the
narrow door and into the yard.

Once, he was sent to serve a warrant on a young man living with his
parents back in the mountains of Arkansas. He found the home and
identified himself and asked about the son.The father said he didn't
know where he was, and asked to see the warrant. Wes knew the old
man had a habit of asking to see the warrant, then tearing it up.
Handing him the warrant, Wes told him that if he tore it up he would
arrest him and take him to Ft. Smith for interfering with an officer.
The old man read the warrant, handed it back, then pounded on the
floor and the son, hiding under the floor came up through a trap door
and surrendered.
It was nearing nightfall, so the young marshal asked if he could
stay all night. The father invited him in, and he spent the night,
sleeping with the young man he was to take to Judge Parker's dreaded
jail the next day.

No doubt Wes had many close calls as a police officer, but he always
said his closest call happened one evening in the mountains. Wes
and his brother-in-law,Ab Allen, arrested a man named Grimmit
somewhere up in Bullfrog Valley. They started to Clarksville with
him, but as it was late in the afternoon, they stopped at a farm to
stay all night. Sometime after supper, a commotion was heard outside
and when the farmer went to investigate, he found a large group of
armed men outside who said they wanted to talk to the marshal.
Wes went to the door and the spokesman said they were Grimmit's
friends and had come to take him.The man said if Grimmit was released
immediately,they would not harm the marshals, but if they had to take
him by force, they would hang them both.
Wes picked up his Winchester, motioned Ab to the back door with him,
then told the men that they would kill the first man that came into
the yard. The mob, all marshal-haters, milled around outside yelling
and firing their guns for an hour or so, evidently not wishing to
harm the farmer's family, they finally rode away. The two marshals
took turns guarding their prisoner all night and the next day took
him to Ft. Smith without incident.

Thank you Paul Bowman for sharing your information with us

1910 Franklin County, Arkansas, White Oak Township
Visit 308-328
Bowman, James W, Head, age 41, M1 17 years, KY,KY,KY Farmer
.......Evalyn, Wife, age 33, M1 17years 3 children-3living, AR,AR,AR
.......Loyd M, Son, age 15, Single, AR,KY, AR
.......Everett, Son, age 5, Single, AR,KY,AR
.......Omer, Son, age 1, Single, AR,KY,AR

1930 Seminole, Oklahoma, Wolf Township, Visit 135-139
Bowman, James W, Head, age 61, Rents ,Male, White KY,KY,KY
........Evelyn, Wife, age 53, married at 17, AR,KY,KY
........Everett, Son, 25 Single, roustabout,oil fields, OK,KY,AR
........Omer, Son, 21, Single, roustabout,oil fields, OK,KY,AR

1930 Franklin County, Arkansas, White Oak Township, Wire Road
Visit 181-185
JONES, William, Head, age 53, M at 27, Miss. TN, AL
.......Nora, Wife, age 50, M at 24, AR,TN,AR
BOWMAN,Loyd M, Son-in-law, age 33, M at 23, AR,Miss.Miss.
.......Velma, Daughter, age 26, M at 16, AR,Miss, AR
.......Oma J, Grand-daug.,age 7, single, AR, AR, AR

Would like to mention Madison M Bowman, brother of James Wes Bowman.
He is shown playing a fiddle with his brother Wes Bowman in the picture.

1900 Johnson County, Arkansas Census, Piney Township, Visit 10-10
Bowman, Matison M,head, 25, b1873, M4yrs, KY, KY,KY
......Mahala E, wife, Nov1876, 23, M6yrs, 3,
......Martha E, daug., July 1894, 5 S, AR
......Chester C, son, Mar 1897, 3, S, AR
......William E, son, Mar1900, 3/12, AR

1910 Franklin County, Arkansas, Walker Township
Bowman, J M, head, 36, M1 16yrs, KY
...... Mary, wife, 34, M1 16yrs, 6-6 living, AR
...... Lizzie, daug., 15, S, AR
...... Chester, son, 13, S, AR
...... Elmer, son, 10, S, AR
...... Beulah, daug, 7, OK
...... Floyd, son, 5, OK
....... Sissie, daug., 2, S, OK

I would like to find out what happened to Matt Bowman and his family.
Know that he married again to NEOMA"OMA"SMITH (unknown date).

Received a letter from Debbie ([email protected]),dated 8/4/2006:
Ms.Flood..
I stumbled onto your website while surfing for info about my
grandfather,Wes Bowman. I am the youngest child of Omer Bowman and my
grandfather had passed before i was born. I see you have referenced
Paul Bowman in your article, he is my first cousin.
My mother Effie is 87 years young and still lives alone and is in
good health.
Wes and Eveline lived with my parents in their later years, and my
mother was very close to "Poppy"(Wes). I'm sure she could give some
information on Mat's family, we are still in touch with all the
cousins from that branch of the family. I would be glad to pass along
some questions to my mother if you would like. Please let me know if
I can help
Deb
James Wesley Bowman
Birth: 1869 Johnson County,Arkansas
Death: 1957,Wetumka Cemetery,Wetumka,Hughes Co.OK
Was a U S Deputy Marshal under Judge Parker,Ft. Smith,Arkansas
He married EVELINE BEASLEY
Children:
Loyd McKinley Bowman, was born 26 February 1895
Charles Everett Bowman was born 31 December 1904
Omer Cecil Bowman (17 August 1908--2000)

PFC Omer Cecil Bowman
Birth: Aug. 17, 1908
Bristow,Creek County,Oklahoma
Death: Nov. 19, 2000
Wetumka Cemetery,Wetumka,Hughes County,Oklahoma

OMER CECIL BOWMAN
Omer married EFFIE EVELINE MOORE on Jan. 21, 1939 in Wetumka, OK.
He is survived by his wife; sons, Zane, Donald and Robert Bowman and
a daughter, Debbie Choate
Casketbearers were Mike Choate, Thomas Pechacek and grandsons,
John Mark, Charles, Lance and Garth Bowman
Family links:
Omer's Parents:
James Wesley Bowman (1869 - 1957)
Mary Eveline Beasley Bowman (1876 - 1960)
Spouse:
Effie Evelina Moore Bowman (1919 - 2014)

Evelyn Flood
[email protected]

29 May 2016

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