The Payette Independent
Thursday, June 11, 1925
DEATH CALLS JOHN A. BOWERS
PROMINENT PAYETTE COUNTY CITIZEN A VICTIM OF CANCER AFTER LONG AND PAINFUL ILLNESS.
Death has again entered our midst and claimed one of the prominent citizens of Payette county in the person of John A. Bowers, who passed away at his home Sunday morning, June 17, 1925, at the age of 65 years, 1 month and 20 days.
Mr. Bowers became a victim of cancer in the form of what is called Hodgekin's disease, last year, and last January he went to Chicago where on January 21 he was operated on, his left leg being removed above the knee, in the hope of saving his life. However the dread disease broke out again and he gradually grew worse, being bedfast for the past eight weeks.
John A. Bowers was born at Hartville, Stark County, Ohio, April 18, 1860, and there he spent his boyhood days. At the age of 20 he moved to Kansas where he resided until 1906. December 24, 1885, he was married at Morrill, Kansas, to Myrtle Ann Plum, and to this union were born one daughter, Mrs. Minnie Vaunatta, of Payette, and three sons, Milton E. Bowers, of Glenns Ferry; Roy E. Bowers, of Fruitland, and Harry I. Bowers, of LaSalle, Ill. All were with him in his last hours except Harry, who was unable to attend the funeral.
In 1906 Mr. Bowers and his family came to Idaho, locating on a fruit farm six and a half miles south of Payette on the bench. In the fall of 1907 the Fruitland townsite was laid out, he having espoused the movement, and christened the town, giving it the name it now bears -- Fruitland. In the fall of 1908 he sold his interests at Fruitland and retired from farming taking a years vacation and visiting his old home in Ohio and places of interest in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He, however, was not content in the east and could not resist Idaho. He returned to Fruitland and became active in the fruit business again. Later he purchased the fruit ranch north of Payette and made this his home until death called.
Mr. Bowers led an active life and was prominent in all affairs effecting the welfare of Payette county. A man of pleasing personality, he had a large acquaintance and veritable host of warm personal friends. His was a consistent Christian life and was faithful to the end. The community's loss is second only to that of his family and his going is mourned by the citizenship of the country generally.
Funeral services were held at the Brethren church in Payette, of which he was a member. Interment took place at Riverside cemetery.
There are left to mourn his loss the wife, four children, eight grand children, three brothers and six sisters. To all of these the sympathies of the Independent and the many friends of the family are extended.
Card of Thanks
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks, to the kind neighbors and friends, who so kindly assisted us in the sickness and death of our dear Husband and Father, and also for the many beautiful floral offerings. Mrs. J. A. Bowers, C. A. Vannatta and family, M. E. Bowers and family, Roy E. Bowers and family