Miami Union
July 28, 1866
BOWERS, JACOB - Ed. Union: Mr. Jeremiah Jones, landlord of the City Hotel, left his house on Saturday morning last, accompanied by his little son, Frank, and his hired man by the name of Ryan for his farm about two miles west of town, formerly owned by W. Ralston. A short time after, while in the field, a thunder storm arose, and Mr. Jones, his son, and Mr. Jacob Bowers, (his tenant on the place.) took shelter under a tree. Mr. Ryan having gone to the house for some tools, remained during the storm. After the storm had subsided; Mr. Ryan, on going out, found them all lying under the tree having been killed by lightning. What is remarkable, there was not a mark on the tree, and a perfect Photograph likeness of a tree nearby was made on the side of both Mr. Jones and his son. Mr. Bowers was about 30 years old and leaves a widow and one child in destitute circumstances. He was a soldier during the rebellion, and was in the service, four years--three years in the 44th O. V. I. and one year in the 8th O. V. C. Their funerals took place on Sunday last. In Piqua Items
Troy Times
July 26, 1866
BOWERS, JACOB - On Saturday morning three persons, one of them named Jacob Bowers, and the two others, Jones, were instantly killed by lightning. They were at work in a field about a mile from Piqua and had sought refuge under a tree from a passing storm, when the tree was struck. Mr. Bowers was formerly a resident of this place.
Troy Times
August 2, 1866
Bowers, Jacob - - On Saturday morning last, between nine and ten o'clock, Jeremiah Jones, landlord of the City Hotel, his little son Frank, and Jacob Bowers, who lived on Mr. Jones' farm, about two miles Northwest of this city, were killed by lightning while standing under a beech tree, during a shower of rain. Mr. Jones left the hotel on Saturday morning, taking with him his only son, who was about eleven years old to go to his farm for the purpose of repairing or rebuilding some fence. He had three hired men working with him. Soon after they commenced work, they saw a thunder shower approaching, when it was agreed to quit work and go to the house.--The storm came on so quickly that Mr. Jones with little Frankie and Mr. Bowers stopped under the first tree for protection, but the other two men passed on to the barn. After the shower, the men returning from the barn to work, discovered the three lying dead under the tree. The alarm was immediately given, the neighborhood gathered in, and everything was done that could be to restore life, but without effect. The news was brought to the city immediately, and spread as if by magic, and produced the greatest excitement. Many of our leading citizens repaired to the scene of the terrible disaster, and brought in the bodies of Mr. Jones and little Frankie. When they arrived at the Hotel, the streets were filled with a dense mass of excited and anxious people.--The bodies were placed in position in the family sitting room at the Hotel and the vast crowd were permitted to pass through and view them.-- Piqua Democrat.
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