Our Family Tree

Laurence and Ellen were married in December 1883, and their children: Della, Callie, Sumler, Mary, Bertha and Lawrence, represent our family’s first free born generation in America.

The 1940 Census was the Sixteenth Census of the United States.  By law, the census is conducted every 10 years, and from the 1940 United States Census, Enumeration District  62-11 (area south of Mt. Gilead,  Montgomery County, NC), we have obtained census records of the area we all commonly know as “Bowdenville”, part of NC Highway 73 South.

The 1940 census takers interviewed several “Bowdenville” households, namely the children of Laurence and Ellen.   Those census interviews include:  Della Bowden, Callie Bowden, Sumler Bowden, Bertha (Bowden) Dumas, Mary Bowden, Lawrence Bowden,   and more.  They obtained the names, ages, and occupations of all persons living in the households at that time.

The below documents are an interesting look back into Bowden Family history, including some occupations of family members.   Take a look to see if you find your  parents, grandparents or great grandparents in these census lists.