Thomas Edward Bowles

Thomas Edward Bowles - 1860-1942

In the little settlement of Moroni, Utah, Thomas Edward Bowles came into the world 5 December 1860 as the son of Thomas and Susannah Washburn Bowles.

Thomas and Susannah were living in a log cabin with a dirt floor on the corner of 3rd North and 2nd East in Nephi, Utah. The cabin was located outside the Old Fort making it much more dangerous to live there. They had no furniture. A hole left in the dirt floor for the hearth served as a table and chairs. Here they could sit with their feet in the the hole. A small piece of homemade carpet hung in the doorway and served as a door.

For some reason, Thomas and Susannah were in Moroni , Utah on the 5th of Dec. 1860 as their first son, Thomas Edward Bowles was born there.

Because of the personalities and character of his parents, it may be assumed that Thomas Edward was raised in a good home. It has been stated that Thomas (the father) was a jovial and good-natured man and always known as a friend to the Indians and took them into his home many times. His home was always open to freighters and those who needed help.

It is also assumed that Thomas Edward also received a good religious background from his parents, as they were active participants in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were active participants in church and social affairs.

As a young boy and man, Thomas Edward probably helped his father as a farmer and freighter as his father was a large land owner and acted as a freighter to Salt Lake City carrying merchandise, grain, etc.

In the course of time, Thomas Edward became acquainted with Louisa Bale. Louisa was born 28 September 1864 in Whitwick, Leicester, England as the daughter of Richard Bale and Sarah Miller. After joining the Mormon Church in England the Bale family immigrated to Utah and settled in Nephi, Utah about 1876.

Thomas Edward courted Louisa and they were later married 1 March 1879 by John Borrowman, Justice of the Peace in Nephi, Utah, Thomas Edward was 18 years of age and Louisa was 14.

Like his father, Thomas probably built a log cabin to serve as their home.

(Thomas Edward Bowles home in Nephi, Utah)

Thomas Edward and Louisa became parents when William Thomas was born 16 May 1882 in Nephi, Utah. The next child was stillborn on 10 July 1884. The family then moved to Coalville in Summit Count, Utah where another son, Ernest Richard was born 22 September 1887. By September 1891 the family moved back to Nephi and on the 15th of September Samuel Clifford was born into the world. In 1896 Louisa gave birth to another stillborn child on 23 February and named him Robert.

The 16th of December 1896 became an important day in the life of the Bowles family as they traveled to Manti, Utah to the Manti Temple and there received their endowments and were sealed together as husband and wife for all eternity. The three oldest boys were also sealed to their parents on that same day. The next day Mary Pamelia Hadord by proxy, was also sealed to Thomas Edward.

Alvin Roy was the next child born on 11 November 1897 in Nephi, Utah. They were not through having sons as Arthur Lloyd came on 10 October 1900 also in Nephi, Utah.

At this point, the older children were growing up and leaving home to make homes for themselves. William Thomas was the first to marry Elizabeth Annie Pitman on 13 Nov. 1902.

There were no girls in the Bowles household as yet, so now it was time for some daughters. They came in the form of Retta Louisa born 21 June 1904, and Sarah Vivian born 21 February 1907 in Nephi, Utah.

After this time, Thomas and Louisa must of started having marriage problems or problems that existed got worse, for Thomas Edward was declared to have died in 1915 by the "Rigby Star" newspaper when Louisa died in 1949.

With her oldest son in Idaho, as well as some of her own Bale family, Louisa left her husband Thomas Edward and moved to Rigby, Idaho in 1910 with her two girls.

In 1919, Thomas Edward was reinstated into the Mormon Church after having been excommunicated earlier. With Louisa gone, Thomas Edward filed for divorce 4 January 1922 and was granted 27 April 1922.

Thomas Edward was excommunicated for adultery, 26 February 1922 and on the 2nd of March a son, David Edward Bowles was born in Nephi to Thomas Edward and Sarah Jane (Beagley) Nelson Sperry. Later, 28 Oct 1922, they were married. Thomas Edward was 64 years of age and Sarah Jane was 43.

Another son was born to them on 25 October 1925 in Nephi named James William.

In 1928 Thomas Edward was once again baptized, being baptized by Raymond Bailey and confirmed by Thomas Bailey 5 August 1928.

In 1932 Thomas Edward's son, James William died at the age of 7.

Thomas Edward continued to improve his standing in the Mormon Church. In 1993 he was given the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained a Deacon. In 1934 he was ordained a Teacher on 1st of July by Albert E. Sells and in 1935 he was ordained a Priest by Albert E. Smith on 24th of March.

Sadness again stuck his home on 2 June 1937 when his son David Edward died of pneumonia at the age of 16 years.

Earlier in his life, Thomas Edward, learned the trade of meat cutting from his father. His father had received tools for a butcher shop from Charles Foote. Thomas ran the shop and was later given the tools by Mr. Foote and entered into the butcher business for himself. He was an excellent butcher and made many friends while in the shop. Thomas Edward probably worked in this trade for many years.

Thomas Edward Bowles died 31 October 1942 in Nephi, Utah.

(Photo: Ernest Bowles, Thomas Edward Bowles, Samuel Clifford Bowles)

Louisa Bale Bowles - 1864-1949

(Photo: Louisa Bale Bowles and her mother Sarah Miller Bale)

Louisa Bale Bowles

Born: 28 Sep 1864 in Whitwick, Leicester, England

Parents: Richard Bale and Sarah Miller

Married: 1 Mar 1879 in Nephi, Juab, Utah; Sealed to Thomas Edward Bowles 16 Dec 1896 in Manti Temple, Sanpete County, Utah

Died: 4 Mar 1949 at Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho

Mother of nine children: seven sons (two stillborn) and two daughters