"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, 
Adams  and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical
Publishing  Company, Publishers, 1904. pp. 828-829.

JOSEPH H. BOWERS resides about on mile east from Delight and there owns a fine
estate of four hundred and eighty acres which is all under cultivation, fenced
and well improved. Mr. Bowers has about twenty head of stock and farms his place
largely to wheat. He has made a first class success in raising this cereal and
is considered one of the good men of the community. He has shown thrift and
industry in his labors and is worthy to be classed as one of the upbuilders of
Adams county.
     Joseph H. Bowers was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on November 1, 1865, the
son of Amos and Elizabeth (Spry) Bowers, natives of Ohio. They moved to Iowa in
1852, to Missouri in 1868, in 1874 to Illinois, to Nebraska in 1880, and finally
journeyed to Washington, landing here in 1888. They are now dwelling in Adams
county and the father keeps the postoffice at Delight. They are the parents of
seven children, named as follows, Marion W., Levina J., Sarah E., Rose F.,
Edward T., Joseph H., and Bertha M.
     Our subject has been on the frontier a good portion of his life and
therefore had but little opportunity for securing an education, but he made the
best of what he had. At the age of twenty-one he left his fatherís place and
began work for himself. This was in Nebraska. For two years he operated rented
land and in 1888, came thence to Washington where he took a homestead, the same
being part of his present estate. Since then he has purchased enough to make the
estate three fourths of a section and he has given his entire attention to its
cultivation and improvement. He handles as high as six thousand bushels of wheat
annually. He also owns residence property in Lind.
     Mr. Bowers is still contented to dwell in single blessedness. In political
matters, he is a Republican, well informed in the questions of the day and
interested in everything that tends to the upbuilding and progress of his
county. He is a member of the M. W. A. and also of the Methodist church.
     Mr. Bowers has a sister, Mrs. Sarah E. Freestone, who dwells with him, her
homestead adjoining his place. She has resided here for fifteen years and has
shown remarkable fortitude and tenacity. While holding her homestead, she was
obliged to go out to work to support her two daughters, and her lot is really
more to be commended than the male pioneers, for they were forced to contend
with less to overcome than she has had. She has always taken an interest in
advancing the country and her labors show her to be an industrious and
substantial lady.

Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net