Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-30
Illness of Fifteen Weeks Re-
moved One of Ottumwa's
Most Prominent Citizens;
Was Bank President.
FUNERAL WILL BE
HELD THURSDAY
Services at Residence at 4
O'clock; Deceased Was a
Pioneer Financier Con-
nected With Six Houses

John Burnett Mowery, president O
the Ottumwa National and the Wapelle
County Savings banks and prominen
citizen of Ottumwa for thirty-five
years, died this morning at 3 O'Clock
at the family residence, 653 North
Court street He was II years Of age
Death came after an illness of fifteen
weeks.
The funeral services will be held al
the home Thursday afternoon at 4
o'clock, conducted by Rev. T. w
Jeffrey, pastor of the First Methodist
Episcopal church. Interment in the
OttumWa cemetery.
The death Of J. B. Mowery has re,
moved {. leading Ottumwan, widely
known throughout southern Iowa. For
thirty-five years he has been active in
the commercial interests Of Ottumwa
and factor in the business progress
of the city. To the many Ottumwans
with whom Mr. Mowery was intimately
acquainted his. demise brings the sad
realization of the loss of friend and
adviser
Raised on Farm.
Mr.. Mowery was born in Knox
county, Illinois, December 10, 1910.
His life. until maturity, was spent upon
the farm. On March 1. 1869, he was
united in marriage to Miss Adeline
Plummer. He continued his residence
In Knox county for five years, coming
to Iowa in 1870. He settled on farm
near Martinsburg, in Wapello county,
and taught school during the first win
ter of his residence there He later
opened a general store in Martinsburg
which he conducted for two years. In
1877 he began his successful business
life in Ottumwa. For period of six
teen years he engaged in the stock
business with his cousin, the late I. D.
Mowery The deceased was stock buy
er for John Morrell & Co. for several
years following the time of the estob-
lishment Of the plant here In 1889
he opened hardware store in the city
and continued this business for one
year. ..
Entered the Bank.
Mr.. Mowery entered his successful
financial career in 1890 when he was
elected president Of the Ottumwa Ma
tlonal bank. On the organization Of
the WapeIlo County Savings bank in
1897 he was named it's president and
held both offices at the time Of his
death. From 1887 to 1891 Mr.. Mowery
was a member of the board of super
visors of Wapello county.
Besides having the presidency in
the two Ottumwa banks, Mr.. Mowery
held the chief executive office of four
other institutions. the Blakesburg
Savings bank. the Batavia Savings
bank the Hedrick State bank. and the
Farson Swings bank In these four
communities the decedent was held in
the highest regard.
Mr.. Mowery had been a most faith
full member of the Methodist Episcopal
church during his long residence in this
city. For several years he was super
intendent of the Sunday school.
His wife, one brother Manuel Now
cry of Knoxville, ILL.,. and one sister,
Mrs. Sarah McVey of Auburn, Neb.,
are left to mourn his death. Miss
Kate Smith, for twenty years mem.
Der Of the household, is also sadly
bereaved. Three brothers and one
sister preceded Mr.. Mowery in death
The illness which resulted in his
death came upon him in February
Last week decided improvement in
his condition was evidenced and it
was thought that he would again be
able to leave his bed. Within the past
few days, however, he became rapidly
worse until death claimed him this
morning.