Obit: Gower, Seth Augustus (1845 - 1932)

Contact:  Lani Bartelt
Email: prolixiam@sbcglobal.net

Surnames: Gower, Shatswell, Crume. Lysie, Vaughan, Armitage, Funk, Pomroy

----Sources: Humbird Enterprise Newspaper (Humbird, Wis.) May 21, 1932

Gower, Seth Augustus (23 Nov. 1845 - 16 May 1932)

Seth Augustus Gower was born Nov. 23, 1845 at Hartland, Somerset county, Maine. He was one of fourteen children of Richard and Bethany Gower. When he was nine years of age his father died, and at the age of nineteen he came to Wisconsin to make his home with his brother, Eben, who had come west a few years previous.

In 1873 he purchased a farm in Houghtonburg, which has been his home until a year ago last March, when he went to live with his son on a farm near Neillsville, Wis.

Mr. Gower was married to Miss Jessie Shatswell in January, 1874. Of their four children, only one son, Lee, grew to maturity, and since the death of his wife in April, 1915, he has made his home with his son and family. He passed away after several months illness due to the infirmities of old age, on May 16, 1932, at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 23 days.

Deceased is survived by his son, Lee R. Gower; five grandchildren, Irving of Alma Center, Mrs. Harley Crume of Viroqua, Vera, Mrs. Lysie Armitage, and Glenn, who reside near Neillsville; five great granddaughters; also a number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral was held from the M. E. Church in this village on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. G. W. Vaughan, officiating, and burial was in Houghtonburg cemetery.

A large congregation of friends of this much respected pioneer settler attended the services. Grandpa Gower was among the very last of the early settlers in Houghtonburg. Through the years his acquaintance have been many of old and young, and everyone who knew him was his friend.

Those from away attending the funeral besides the relatives, were: Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Armitage from Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Funk from Augusta; and Mr. and Mrs. Pomroy from B. R. Falls. (Black River Falls)