Arthur Bowie

Personal and Family Information

Arthur was born on 10 May 1881 in Sanatobia, Tate County, Mississippi, the son of James Motheral Walker and Caniza Reeves.^{[Note 4]}

He died on 17 May 1941 in Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas.^{[Note 5]}

His wife was Eleanor Cornelia Simmons, who he married on 6 AUG 1907 in Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas. Their six known children were Theodora Happy (1908-1916), Arthur James (1910-1949), Billy Saxon (1915-1989), Doris Marion (1920-1987), Bobby Bennett (1925-2003) and Max Owen (1927-1993).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Event	Date	Details	Source	Multimedia	Notes
Birth	10 MAY 1881	Place: Sanatobia, Tate County, Mississippi Address: Billy's Birth certificate #945, dated 15Nov1915. Arthur age 34, born Sanatobia, Miss Billy identified handwriting on birth certificate as that of his father Arthur. Certified copy dated Aug 17, 1942 in Possession of Arthur F Bowie 21Aug1997.		Birth Cert-Bowie,BillyS BirthCert-Bowie, BillyS 1915 BirthCert-Bowie,ArthurJames	See Note 4
Death	17 MAY 1941	Place: Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas Age: 60 yrs, 11 months, 23 days Type: murder Address: Bowie's Liquor Store East Main Street, just outside city limits Augusta, Arkansas Cause: Gunshot Agency: 3 Robbers	WIDE SEARCH FOR SLAYERS OF A. BOWIE Source: WIDE SEARCH FOR SLAYERS OF A. BOWIE Date: 19 MAY 1941 Publisher: Newport Daily Independent Monday, May 19, 1941 Vol XLI, no 39	A. Bowie,Shot- Search or Slayers Death Cert - Bowie, Arthur Trial of murders of A Bowie- Newspaper story and photos Murder Detail -Bowie, 1941 Murder of A Bowie trial Slayers of A Bowie captured Murder of A Bowie & trial of slayers	See Note 5
Census	EST 1900	Address: unable to find Arthur and Caniza in 1900 Buie/Bowie not in 1900Soundex or ancestor.com not found in 1900 city of Newport census line by line search
Census	4 MAY 1910	Place: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 29 b Miss Address: 321 Vine Street Union Twp, dweling 188, family 197 Agency: census, 1910 Ark	Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73 Source: Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73 Publisher: US Department of Commerence
Census	9 JAN 1920	Place: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 39 Address: 213 Elm Street, dwelling 165, family 186 Bowie, Arthur, head of family, owned house & free of mortgage, Male, white, 39 yrs, married, able to read & write, born Mississippi, father born Mississippi, mother born Mississippi, speaks english, Merchant of Groceries. -------Cora, wife, female, white, 31 yrs, married, able to read & write, born Arkansas, father born Fordia, mother born Arkansas, speaks english, no occp. -------Arthur J, son, male while, 9 yrs, single, attends school, born Arkansas, father born Mississippi, mother born Arkansas, no occp -------Billie, son, male, white, 4 yrs, single, born Arkansas, father born Mississippi, mother born Arkansas, no occp.	Census 1920 Arkansas, Jackson County , ED 71 Newport, ED 181 Breckendridge Twp Source: Census 1920 Arkansas, Jackson County , ED 71 Newport, ED 181 Breckendridge Twp Date: JAN 1920 Publisher: US Deptartment of Commerence		See Note 6
Census	4 APR 1930	Place: Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 49 b Mississippi Address: 213 Elm Street dwelling 70 family 92 with wife, 4 sons, daughter, daughter in law and 3 roomers Agency: 1930 census Arkansas	Census 1930, Arkansas, Jackson Cty, Newport and Tuckerman Source: Census 1930, Arkansas, Jackson Cty, Newport and Tuckerman Date: APR 1930 Publisher: US Dept of Commerence	Census-1930, Arkansas, Jackson, Newport1 Census-1930, Arkansas, Jackson, Newport2
Census	6 APR 1940	Place: Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas Age: 60 born Miss Address: ward 1, dwelling 120 with wife, 4 children, 2 Lodgers oldest son near in Dwelling 310	Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City Source: Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City Authors: US Federal Census Date: APR 1940		See Note 7
Burial	1941	Place: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 59 yr, 11 months Address: N35° 36.854’ W91° 16.150’ Walnut Grove Cemetery, south 1/2 of lot 145, Block C, original section Find A Grave Memorial# 37178641 with mother, wife, and 2 daughters Agency: gravestone and death cert		Cemeteries -Jackson County Arkansas Grav-BowA Walnut Grove, Lot description and burials, by Walter Heard Caniza + others
OTHER EVENT	ABT 1891	Place: Tupelo, Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 10 Address: Arrived Jackson Cty		Obit - Bowie, Carriza Doris Bowie Mulholland, 3 letters to BBB Bio-Bowie, Arthur	See Note 8
OTHER EVENT	16 APR 1901	Place: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Address: Earliest Document Newport Weekly Independent, April 1901			See Note 9
OTHER EVENT	1917	Place: Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 36 Type: Deed Address: Plat Book Twp 9 North Range 2 West Breckenridge Twp, Section 17 40 acres SW corner of NW corner Section 17 Cause: Film Strip 281, Item 5 Atlas and Plat Book Agency: Newport Library, Jackson Cty Misc Records		Dwg-Jackson County Ownership Plats	See Note 10
OTHER EVENT	SEP 1918	Place: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Age: 37 Type: Military Service Address: Draft registration card with signitature		Draft Registration - Bowie, Arthur

