BOWIE C. WARFIELD, a prominent and successful fruit-grower of Marion County, makes his home on a fine tract of land just one mile north of the village of Sandoval. He was born in Howard County, Md., October 27, 1835, and is the son of William R. and Eleanor (Watkins) Warfield.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Beale Warfield, was a native of Maryland. He was descended from Richard Warfield, who was the first of the name to make his home in America, coming hither as early as 1637 from Wales. The latternamed gentleman had three sons, John, Richard, Jr., and Alexander.
John emigrated to the western states, while his two brothers remained in Maryland.
Our subject is descended from that branch of the family which sprang from Richard, Jr. Grandfather Warfield was a farmer by occupation and reared a family of three children : George, Catherine, and William R., the father of our subject.
The latter was born in Maryland and received his education in the select schools of that state. His father dying when he was quite young, he, together with his brother George, was taken into the home of an uncle, with whom they remained until reaching their majority. Then having inherited the home place, they removed thither and resided for many years in the old frame house which was erected in 1793, and which stood on the farm until a short time ago.
The lady who became the mother of our subject was prior to her marriage Miss Eleanor Watkins, the daughter of Col. Gassaway and Eleanor B. (Claggett) Watkins. The former was born near Annapolis, Md., in 1752, and was descended from John Watkins, who emigrated to this country in 1660. He was the original settler on the paternal side of the house, while on his mother's side, Capt. John Worthington was the first to make his home in the United States. Colonel Watkins was quite young when, on the death of his father, he was taken by an older brother to Howard County, Md., where he passed the remainder of his life with the exception of the time spent in the Revolutionary War. He entered that conflict in January, 1776, with Colonel Smallwood's regiment, and participated in the battles of Long Island and White Plains. In November of that year he was taken sick and was confined in the hospital at Morristown. Later he traveled on foot to Annapolis, where he arrived in January, 1777, and lay sick in the hospital of that city until April. Then reporting for duty, lie was made Lieutenant of a regiment and was in active service in Maryland until September.
Colonel Watkins spent the winter of 1778 at Wilmington, where the regiment was quartered, and during the battle of Monmouth, which took place afterward, was a member of General Scott's Light Infantry. The following winter was spent in camp at West Point, and in April the army went south and fought the battle of Camden. At that place Colonel Watkins was sent to a house by General Green in order that lie might secure some valuable information, when being pursued by spys of the enemy, he made for the woods, where for two days and nights he remained without food of any kind. Later he commanded a company at the battle of Cowpens. On the day on which General Davidson was killed, our subject's grandfather was carrying orders for General Green. He traveled night and day, and when reaching the Yadkin River found it swoolen and thick with floating logs and trees. The enemy were in pursuit of him, and desirous of carrying out the General's orders, he threw off his coat and boots and put the valuable papers in his hat and swam to the opposite shore. When reaching camp he was received with great honor by General Morgan.
Colonel Watkins also took a prominent part in the War of 1812, being appointed Commander-in-Chief of that portion of the army stationed at Annapolis, which position he held until peace was declared. The Colonel was on many occasions petitioned to accept official positions in his community, but always refused, preferring to spend the remainder of his life with his family on the old plantation known as "Walnut Hill" in Maryland.
Bowie C. Wai-field, of this sketch, was one in a family of thirteen children, all of whom grew to mature years except three. They were,
The father of these children owned a valuable plantation of four hundred acres in Maryland, which was worked by five negro men and three women, besides several children. One of these old slaves, John Howard, by name, lives in Washington, D. C., where he has two sons, one a prominent lawyer and the other a physician.
William R. Warfield departed this life in 1864.
Our subject remained under the parental roof until becoming of age, in the meantime acquiring fine education. In 1857 he came west, locating n Marshall County, this state, where for one year e hired out by the month as a farm hand. Then enting property he began working for himself, nd later leased a farm for five years. This he ocupied until 1862, when, on account of the outbreak of the late war, he gave up his lease, and in August of that year entered the Union army, becoming a member of Company I, Eleventh Illinois Infantry. With his regiment he engaged in the fight before Vicksburg, and after gain ing a victory there, the company moved on to Jackson, thence to New Orleans, then to Mobile, later to New Orleans again, and lastly went up the Red River.
He was mustered out at Springfield in July, 1865, after which he joined his family in La Salle County, whence they had removed.
August 24, 1862, our subject was married to Miss Julia, daughter of Hall and Amanda (Culver) Gregory. Mrs. Warfield was born in the Prairie State, while her parents were natives of Vermont. The latter came to this state in 1836, locating in Marshall County, where they were among the very earliest settlers of Crow Meadows. To Mr. and Mrs. Warfield were born two daughters:
These accomplished young ladies occupy a high position in the society of Sandoval, and the many beautiful pictures which adorn the walls of our subject's home bear evidence of the gift of his younger daughter.
Mr. Warfield came to Marion County in 1866, at which time he purchased eighteen acres of land, which he devoted entirely to fruit-growing. He is now the possessor of one hundred and ten fertile acres, and is probably one of the most successful fruit-growers in southern Illinois.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 250 & 251
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer