The Early Years

Emmer Bowen was born on 25 Oct 1830 in Collins, Erie, New York, United States and was the son of Otis Eddy Bowen and Malinda Lucinda Luce.

In 1850, Emmer (Amos), age twenty and a Construction Carpenter, resided with his father Otis E., the head of household and Farmer in Reed Township, Will, Illinois, United States. His mother, Melinda managed the home and raised Almira, Patience, Elisha, Catherine, and Otis. In addition, his adult brother Burgess Bowen, a Farmer was also a resident in the household.

Emmer (aka Emma) married Amelia (aka Permelia) Jane Stewart on 9 Nov1858 in Platte, Missouri, United States. They had at least eight children, five known and three unknown: Delia or Adelia Bowen Ebby (23 Dec 1865-21 Mar 1947), Otis Eddy Bowen (15 Jul 1869-4 Jul 1945), Eva Bowen Morrow (16 Jan 1872-18 Aug 1945), Frank Stewart Bowen (31 Mar 1879-1 Mar 1954), Minnie Emmer Bowen Lytle (12 Mar 1883-7 Jul 1959).

The Civil War

Emmer Bowen, age thirty-one and a resident of Hampshire, Illinois, enlisted in the Union Army for three years as a Private. Emmer was described as 5'10-1/2", brown hair, gray eyes and a fair complexion. On 5 Sep 1862, he was assigned to Company C, 127th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.

In 1863, Private Bowen was transferred to the Invalid Corps, also known as Veteran Reserve Corps. Veteran Reserve Corps. On 10 Jan 1865 he was discharged from the Union Army.  ^{Private Emmer Bowen died on 16 Dec 1912 and is interred in Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States}

Civil War Engagements with the 127th Illinois Infantry Regiment (Organized: Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, United States on 6 Sep 1862; Mustered out: 17 Jun 1865)^:

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, (aka Battle of Walnut Hills), 28-29 Dec 1862, Warren County, Mississippi, United States, Confederate victory

Battle of Arkansas Post (1863), (aka Battle of Fort Hindman), 9-11 Jan 1863, Arkansas Post, Arkansas, United States, Union victory

Yazoo Pass expedition, 3 Feb-12 Apr 1863, Northwestern Mississippi, United States, Confederate victory

Battle of Champion Hill, 16 May 1863, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, Union victory

Siege of Vicksburg, 18 May-4 Jul 1863, Warren County, Mississippi, United States, Union victory

Chattanooga campaign, a series of maneuvers and battles, 21 Sep-25 Nov 1863, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, Union victory

Battle of Missionary Ridge, (aka Battle of Chattanooga), 25 Nov 1863, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, Union victory

Atlanta campaign, (aka Atlanta Siege), series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, 7 May-7 Sep 1864, Northwestern Georgia and around Atlanta, United States, Union victory

Battle of Resac, 13-15 May 1864, Gordon County and Whitfield County, Georgia, United States, Inconclusive

Battle of New Hope Church, 25-26 May 1864, Paulding County, Georgia, United States, Confederate victory

Battle of Dallas, 28 May 1864, Paulding County, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, 27 Jun 1864, Cobb County, Georgia, United States, Confederate victory

Battle of Atlanta, 22 Jul 1864, Fulton and DeKalb counties, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Battle of Lovejoy's Station, 20 Aug 1864, Clayton County, Georgia, United States, Inconclusive, Union strategical victory

Battle of Jonesborough, 31 Aug-1 Sep 1864, Clayton County, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Battle of Allatoona, 5 Oct 1864, Bartow County, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Sherman's March to the Sea, (aka Savannah campaign or simply Sherman's March), 15 Nov-21 Dec 1864, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Carolinas campaign, (aka campaign of the Carolinas), was the final campaign conducted by the Union Army against the Confederate Army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, 1 Jan-26 Apr 1865, Georgia, United States, Union victory

Private Emmer Bowen fought in the American Civil War. Bowen received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for gallantry for his action during the Volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863 while serving with Company K, 37th Regiment, Illinois Infantry in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor on 21 Jul 1894 to Private Emmer Bowen (aka Elmer Bowen), United States Army, for gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863.

Later Years

By 1880, Emmer (E. Bowen), age forty-nine, the head of household and a Sawmill employee, resided with his wife of twenty-two years Amelia in Mill Spring, Wayne, Missouri, United States. Adelia managed the home and raised Otis (aka Ottis) Eddy, Ava, and Frank.  Emmer was in a pension record in 1883 in Colorado, United States

Emmer was registered to vote on 15 October 1890 in Vernon, Los Angeles, California, United States.  Emmer was registered to vote on 1 June 1896 in E Jefferson And Carmona, Los Angeles, California, United States.

As of 1900, Emmer (E. Bowen), age sixty-nine, the head of household and was retired as a Miller Cigar employee, relocated his family to California. He resided with his wife of forty-two years Amelia on 3822 Carmona Street in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Adelia managed the home and raised Minnie. In addition, his adult sons Otis E., a Candy Maker, and Frank S., Mill Wright and adult daughters Eva Bowen, a Candy Maker, Delia Bowen Ebby, a Seamstress and his granddaughter Ida B. were also residents of the household. According to the census, Amelia has given birth to eight children of which 5 were still living in 1900.  Emmer was in a pension record in 1907-1933 in United States.  In 1910, Emmer, age seventy-nine, the head of household and was retired as a Miller Cigar employee, relocated his family to California. He resided with his wife of fifty-two years Amelia on 1464 East 45 Street in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Adelia managed the home they were empty nesters.

In accordance to military tradition, service members salute Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of rank. This is a matter of respect for the recipients' sacrifices and is not required by law. Department of Defense Saluting MOH Recipients. In addition, MOH Recipients receive special benefits: 1. A Monthly Pension and Special Retirement Pay; 2. Uniform Allowances; 3. On-Base Parking Spots; 4. Priority Space-A Travel; 5. Invitations to Presidential Inaugurals; 6. Academy Appointments for Dependents; 7. A Medal of Honor Flag; 8. Full Military Burial Honors Military Times, Special Benefits for MOH Recipients.

Death and Burial

Medal of Honor Recipient, Emmer Bowen died on Thursday, 26 Dec 1912 at the age of 83 years, 2 months, 1 day of heart disease.  Emmer's funeral took place on Saturday, 28 Dec 1912 at his former residence 1464 East, Forty-Fifty Street is commemorated and interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, United States.

Research Notes:  Wikipedia has two dates for birthdate, findagrave, Wikipedia, military sources, birth findagrave and gravestone source show 25 Oct 1830, in the text on Wikipedia it shows 10 Oc 1830.