Attributes

Attribute	Date	Description	Details	Source	Multimedia	Notes
Occupation	1906	Merchant in Newport, NLR, and Augusta	Age: 25 Address: Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas Advertisement in Newport Independent		A Bowie Liquor Store in East Augusta, abt1939 ABowie Groceries ad, 1906 Doc-Bowie, various locations	See Note 11 See Note 12 See Note 13
Religion		Methodist	Address: First Methodist Church in both Newport and Augusta taught men's Sunday school class for many years

Multimedia

Arthur Bowie...	Arthur Bowie...	ABowie Groce...	Arthur with ...	Arthur with ...	Arthur with ...
A Bowie Liqu...	Arthur Bowie...	Doris Bowie ...	Obit - Bowie...	Bio-Bowie, A...	Murder Detai...
Murder of A ...	Doc-Bowie, N...	ThruLines-Wa...	DNA Match-Wa...	DNA-Matches-...	NPE -Walker-...
ThruLInes-Wa...	Ancestors-Rh...	Newport CofC...	Bowie,Bobby-...	DeathCert-Bo...

Notes

Note 1

unable to find in the 1900 census of Jackson County 3/1/03 ???

unable to find in 1900 on Ancestry.com 2/17/04

1901 newspaper suggests Arthur may have been in LittleRock at least early in 1901. Also documents that he began work for Otto Bowen in April 1901, so the family story about Arthur going to Salt Lake City for Mr Bowen would be after 1901, if true at all.

Note 2

Notes dated May 25, 1977

Billy's story in response to questions by son Arthur at Magnolia Street home in Augusta.

In 1935 Billy was 19 and began selling life insurance in Newport. His first day commission was $265, but instead of returning to selling the second day, he went with granddad at the old man's instance to Augusta to open a liquor store. The store was to occupy what is now Harris Department Store, next to Cannon Drug.

Billy went to work sweeping hay off the floor and out of the way. Granddad begin processing the first delivery, that is checking invoice against order and delivery.

Billy made first sell right out of the case, he remember it as either a pint or half pint of whiskey, but couldn't quite recall the brand. For two weeks the two of them lived in the back end of the store during the week and went back to Newport on the weekend.

They moved the whole family to Augusta at the end of two weeks and lived in the house on Mulberry Street just south of the library. That would be center of the block, between Methodist Church and Dick Gregory home.

Nine months later the city voted itself dry, so the store was closed and all moved back to Newport.

Other notes from other times, and various sources...

apparently tried to open stores in Little Rock area two times and was burned out both times.

First attempt was in Little Rock, second was in Levy or what is now North Little Rock. At least the Levy store was known to be arson and a complete loss. No dates on these attempts.

Arthur (1881-1941) worked in a store in Newport at first, Otto Bowen is name I remember today 1/30/03 but not certain. The 1906 newspaper ad also implied that he had worked for someone in another grocery store for nearly 9 years. Family tradition holds he went to Salt Lake City, UT when about 12 years old and worked for about three years, again probably for Otto Bowen.

This seems to be contradicted by newspaper report: About People-Mainly; April 16, 1901, maybe 1902. From microfilm roll at Ark History Comm M Film New 00519 roll 01. “Arthur Bowie who came up from Little Rock Tuesday to take a position with the Cash Grocery was taken sick Wednesday and has been unable to be at the store.”

