Terry, I have a hunch that your Reuben Bowers may somehow be associated with a Samuel Bowers and David Corwin Bowers. I also believe there might have been a younger Reuben Bowers, possibly named after your Reuben Bowers. The younger Reuben may have been David's cousin( Your Reuben had a son Rueben who was listed in Tazewell Co 1850 census at age 7), and possibly the Older Reuben and Samuel were brothers. Thinking possibly David's father might have been Samuel, but have no evidence to that. The reason I think this is that we find a Reuben Bowers in the 1830 Census in Hamilton Co., Cincinnati 5th Ward. We also find an Abner Corwin and David Corwin also Hamilton Co., Cincinnati 5th Ward. Our David Corwin Bowers was born in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, Ohio sometime in 1830. The thinking being that possibly David's mothers maiden name was Corwin, and that our David Corwin Bowers might have been named after this David Corwin. In 1840 we find a Samuel Bowers in Hamilton Co. Cincinnati 5th Ward and also a D.W. Corwin. However we also find a Samuel Bowers on the 1840 Census in Logan Co. Illinois. He is head of household age 40-50--There is a female age 60-70, so probably not his wife. perhaps his mother or mother-in-law.. he also has a son in the 5 - 10 age group and also 1 in the 10-15 age group. Either one of these sons could have been our David Corwin Bowers. No wife is listed here Our David Corwin Bowers shows up in the 1850 census for Logan Co., Illinois at the age af 20. A Samuel Bowers purchased land from the BLM in Logan Co. issue date of warrant was March 3, 1843. He probably was already living on the land before this purchase. Samuel does not appear in the 1850 census for Logan Co. He might have died or moved elsewhere. I requested a search for Bowers in Tazewell, Co., Illinois and find your Reuben Bowers age 49-born NY -Farmer Sasetta age 45- born Ky. Sarah age 27-born Ohio Rebecca age 25 -born Ohio Nathan age 23 born Ohio --fiddler Daniel age 21 born Ohio--laborer Clark age 19 born Ohio--laborer Isaac age 16 born Ohio--Laborer Mary age 14 born Ohio Susan age 12 born Illinois Rueben age 7 born Illinois Anna Maria age 4 born Illinois Melissa age 2 born Illinois Our David Corwin Bowers enlists in the Illinois Volunteers Company E, Reg. 71 for a period of 3 months. Mustered in July 22, 1862--mustered out Oct. 29th 1862. He was living in Lancaster Illinois at that time of enlistment. He enlists again in Illinois Volunteers Company K Reg. 108 for a period of 3 years. mustered in in Peoria , Illinois January 5th, 1864. Discharged inMontgomery, Alabama January 25, 1865 on a surgeons certificate of disability. He was living in Greenland Illinois at time of enlistment. ( He was injured while on duty in Mississippi) Listed below him is a Reuben Bowers age 20 (this could be your younger Reuben- although he should have been age 22 if he was age 7 in 1850.) His birthplace is listed as Logan, Illinois. He joined Feb. 11, 1865. His residence is listed as Marshall, Illinois. Our David Corwin Bowers returned to Illinois after his military Service. He is said to have been residing in Colchester, Illinois in 1870 and was working in farming and as a general laborer. He died Feb. 9, 1876 in Tazewell, Co. The patterns of where these people lived at various times lead me to believe a possible connection. We know that after David's death, his wife, Nancy W. (Carey) Bowers, moved to Clarksville Delaware with the children. We believe at least some of David's children were living in Philadelphia, Pa in abt 1895. Believe Albin was living in Pearlington, Hancock Co., Ms. In 1902 John Franklin Bowers was living at 2000 S. 17th St. Philadelphia, Pa. Albert was living in Clarksville, Delaware, --Believe Maranda was also living in Delaware. (Maranda married a Thomas Mitchell) David also had another son, Cornelius Philander Bowers.. David Bowers is listed on pg. 372--History of Tazewell Co. 1879 and pg. 785,History of Tazewell Co., 1905, according to the Tazewell Co Genealogical and Historical Society. Don't know if any of this makes sense to you, or if there is a connection, but think there is a good possiblity that somewhere tese people connect. Diana