William Smith Bowdon

SURNAMES: BOWDON, THREADGILL, PETERSON, FOSTER, GLOVER, READ, HEARD, MENEFEE, SUTHERLAND

William Smith Bowdon, b 1891 in North Carolina, d 1942 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - was a son of Thomas Owen and Lucie (Threadgill) Bowdon. William followed his cousin, Arthur Threadgill, Sr., and a brother, A. O. Bowdon, to Marlin about 1912, where he married, in 1918, to Mildred Katharine Peterson, b 1895 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d 1972 and buried by her husband in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of Israel Lilbourne and Annie Katharine (Foster) Peterson, II.

William Smith Bowdon (called "Bill") was an early automobile dealer - selling the "Whippet" automobile, among others. Mildred began her 30-year teaching career in the Marlin Independent School District prior to her marriage, and resumed her career after their only child was born:
Mildred Katharine Bowdon, b 1923 in Marlin, whose first husband died while in France during World War II - leaving no issue, was married second to James Glover, and had children.

Mildred Katharine (Peterson) Bowdon was a descendant of many early settlers in Falls County. Her father came from Alabama to Falls County in the early 1880's - settling first in the Wilderville Community, and later moving into Marlin, where he was associated in the jewelry business with William S. Bowdon's cousin, Arthur Threadgill, Sr. In 1888, Mr. Peterson was married to Annie Katharine Foster - a daughter of Albert Ware and Talitha Ann (Read) Foster, and a grand-daughter of Thomas Jones and Martha Jane (Heard) Read, who came to Texas in 1830 with Stephen F. Austin's third colony. Traveling with the Read family were her mother, Mrs. Jemima (Menefee) Heard (widow of Alabama Judge, Stephen Rhodes Heard), her brother, William Laban Menefee - a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, her son's family, and the George Sutherland family.

Mildred's widowed mother resided with the Bowdon family for many years, until her death; and after her husband died, Mildred continued teaching and residing in their on Chambers Street in Marlin.

Several generations of Marlin youth remembered Mrs. Bowdon with fondness, as an early teacher, and friend. James and Katharine Glover continued to own the Bowdon family - spending much free time in Falls County, and plan to retire from their in Dallas back to Marlin and Falls County. The Glovers also own a farm in West Falls County, which has a one - room cabin on it.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.