Note 3

Non paternity event/NPE/Not Parent Expected AFB’s FamilyTreeDNA Kit 926600 Y-DNA-111 in Jan 2020 in Haplogroup I-A7115. positive on 54 SNP and has two matches at Genetic Distance 2, two at Gen Dist 3, three at Gen Dist 4, and more than twenty matches from Genetic Distance 5 to 10, most with Walker name, all in group 2 of the Walker Project.

AFB’s Ancestry DNA shows many matches and ThruLines with Allan Walker/Esther McCory, and John Motheral/Jane Currie families, strongest matches are in Joel Walker and Mary Motheral descendants. AFB has marked more than 250 shared DNA matches in Walker/Motheral, McCrory, Allen group.

No Bowie/Buie/variant have shown in either Y-DNA or Ancestry DNA before grandchilden of Arthur Bowie 1881-1941

It is possible to image several theories to name parents of Arthur Bowie 1881-1941, however the most likely and simplest is that James Motheral Walker is his father and Caniza Reeves (Buie/Sullivan/Bowie) is his mother. June 1880 census of Tate County, Mississippi, shows James M Walker living (dwelling 204, family 209) next to Caniza Sullivan, twice widowed with her two adult children, (dwelling 205, family 210). Arthur born in May 1881.

Note 4

Bobby's birth certificate also shows Mississippi as birthplace

Carriza obit in 1906 and advertisement from same time both say Arthur was a native of Mississippi.

Census 1910 and 1920 both show Mississippi and age indictates 1881

Marriage Record age 26 in 1907 also indicates 1881

Mickey's birth certificate and Arthur Obituary give Stillwater, Oklahoma as bithplace, both are much later and based on Cora 's statement, not Arthur.

Note 5

The three robbers that first knapped Arthur Bowie and then killed him in a second robbery a few weeks later in May were captured, convicted in August, two sentenced to life and one excuted in November.

Kay Bowie remembers seeing a bust of one of the killers in Pulaski County Courthouse and thinks he was the first person excuted in Arkansas's electric chair.

Mickey's notes indicate he was first person elecutruted in the circuit court district.

Note 6

nephew Robert F Seaton, emunator

Note 7

While Arthur and Cora were in Augusta when 1940 census taken, their home in Newport on 213 Elm Street was rented to William E Wooley age 45, born Ark with wife Nellie age 41, Daugther Mary Alice age 18, and 3 Ridley inlaws for $35 per month.

See 1940 Census. Arkansas,Jackson, Newport, 34-4A, sheet 4A, line 33-38

uncle Robert T and Margery Simmons 216 Elm, Boyce family 319, Watson 300

Note 8

Family traditionial story: Arthur and Mother Carriza Bowie arrived in Jackson County in a wagon about 1891. Arthur lived with and raised by Ben F Simmons, said to have changed diapers on future wife Eleanor Cornelia Simmons while living with Ben.

Carriza Obituary in 1906 "came to Arkansas fifteen years ago. Newport has been the family's home for twelve years." This indicates 1891 for arrivial in Arkansas, three years with or near Ben Simmons, Tupelo and into Newport about 1894. These times similar to those told by Doris and Aunt Sallie in their letters.

The stories about Arthur rocking cradle or changing diapers for baby Cora born 1887, also fit for arrival in Arkansas about 1891.

Doris letters to BBB 7/1971 and 7/5/1980--James and Caniza arrived Jackson county together with three children. He died and is buried on Simmons farm, she had TB, spent a year in Salt Lake City in santimorium but returned to newport. She lived in Millie Kelley Boarding house in Newport.

Note 9

newspaper column: About People-Mainly April 16, 1901, maybe 1902.

From microfilm roll at Ark History Comm M Film New 00519 roll 01

Arthur Bowie who came up from Little Rock Tuesday to take a position with the Cash Grocery was taken sick Wednesday and has been unable to be at the store.

Same column, Friday Sept 13, 1901 , back page:

The grocery establishment of Otto M. Bowen's, known as the Cash Grocery, has been enjoying trade expansion until the limits of a one store building are no longer sufficient. The partition is now being torn down between the store and what has been a warehouse, mang one big store, where the large stock, which Mr Bowen purchase while in St. Louis, may be stored. The proprietor is a hustler and an accommodating gentleman, who deserves the success he has achieved.

