Born: Virginia, 1786.
Died: DeWitt County, Illinois, 1846.
This man came from Virginia to Caneridge, Kentucky, and was probably a product of the great revival held there in 1801. His education was limited, but he was a great reader and a good historian. He united with the Baptist Church and was licensed to preach. He soon decided that denominationalism was wrong, and he believed that God had revealed to every man his whole duty in plain and unmistakable terms in the Bible.
He settled on a farm in DeWitt County, near the site of Old Union Church, Turnbridge Township, on the banks of Salt Creek, in the spring of 1830. He had then been married twice and was the father of twelve living children. Members of his family maintained the farm of two hundred acres while the father gave his time to preaching the gospel. His trips were made on horseback and reached from ten to fifty miles. The storms of the winters, the miry sloughs and swollen streams of the springs and early summers frequently challenged the faith and courage of the itinerant preachers. But Mr. Bowles seldom missed an appointment.
He was well versed in the Scriptures and could almost quote the New Testament from beginning to end. Associated with him in his Christian work there were Abner Peeler, powerful in argument and appeal and a true prophet's vision; James Scott, who spoke with the "old Baptist tone," and when the weather was warm would, in the progress of his sermon, lay off his coat, unbutton his collar and sleeves and plead most earnestly with his hearers, and Alfred Lindsey, mild, gentle and with wonderful winning power. Ten dollars was the largest sum Hughes Bowles ever received for holding a meeting, which was at the Lake Fork Church. This money he gave to a Mrs. Frakes, a widowed sister in the Lord, who was thrown from her horse, breaking her hip, while going to his meeting. He was a kind and sympathetic man, but very positive. All his children were in the fold ere their father went away to be with the Good Shepherd.