James Corbley "Jim" BOWEN, the great-grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth HARTLEY, one of the early settlers of Maloy, and the grandson of william and Elizabeth GARARD, was born November 3, 1895, the son of Judson and Lenora (GARARD) BOWEN in Maloy.

He spent his boyhood years growing up in and around the Maloy community. He always considered Maloy as his home and was proud to be from there. He and Marshall MATTHEWS from Benton willingly put in a lot of their time working at the Platte River Cemetery west of Maloy. After he served his time in the United States army during the first World War, he came back to Maloy where he worked on various farms.

On June 21, 1923, he married Ruby Lois SMITH of Blockton, Iowa. They were the parents of twelve children: Anna Marie, James Junior "Bobby", Lenora Mae "Sally", Marjorie Kathleen "Katie", Alice Lucille, Mildred Maxine "Mickey", Norma Jean, Ruby Belle, Marvin Joe, Sandra Kay, Larry Dean and Jerry Max "Oscar."

They established their first home in Maloy where Annie, Bobby, Sally, Katie and Alice were born. They then moved from Maloy to the Benton community where he continued working in the farming industry until his health required him to retire.

The last seven of their twelve children were born while living in the Benton community.

Jim died on February 24, 1970, and Ruby died January 5, 1972. They are buried in the Platte River Cemetery west of Maloy along with their son Bobby, who died at age seven while living in Maloy.

Annie passed away May 10, 1968, and is buried in the Marshalltown cemetery north of Benton. Katie passed away December 11, 1977, and is buried in the Benton Cemetery.

Anna married Elbert HALEY of Benton, and they had two daughters, Cathy Ann and Lora Lou.

Salle married Donald "Red" FOX of Clarinda, and she has two children, Arnold Lee and Donna Jean. Sally lives at Junction City, Kansas.

Katie married Hollis BUTLER of Benton, and they had five children: Hal Leroy, Stanley Lynn, Janice Jean and Joyce Marie (twins), and Holly Ann.

Alice married Tim JOHNSTON of Diagonal, and they have one son Ted. They live in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Mickey married Richard ROUTH of Clearfield, and they have three children, Richard Michael "Mike", Gary Joe and Patricia Sue.

Mickey lives in Clearfield.

Jean married Jim HERRINGTON of Benton, and they have two daughters: Connie Jean and Pamela Kim. Jean and Jim live in Marion, Iowa.

Belle married Donald GRAHAM of Diagonal, and they have two children: Steven Dean and Cynthia Colleen. Don and Belle live on a farm north of Benton.

Joe married Alice McMAINS of Deep River, and they have three children: Nichelle Leigh, Tyler James and Ryan Cleo. They live at Fort Madison, Iowa.

Kay married Frank Hulett of Creston and they have one son, Frankie Lee, and live at Osage Beach, Missouri.

Larry married Sharon Pinkerton of Delphos, and they have three sons: Judd Corbley, Eric Dean and Austin Jay. They live in Benton.

Jerry married Donna POWELL of Blockton and they have one son Clint. He later married Verlene KNAPP of Redding and she has two children, Chellie and Andy. They live in Benton.

NOTES: James Corbley "Jim" Bowen was born in 1895, and died in 1970 with interment at Platte River Cemetery. Ruby Lois (SMITH) BOWEN was born in 1908.

James Junior "Bobby" BOWEN was born May 29, 1925, and died August 29, 1932.

Marjorie Kathleen "Katie" (BOWEN) BUTLER was born February 18, 1930, and died at the age of 47 years on December 11, 1977, with interment in Benton Cemetery. She married Hollis BUTLER on January 14, 1949, and they were the parents of two sons, Hall and Stanley, and three daughters, Joyce, Jean and Holly.

Anna Marie BOWEN married Elbert Leroy "Eb" HALEY September 20, 1942. Annie died May 10, 1968, and Eb passed away December 27, 2000. They were interred at Benton Cemetery.

Alice Lucille BOWEN married Thomas T. "Tim" JOHNSTON on
                                                    June 18, 1950 in Mount Ayr.

Ruby "Belle" (BOWEN) GRAHAM was born July 5, 1937, and died at the age of 62 years on August 27, 1999, with interment at Benton Cemetery. She married Donald Dean GRAHAM on January 2, 1954, and they were the parents of two children, Steven Dean and Cynthia Colleen.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 Pp. 120-1. 1987.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Notes by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011