Abbeville in Abbeville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bowie Family Memorial
Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008
1. Bowie Family Memorial Marker
Erected by Bowie Historical Society. (Marker Number 1-3.)
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1700.
Location. 34° 16.436′ N, 82° 22.589′ W. Marker is in Abbeville, South Carolina, in Abbeville County. Marker is at the intersection of Greenville Street (State Highway 20) and Central Shiloh / Milford Dairy Road (State Highway S-1-100), on the left when traveling south on Greenville Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Abbeville SC 29620, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Marilyn Anne McKinney (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bowie (approx. 1.6 miles away); Angela Marlow Newton (approx. 4 miles away); Bryson College Memorial (approx.
this page online
Regarding Bowie Family Memorial. Gilgal United Methodist Church is the mother church for several prominent Abbeville County families, including the Bowies and the Botts (my ancestors). There are two main Bowie family reunions held each year: the South Carolina branch meets on the 2nd Saturday of July; the Mississippi branch meets on the 2nd weekend of June.
Also see . . .
1. Rhodi Bowie Descendant Page. (Submitted on July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
2. Holcombe Legion. Many members of the Bowie (and related families) family served in this legion. (Submitted on May 24, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
3. South Carolina Holcombe Legion Infantry. Letter addressed to the Holcombe Legion from
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
2. Bowie Family Memorial Marker
Additional commentary.
1. Gilgal United Methodist Church
The church was thought to have been established on property once owned by Eli Bowie.
1. The Heritage of Abbeville County. According to this source, "in 1821 a society was formed for the purpose of religious worship near the waters of Jobs Creek by the Reverend Keisy and the following families, namely, Auntly, Bowie, Carter, Close, Johnson, Lawson, and Plucket. Later the following families were added: Buckhannons, Kirkpatricks, Richardson and others. Worship was first held in the homes of individual families. A brush arbor was soon constructed on the same plot where the church now stands. From that time, a preacher has been supplied and regular services have been held until this day. In 1839 a small plot of land was conveyed to the church by Joseph Eakin and George Nickles and a log building was constructed and the building was named Gilgal. Apparently, the land did not belong to the group in the beginning. Tradition claims that neighbors complained to Mr. Eakin and Nickles about giving land to this new type of religious
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
3. Bowie Family Memorial Marker
2. WPA survey of Abbeville rural churches completed in 1939 by Ben Carlton. According to Carlton, the "church was organized in 1820 by the Rev. Kelsey, a circuit rider, and it was a Methodist society, which consisted of 9 families. The first building was of logs and lasted until 1840 when it was replaced by a rectangular frame one which had a bell and was smaller than the current church. The latter was built in 1884 and was set on a lot of 2 1/2 acres, which included a cemetery. It was 30' by 47', surrounded by large oaks on the side, but no bell. In 1939, its pastor was the Rev. Jessie H. Manly, Abbeville, RFD #3, who had been there since 1935, and it had a membership of about 85."
— Submitted July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
2. Eli Bowie and Katherine Franklin
Eli Bowie was born 1774 in Charles County, Maryland, and died 1844 in Abbeville District, South Carolina. He married Katherine Franklin in
Photographed By Brian Scott, May 14, 2005
4. Gilgal United Methodist Church -
Founded 1817
Founded 1817
Eli was a landowner and descendant of a well-documented family. The Bowies have many lines in Abbeville County that have survived to this day.
Eli and Katherine has five children that are detailed below:
1) James Price Bowie (1808-1879)
2) Hezekiah Washington Bowie (1809-1850)
3) William B. Bowie (1812-1894)
4) Asa Bowie (1818-1895)
5) Henry Browner Bowie (1821-1903)
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
3. James Price Bowie and Mary Flory
James Price Bowie was born October 8, 1808 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died August 30, 1879 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. He married Mary Flory in Abbeville District, South Carolina. She was born November 18, 1810 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died November 13, 1887 in Abbeville County, South Carolina.
