1880 Census - Pope County, Arkansas
Valley TWP - 1 June 1880

  6 6
  Bowden, Charly L.  W M 29      M Farmer      Ark  Ark  Tenn
  Margaret A.        W F 27 Wife M Housekeeper Ark  Ark  Tenn
  Ardenia E.         W F 10 Dau  S Housekeeper Ark  Ark  Ark
  John S.            W M  4 Son  S             Ark  Ark  Ark
  William J.         W M  2 Son  S             Ark  Ark  Ark

From Goodspeed's History of Pope County, Arkansas:

C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits
are such as to entitle him to representation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this
sketch. He is a native-born resident of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of Hon.
John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both datives of the Big Bend State, where they were united
in marriage. They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for
about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they
afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father
had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. He was a
prominent man and was a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and wife were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs.
Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and
Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in
1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was married to
Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of [p.215] James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives of
Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he soon cleared
twenty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety
acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres
under cultivation. He is one of the thoroughgoing, enterprising citizens, and a man of good, sound
judgment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May
(deceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton H., George R., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and Mrs.
Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also
a member of the Sunday-school board. During an average season Mr. Bowden's farm will yield
twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre. 

From J. S. Bowden family bible:

  C. L. Bowden was born Jan 29, 1850	[died] June 4, 1933  
  M. A. Bowden[wife] [died] Oct 23, 1935