Dear Gary D. Bray,

See below some information regarding , my GGGrandfather:

ANCESTORS OF COL. WILLIAM RANKIN BOWEN, CSA

Col. Bowen’s ancestors—the Bowen’s, Russells, Rankins, Speeds and other related families—lived in Maryland and Pennsylvania, then settled in the South and became very prosperous and influential. Many of the males served in the military before, during and after the Revolutionary War.

The Bowen Family

The earliest documented members of this branch of the Bowen family came to America between 1684 and 1696. Some researchers believe that it is more likely that they arrived in America during the 1690s. The Bowens prospered and by the late 1800s family members were living in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, many states to the west and Brazil.
WILLIAM RANKIN2 BOWEN (WILLIAM RUSSELL1) was born About 1819 in , and died May 22, 1891 in Santa Barbara, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. He married (1) ELIZABETH S. WHITE October 3, 1843 in Montgomery Co., TX, daughter of CHARLES WHITE. She died About April 1860 in McLennan Co., TX. He married (2) ALMIRA DUNN July 10, 1862 in Collin Co., TX, daughter of DANIEL DUNN and PAMELIA BARKER. She was born March 26, 1828 in Lyons, Wayne Co., NY, and died July 28, 1910 in McKinney, Collin Co., TX. He married (3) ANNA MARTINS About 1867 in Brazil. She was born in , and died Unknown in .

Notes for WILLIAM RANKIN BOWEN:

The following notes about William Bowen are not arranged in any specific order. They are provided as a basis for further research.

According to family legend, William Bowen served during the Civil War under Confederate General Hood. He was so discontented with the outcome of the war that he left the country and migrated to Brazil. He may have remarried and started another family in Brazil. Source: Jane McKemie Schmidt, a story told to her by her father, Jack F. McKemie.

Thanks....Mauricio