James Bowie served in the Civil War and was commissioned as a captain. His unit is unknown at this time. He and Mary lived out their lives in the Buckstand region of Abbeville County, near Gilgal Church. They had eight children:
1) Sarah
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
5. Gilgal UMC Steeple
2) Franklin Esque Bowie (1831-1904) - Married Susan Dill (1832-1912). C.S.A. Co. F, Holcomb Legion. Four children.
3) John William Bowie (1833-1917) - Married Carrie Clinkscales (1838-1910). Eight children.
4) Hezekiah Bowie (1837-1917) - Married Agnes Lucinda Sharpe (1826-1904). C.S.A. Unit unknown. Three children.
5) Benjamin Asbury Bowie (1839-1880) - Married Adeline A. Madden (1837-1911). Four children.
6) Eli Brawner Bowie (1840-1920) - Married (1) Letitia Wallace (1836-1887); (2) Matilda Jenkins (d. 1915). Four children by Wallace.
7) Charles Taylor Bowie (1849-1915) - Not married. Died in the Abbeville County Home for the Poor.
8) Margaret Malinda Bowie (1852-1818) - Married John William Smith (d. 1927). Twelve children.
James Price and Mary are buried in Gilgal Cemetery.
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
4. Hezekiah Bowie and Margaret Ann McCown
Hezekiah Bowie was born 1809 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died October 1, 1850 in Arkansas. He married Margaret Ann McGown in Abbeville District, South Carolina.
Hezekiah Bowie moved to Chocotaw, Mississippi with the other members of his family,
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
6. Gilgal UMC Cemetery and Church
1) Wilson Bowie
2) Joseph E. Bowie
3) Siphronia Bowie
4) Mary L. Bowie
5) Emma Bowie
6) Robert Johnson Bowie (1842-1892) - Married Francis Eliza Bowie. Was a constable in McColl, Mississippi when he was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man. Nine children.
7) William Tully Bowie (b. 1846) - Married Martha Jane Wade (1845-1908). C.S.A. Co. D, 30th Miss. Cav. One child.
8) Franklin Brown Bowie (b. 1850) - Married Ellen E.C. Huffaker (d. 1878). Three children.
9) Thomasella Bowie (1857-1914) - Samuel Scott (1854-1939). Seven children.
Hezekiah is not actually buried in Gilgal Cemetery. He was buried in Arkansas where he died. The tombstone here was added to complete the memorial to the Bowie family.
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
5. William B. Bowie and Margaret Henry
James Price Bowie was born June 1812 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died September 21, 1894 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. He married Margaret Henry in Abbeville District, South Carolina.
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
7. Gilgal UMC Cemetery
James and Margaret had three children:
1) Malinda Bowie (1846-1921) - Never married.
2) Mary Catherine Bowie (1841-1920) - Married Quincy Radcliff. One child.
3) Jane Bowie (1844-1926) - Married James Newton Drake (b. 1844). Three children.
William and Margaret are buried in Gilgal Cemetery.
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
6. Asa Bowie and Martha A. Botts
Martha Arabella Botts was born February 13, 1818 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died September 18, 1896 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. She married Asa Bowie January 07, 1841 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, son of Eli Bowie and Katherine Franklin. He was born March 21, 1818 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, and died July 04, 1895 in Abbeville County, South Carolina.
Martha Arabella Botts was the first child and first daughter of Thomas Comer Botts and (possibly) Nancy Moore. Little is known of Martha's early life. She does not appear in a census record by name until after her marriage. She is later mentioned in her father's will. Her lifelong home was the Gilgal area of Abbeville County,
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
8. Gilgal UMC Cemetery
Martha was 23 years of age when she married a local landowner, Asa Bowie. According to family researcher Everette Bowie, those in the Gilgal area knew Martha and Asa Bowie as "Uncle Ace" and "Aunt Belle." They lived their entire married lives on Job Branch Creek, about one mile from Gilgal United Methodist Church, where they farmed for a living.
Asa Bowie was one of six sons born to Eli Bowie and Katherine Freeman Bowie. Asa was a farmer but not a slave owner. Asa and Martha Botts Bowie lived between the households of William McKee and William Bowie. Other Bowie family members lived along the same row of households.
