W. H. H. BOWDRE

    W. H. H. Bowdre, a penman, was born June 25, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Green) Bowdre, natives of Ohio, of German descent.  They settled in Dover Township, two and a half miles northeast of New Dover, in 1841, where they still reside, now owing 116 acres of land.  Mr. Bowdre makes a specialty of Clydesdale horses, on which he has taken the premium at the Union County and State Fairs, and also keeps his farm well stocked with cattle and hogs.  He has raised a family of eleven children, all now living with one exception.  Our subject was raised on a farm, but not liking the occupation of a farmer, he paid but little or no attention to agricultural pursuits, and spent most of his time trapping, rather than to go to school.  At the age of sixteen years, seeing the folly of his former course, he set diligently to work, and was henceforth considered an industrious man.  When seventeen years of age he went to work with his uncle in Illinois, where he remained for several years with the exception of a few months spent at his Ohio home, and during his stay in the Prairie State he became a member of a young mens' debating society, and attained considerable prominence as a public speaker.  At one time, having attended a temperance meeting where the speaker failed to appear, he was called out, and responding, delivered a creditable speech, which was highly lauded by the local press.  Feeling sorely his lack of education, he began attending the common schools in 1879, and afterward took a course in a Normal School.  In 1880, he attended the graded school of Marysville, and then for five months attended Prof. Sharp's school of penmanship, but was advised by the Professor to leave the latter, not being a promising pupil.  He then undertook to learn a rapid system of penmanship, under Prof. Michael, of Delaware, and succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations, making rapid progress in the art, and taking several prizes for his superiority in flourishing.  He has since improved on the various styles he has studied, taking the good from all and combining them, and has began teaching what he terms his lightning method.  He claims to teach more in six lessons than other teachers can in six months, and, indeed, the rapidity with which his scholars learn is truly marvelous.  His plan of imparting knowledge of the art is the great secret of his success, and the number and proficiency of his pupils is the proof of his possessing that secret.