Elmina A. Willis

     Elmina A. was born on Tuesday, 13 March 1849 in Berrien Center, Berrien County, Michigan. She usually went by the name Minnie. Elmina A. married Henry Bowerman, son of Peter Bowerman and Nancy Anna Shaffstall, on 17 March 1870 in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan. Henry W. Bowerman b. Ohio, of Berrien Center, carpenter - married - Minnie A. Willis b. Berrien Center, of Berrien Center. 30 July 1870, Elmina and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Berrien Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were Henry Bowerman [27 Ohio carpenter] & his wife: Elmira [21 Michigan].¹ Henry & Almina had children: Maggie Elzina [6/02/1875-3/30/1948][m. 4/05/1894 Albert M. Stemm], Willis B. [12/17/1876-8/18/1909], Miles Arthur [1/09/1880-10/13/1955][m. 10/31/1907 Marie E. Blackman, 2nd. 4/29/1916 Sarah Mesier, 3rd. Anna Mae Hussey], Albert Clyde [1/10/1882-3/19/1959][m.8/10 1910 Mae Ida Wiest], Vena [5/21/1886-5/29/1927][m. 1/01/1906 Adam Eldon Feather] & Frank Leroy [4/08/1891-1/__/1972][m. 6/23/1916 Frances Etheleen Stemm]. 7 June 1880, Elmina and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Pipestone Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were Henry Bowerman [38 Ohio], his wife: Elmina [31 Michigan], children: Maggie [5 Michigan], Willis B. [3 Michigan], Miles [7/12 Michigan], & his father: Peter Bowerman [77 Pennsylvania].² 16 June 1900, Elmina and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Berrien Township. Enumerated in this household were Henry Bowerman [Aug 1843 - 56 Ohio], his wife: Almina [Mar 1849 - 51 Michigan], children: Willis [Dec 1876 - 23 Michigan], Miles [Jan 1880 - 20 Michigan], Albert [Jan 1882 - 18 Michigan], Vena [May 1886 - 14 Michigan], & Frank [Apr 1891 - 9 Michigan]. They had been married 30 years with 8 children, 6 living. They were married 30 with 8 children - 6 living.³ Elmina's husband, Henry, died on 10 July 1909 in Berrien Springs leaving her a widow.⁴ 21 January 1920, Elmina was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were Mina Bowerman [70 Michigan], her daughter: Vera Feather [33 Michigan], grandchildren: Edytha [9 Michigan] & Fernl [7 Michigan].⁵ Elmina departed this life on Sunday, 9 October 1932 in Berrien Springs at age 83 years, 6 months and 26 days. She was buried there in Berrien Springs in Rose Hill Cemetery.⁶