The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-04-02

1867, at the meeting of the Legisla-
ture. Officers of the session were
being elected, and the contest was
constantly close, Doorkeeper was
being balloted for when the member
ffoh 0vetton came in and took his
Beat,
FMr, Speaker screamed a wild,
shtill voice, which tapered off towards
the end like the Csharp OF calliope,
who are the candidates? and every eye
in thehSuse was turned towards tho
red faced wrlnkled visaged parsonage
who, with bis shoulders shrugged up,
was looking towards the Speakers
chair.
The names were read over.
"Weli, JONES is good nath6ahd
Sumner is good name," said he, Of
the shock head in q contemplatiye
sort ofa way; con the whole, bb.
lieve I'll vote for Sumher."
Often during the heat Of debate,
when veHed and important ques
lions we're being discussed, with an
impetuosity and abandon peculiar
to Tennessee legislators, Bowles
would start from his seat, walk clear
up the aisle to the reporters tabls,
and watching his opportunity, catch
the Speakers eye and ear, (tho latter
was no feat for the member from
Overton for he had voice like a
Pawnee warrior,) and having been
recognized, walk deliberately back to
his seat, and there say what behad
in his mind, generally vehted in a
few expletite sentences pitched at a
key, which almost pierced tho tym-
pannums Of his hearers.
Mr., Bowles was long time in
the Legislature. He was the best
and most pertinacious interrogation
in the House. He seldom or ever
attempted q speech, but would har.
rass his opponent with continual
questioning. He invariably called for
"the papers" eonfrmatory of the re-
plies to his interroga He was
honestly and constitutionally opposed
t6 taking any money, except his pay
odt Of the Treasury. The only in
formation he needed 10 reference to
a bill was whether there was "money
In it" or not If there was money in
il, Bowles set his head dead against
It, and, to use his own expressive
phraseology, be avoted no, no. no, all
the time" He very justly looked
upon the rebellion as the @High
blossom Of h--ll," and took consider
able delight in furnishing rebels,
Still, the old man was good nAtuted
He boasted of having married poor
and struggled through life, amid joy
and sorrow, with the beloved partner
of his bosom, without having an un-
due amount of quarreling to rpflle the
smooth current. He was admired
much by his constituents, aud was
generally considered honest by those
who know him.
Jno. Bowles was born in Blouht
county, Tennessee, in 1902, and was
therefore, at the time of his death,
sixty.sstsn yearR of age. He was
a Coloner Hnder the old civil law, and
Senator 10 the years 1883, '54, '55,
so; he was in tho House in 1851, 80,
'67 '68, and for long timd held the
office of Sheriff of 0verton county,
which position, despite his eccentri
cities, he appears to have held aceep-
tably to the people. In spite Of all his
pecGliaritiss he bad a great deal Of
sound sense. He was staunch
Union man all during the war, join
ed the Union armyin 1881, and held
the position Till 1865.
But he is gOne, and We feel snre
that all who knew him viii join with
us in saying, "Peaee to his ashes. -
n. - ! H';x,,oa