Among the distinguished men who have been born upon
Union County soil is James H. Bowden, who is one of the Judges of the
Superior County. He is the son of John and Love A. (Farquier) Bowden.
He was born March 15, 1833, and has reached his present position
without much educational advantage. His common school education
consisted in about four years' training altogether. The teachers he
remembers are Myrom W. Safford, of Morganfield; John C. Duke, of
Washington County; and Joseph Pillsbury, at Bowling Green. He began
reading for the bar quite young, and was admitted to practice in
October, 1855.
He married Nannie Morton at Russellville, Ky., on
March 14, 1857. She is the daughter of Marmaduke B. and Elizabeth
(Caldwell) Morton. He has six children: Kate, married Henry M.
Caldwell, of Russellville, and is the mother of one child. The children
at home are Marmaduke, Fannie Morton, Lizzie Farquier, Mary Lova, and
Henry William. Our subject has held the office of Commissioner of
Common Schools. He was also Representative in 1875-6, after which he
was elected to the Superior Judgeship. He has traveled extensively in
the United States, Canada and Europe. He has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1852. He is also a member of
Russellville Lodge and Chapter of F.A.M. Judge Bowden is a man who has
advanced to responsible and trying positions from humble beginnings,
and who enjoys the esteem and confidence of the people in his region of
country to an unuaual degree. His popularity, in Union County
especially, has always been great, and he cannot be easily ousted from
the place he occupies in the affections of the people.