Thomas Comer Botts, Martha's father, died in August 1857. Asa and Martha were heavily involved in the probating of his will, with Asa being named one of the administrators and representing the interests of his wife in the matter. Due to the language in the paperwork, I suspect that the involvement of Asa and Martha Bowie was adversarial to the other family members. There are also references to Bowie being paid by Emily A. Botts' husband, William P. McClellan.
Martha and Asa had a large family: nine children in all. Little is known about the first three and they are presumed to have died either in childbirth or early in life.
1) Adaline Bowie (died in
Photographed By Brian Scott, October 11, 2012
9. Bowie Family Memorial in Gilgal UMC Cemetery
2) Mary A.F. Bowie (died in infancy/childhood)
3) William Bound Bowie (died in infancy/childhood)
4) Louis David Bowie (1842-1899) - Married Mary Jane Russell (1837-1919). C.S.A., Pvt. 1st SC Rifles (Orr's Rifles). Six children.
5) Jacob Howard Bowie (1844-1912) - Married (1) Malinda Jane Agnew (1840-1873); (2) Essie Loner (1850-1926). C.S.A., Pvt., Co. H, Holcombe Legion. Five children by Agnew; eight children by Loner.
6) Thomas Francis Marion Bowie (1846-1870) - Unmarried. CSA Pvt. Co. F, Holcombe Legion
7) Emeline Hasseltine Bowie (1848-1925) - Married but spouse's name unknown. One child.
8) Leonard Kelly Bowie (1854-1913) - Married Anna Bozeman Milford (1863-1938). Five children.
9) Celestia Ellen Bowie (1856-1929). Married John W. Simpson (1859-1933). Two children.
Martha and Asa are buried in the cemetery at Gilgal United Methodist Church. She and her husband's graves are marked with a single obelisk, engraved on each side with their names and dates of birth and death.
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
7. Henry Browner Bowie and Matilda Ann McKee
Henry Browner Bowie was born June 4, 1821 in Abbeville District, South Carolina,
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2003
10. Tombstone for Eli Bowie
One of the key individuals responsible for the founding of Gilgal United Methodist Church.
Henry served during the Civil War (Pvt. Co. J, Holcombe Legion) but was taken captive and held until the war's end. He and Matilda had eleven children:
1) Eli Round Bowie (1840-1840)
2) William Brown Bowie (1840-1840)
3) George Franklin Bowie, Sr. (1841-1889) - Married Mary Harriett Nimmons (1848-1934). Seven children.
4) Pickney Wilson Bowie (1843-1862) - C.S.A., killed at Malvern Hill, Virginia.
5) Augustus Lafayette Bowie (1846-1895) - Married Martha Jane Bowie (1845-1919). C.S.A. POW. Seven children.
6) Nancy Jane Bowie (1848-1921) - Married Samuel Erskine Agnew. No children.
7) Elvira Talitha Bowie (1851-1925) - Married James Henry Greene (1849-1925). Only survivor of a set of triplets. Nine children.
8) Elzirah Tabitha Bowie (1851-1851)
9) John Thomas Agnew Bowie (1851-1851)
10) George Franklin Bowie (1854-1889) - Not married.
11) Laura Melissa Bowie (1857-1947) - Married David L. Greene. Four children.
— Submitted May 25, 2009, by 
Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2003
11. Tombstone for James Price Bowie - Eli Bowie's First Son
8. About the Marker
The marker shown replaced the traditional aluminum South Carolina roadside markers seen in other entries.
— Submitted December 24, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2003
12. Tombstone for Hezekiah Bowie -
Eli Bowie's Second Son
Eli Bowie's Second Son
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 3, 2003
13. Tombstone for William B. Bowie - Eli Bowie's Third Son
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 3, 2003
14. Tombstone for Asa Bowie -
Eli Bowie's Fourth Son
Eli Bowie's Fourth Son
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 3, 2003
15. Tombstone for Henry Browner Bowie -
Eli Bowie's Fifth Son
Eli Bowie's Fifth Son
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 6,015 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on October 12, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 12, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