Note 10

copy in possession of Arthur F Bowie 1/28/03

Plats were researched for Simmons family south of Tupelo in sectons 31, 32, and 33.

A. Bowie shown on 40 acres north of Tupelo in section 17. Familar names with family ties surround the track. Vaugh to east, McDonald on north and Harris east.

Note 11

from ad with Picture in Newport Independent Mrs Bowen had saved copy and gave to Mickey years ago. passed to AFB by Bobby.

A.Bowie

Staple and Fancy Groceries

Newport has the reputation of having some of the best grocery stores to be found in the state and among these fine and well equipped stores is Bowies.

The cook and housewife have learned that when they have racked their brains to think of something to tickle the palate of their guests it is best to stop worring and go down town and ask Bowie. He not only knows all of the good things to eat, but he has them in stock and will deliver them prompty to any part of the city.

Mr Bowie is a native of Mississippi, but came to Arkansas 15 years ago when but a boy. For the past ten years he has been devoting his entire time and thought to the grocery business. About 15 months ago he established the present business, and its growth has been far beyond his expectation. Although but a young man, Mr Bowie ranks with the business men of the city and is always..........

Note 12

Billy help father establish liquor stores twice in Augusta. First was 1935 in downtown in or near building that became Canon Drugstore. City voted dry, forced closure of first try.

Letter Billy to Arthur dated May 14, 1969 and notes of conversation dated 5/25/77 both in possession of Arthur F Bowie 6/2/98

Arthur opened liquor stores in Little Rock and Levy (North Little Rock) at some unknown time. Both stores were destroyed by fire. Arson, probably by competators, was suspected in both cases.

His second attempt at establishing a liquor store in Augusta was more successful. In 1937 he bought the small lot and building on what was then highway 64 east of Augusta.

The family moved to Augusta but did not sell their house on Elm Street in Newport. The Augusta home may have been rented, located on North Third Street, half a block south of the courthouse and half a block north of Presbyterian Church. Jewell Chalfant lived accross the street with his grandson Jimmy Bowie- she told story of how Arthur loved his grandson and would often walk and play with him on the sidewalks along N Third Street.

When Augusta expanded it's city limits eastward, the plot of land with Bowie's Liquor Store was excluded because he had been forced to move once, the city didn't want to make the Bowies move a second time.

The Business was financially successful for many years, but within two years it was robbed at least twice and Arthur Bowie was murdered there in an robbery. Billy was mustered out of the Army when his father was killed, and ran the store many years. Arthur died without a will and Billy said it took him nine years to settle the estate and pay off the debts. Cora and the three younger children moved back to Elm Street home in Newport- Doris was in University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and may not have ever spent much time in Augusta, she married the year after her father was killed.

Note 13

BBB notes: Dad's grocery store folded during the depression. He did quite a bit of business on credit and when the depression hit he simply kept many people from going hungry. He tried to move to Levy and start again but the store and all his merchandise burned. As he left to haul the merchancise to Levy he took all the charge tickets covering the money others owed him and burned then in back of the store. As late as 1958 people came to Mother with money to pay long over due debts. No telling how many people simply forgot their debts.

Dad opened another business. That of dealing in furs, shels for buttions, pecons, pearls, and other items he could sell. During the winter months he paid people along the river to shell pecans. This lasted a few years and he went into the liquor business at Augusta, Arkansas. We moved back and forth 5 times.

Sources

1. Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73

   Source:	Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73
   Publisher:	US Department of Commerence

2. Census 1920 Arkansas, Jackson County , ED 71 Newport, ED 181 Breckendridge Twp

   Source:	Census 1920 Arkansas, Jackson County , ED 71 Newport, ED 181 Breckendridge Twp
   Date:	JAN 1920
   Publisher:	US Deptartment of Commerence

3. Census 1930, Arkansas, Jackson Cty, Newport and Tuckerman

   Source:	Census 1930, Arkansas, Jackson Cty, Newport and Tuckerman
   Date:	APR 1930
   Publisher:	US Dept of Commerence

4. Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City

   Source:	Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City
   Authors:	US Federal Census
   Date:	APR 1940

5. WIDE SEARCH FOR SLAYERS OF A. BOWIE

   Source:	WIDE SEARCH FOR SLAYERS OF A. BOWIE
   Date:	19 MAY 1941
   Publisher:	Newport Daily Independent Monday, May 19, 1941 Vol XLI, no 39