The Bowen Family

Lee Co., VA / Hancock Co., TN

Enoch Daniel Bowen

Enoch Daniel Bowen and Mary E. Baker
1870 U.S. Federal Census (image 2, sheet 2)
Hancock County, Tennessee, District 4, War Gap P.O.
                     age    born        occupation
Jason Bowen           35     VA         farmer
Ruth Ann              39     NC         keeping house
Enoch                 14     TN         work on farm
Phoebe                12     TN         at home
William               10     VA         at home
Sarah                  7     TN
Alfred                 5     TN
1880 U.S. Federal Census (image 27, page 2)
Hancock County, Tennessee, District 12
                     age    born  parents occupation
E.D. Bowen            24     TN    VA/NC  farmer
Mary E.         wife  23     TN    TN/VA  keeping house
George H.       son    3     TN     TN
Ollie J.        dau    1     TN     TN
1900 U.S. Federal Census (image 3, sheet 2)
Hancock County, Tennessee, District 12
                     age    born  parents occupation birthdate   married
Enoch Bowen           44     TN    VA/NC  farmer     Jan 1856    24 years
Mary E.         wife  43     TN    TN/VA             Oct 1856    24 years
George H.       son   23     TN     TN    farm labor Sep 1876
Joseph H.M.     son   19     TN     TN    farm labor Nov 1880
William T.      son   17     TN     TN    farm labor Jan 1883
Addie M.        dau   15     TN     TN               Mar 1885
Alonzo J.       son   13     TN     TN    farm labor Feb 1887
Isaac G.        son    7     TN     TN               May 1893
(owns farm, Mary = 8 children born, 7 still alive)
1910 U.S. Federal Census (image 8, sheet 4)
Hancock County, Tennessee, Civil District 4
Rogersville and Jonesville Pike Road
                     age    born  parents occupation             married
Enoch D. Bowen        54     TN     VA    preaching              34 years
Mary E.         wife  53     TN     TN    none                   34 years
Alonzo J.       son   23     TN     TN    farmer                 single 
Grady           son   16     TN     TN    farm laborer
Ethel          gdau    7     TN     TN
Stella Johnson serv   16     TN     TN    servant

Enoch Daniel Bowen was pastor of a number of Churches in Virginia and Tennessee.  He served as pastor of the Thompson Settlement Church in Lee County, Virginia for a number of years. 

Rev. Enoch Daniel BowenTennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers by J.J. Burnett

E. D. Bowen was born in Scott County, Virginia, January 30, 1856.  He was the son of Jason and a grandson of Jesse Bowen, who was of German descent.  The family moved to Tennessee when E. D. was a small boy.  His mother's maiden name was Ruth Lee, a daughter of Arch Lee, who was a near relative of the famous "Light Horse Harry" and Robert E. Lee, of Virginia.  He was converted at the age of 17, and became a preacher of the Primitive or Old-school Baptist faith.  He married Miss Mary E. Baker, a daughter of Joseph Baker of Hancock County, Tennessee, and to this union were born eight children, six sons and two daughters.  One of his sons, I.G. Bowen, is a ministerial student in Carson and Newman College.

Becoming dissatisfied with the non-progressiveness of his brethren of the Primitive order, E. D. Bowen renounced his allegiance to the church of his first love, becoming a "missionary" Baptist, but still holding the strong Calvinistic doctrines of the Old-school Baptists.  Brother Bowen was a strong man intellectually, and a very fine preacher.  He was moderator of the Mulberry Gap Association, and was one of the ablest preachers belonging to that body.  One of the most delightful sermons the writer ever heard at an association was delivered by E. D. Bowen at the Mulberry Gap Association, some years ago.  It was strongly, but not unduly Calvinistic, emphasizing the doctrines of grace and good-naturedly touching up the theology of some of his "softer" brethren in the ministry.  He was a master of his subject, and a charming speaker; the discourse left a good taste in the writer's mouth.

Elder Bowen was pastor of a number of churches, tilled the soil to supplement his salary, and was called upon to fill "offices of public trust in his county."  He died February 16, 1915, and was buried in the Testerman graveyard, near Blackwater Church - a church of which he had been pastor for "nearly twenty years."  By "resolutions," this church memorialized him as a "brother beloved," a "noble Christian," a "faithful pastor and bold soldier of the cross," a great "power in the church," taking "great delight always in cheering, uplifting and helping" his fellowmen - his life being and "example" for the church and community to follow.  Signed by the committee.