From a WPA interview with his daughter, Susan (Farrier) Bowman:
"My father was drowned in the Willamette River on May 13, 1872. He and two other men, Joseph Perman and Jim Riley were engaged in viewing a road for the County Court. The river was very high as the snow was going out of the mountains, therefore the ferry was not running and they assayed to cross in a rowboat. It was overturned and all three men were drowned. (Note-From other informants the writer learns that Jim Riley escaped, but this is not certain.) Father and Mr. Perman were great friends. They were buried in the Alford Cemetery, Perman's grave lying just at the foot of father's."
"My father was drowned in the Willamette River on May 13, 1872. He and two other men, Joseph Perman and Jim Riley were engaged in viewing a road for the County Court. The river was very high as the snow was going out of the mountains, therefore the ferry was not running and they assayed to cross in a rowboat. It was overturned and all three men were drowned. (Note-From other informants the writer learns that Jim Riley escaped, but this is not certain.) Father and Mr. Perman were great friends. They were buried in the Alford Cemetery, Perman's grave lying just at the foot of father's."
From a WPA interview with his daughter, Susan (Farrier) Bowman:
"My father was drowned in the Willamette River on May 13, 1872. He and two other men, Joseph Perman and Jim Riley were engaged in viewing a road for the County Court. The river was very high as the snow was going out of the mountains, therefore the ferry was not running and they assayed to cross in a rowboat. It was overturned and all three men were drowned. (Note-From other informants the writer learns that Jim Riley escaped, but this is not certain.) Father and Mr. Perman were great friends. They were buried in the Alford Cemetery, Perman's grave lying just at the foot of father's."
"My father was drowned in the Willamette River on May 13, 1872. He and two other men, Joseph Perman and Jim Riley were engaged in viewing a road for the County Court. The river was very high as the snow was going out of the mountains, therefore the ferry was not running and they assayed to cross in a rowboat. It was overturned and all three men were drowned. (Note-From other informants the writer learns that Jim Riley escaped, but this is not certain.) Father and Mr. Perman were great friends. They were buried in the Alford Cemetery, Perman's grave lying just at the foot of father's."
Gravesite Details
The stone has been broken into least three pieces; the top piece seems to be missing altogether.
Family Members
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