Deborah Fowler

     

Deborah Fowler was also known as Dela Fowler.³ She was born on 24 May 1870 at Lickskillet, Putnum Co., Missouri. She was born at Graysville, Putnam Co., Missouri.⁴ She was the daughter of Jacob Fowler and Elizabeth A. Baugh.^1,2 Deborah Fowler was age 23 when she applied for a marriage license on 12 June 1893.³

Deborah Fowler was enumerated with Jacob Fowler as Deborah Fowler, daughter, on the Census of 17 June 1880. She is shown as a single white female, age 9. She is not attending school. She was born in Missouri. Her father was born in Ill and his mother in Ky.⁵

Elvin Richard Bills and Deborah Fowler obtained a marriage license on 12 June 1893 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. Levi Thomas gave an affidavit supporting the granting of a marriage license.^6,3

Deborah Fowler married (first) Elvin Richard Bills, son of Spencer William Stout and Loudemia Jane Hart, on 16 June 1893 at Appanoose Co., Iowa, when she was 23.^6,3,7

Deborah Bills was enumerated with Elvin Richard Bills as Deborah Bills, wife, on the Census of 14 June 1900 at Elm Township, Putnam Co., Missouri. She is shown as age 30, born in Mar. 1870 in Missouri. She has been married 7 years and is the mother of three children, all of whom are living. She can read and write. Her father was born in Illinois, her mother in Kentucky.⁸

Deborah became a widow at age 35 when Elvin Richard Bills died on 17 April 1906 at Shawville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, at age 37.^9,10,11

William S. Stevens and Debbie Bills obtained a marriage license on 20 July 1907 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa..¹

Deborah Bills married (second) William S. Stevens, son of John Marshall Stevens and Rachel Carnes, on 21 July 1907 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, when she was 37.^1,12,13

Deborah Stevens was enumerated with William M. Stevens as Debba F. Stevens on the Census of 7 May 1910. She is shown as a white female, age 36, and born in Missouri. They have been married 2 years. She is the mother of 7 children of whom 6 are still living. She can read and write..¹⁴

Deborah Stevens was shown as the daughter of Jacob Fowler in Jacob's obituary.¹⁵

Deborah Stevens was enumerated with William M. Stevens as Debba Stevens, wife, on the Census of 16 January 1920 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. She is listed as age 48, and born in Missouri. She can read and write..¹⁶

Deborah Stevens was enumerated with William M. Stevens as Debba Stevens, wife, on the Census of 10 April 1930 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. She is shown as age 59 and born in Missouri. She was married at age 23 years..¹⁷

Do you remember Grandma Stevens? She died in 1954 so you were pretty young. I remember she always had a "job" for you when you would visit. I ironed hanky's and dishtowels for her. She lived next door to Mom Dory so I wandered over there a lot. She always smelled of "Vicks". She thought it was a cure for everything and even rubbed it on her legs! She never went outside without a "bonnet" . I remember her saying she drank a quart of milk every day. She smoked a corn-cob pipe most of her life. I can still see her rocking in her wooden rocker , puffing on the pipe and humming (half whistle ) "The Old Rugged Cross". Mom Dory said she didn't put up with 'nuthin' from that pack of kids and gave most of them a 'whippin' every day. Mom Dory figured out if you bawled with the first swat .. she stopped. She said Aunt Betty was stubborn as a mule.. would NEVER cry.. so Grandma really 'whupped' her good. She would probably be in court for that behavior now :-).¹⁸

Deborah Stevens died on 22 January 1954 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, at age 83.¹³ Conflicting evidence states that she died at Phillips Nursing Home, Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, on 25 January 1954.¹⁰ She was buried on 28 January 1954 at Mt. Ararat Cemetary, Appanoose Co., Iowa; Row 30; Debora F. Stevens 1870-1954.^10,19

Deborah Bills was shown as the mother of Fannie Ashby in Fannie's obituary.²⁰