1930 US Census Oklahoma, Age 19. 281

by Bruce Bower

The following is a story about a family and their efforts to settle this land and better the community around every day. On September 17, 1893 Fairview's interesting and colorful history began to take form. The September air had a feeling of autumn in it as four weary, hungry men made camp in the Cimarron Valley on the west side of Sandy Creek near the present site of Fairview. They were thankful for the meager supper of cold biscuits, fat salt meat fried on a spade, washed down by muddy water from Sandy Creek.

Stakes were set up in holes dug by the spade which a short time earlier had served as a skillet. They had staked their claims, and Uncle Sam said it was a settlement. Two of these four men were Henry and Clifford Bower. This was the beginning of Fairview. This beginning soon seemed too disheartening to these men who had camped by Sandy Creek that fall evening. One became so discouraged he sold his claim for a team of horses, another sold his claim for $150.00 and soon all were gone. As it has already been pointed out these early settlers possessed an unconquerable spirit and were not easily discouraged. This was the characteristic of the Bower brothers who on December 2, 1893, returned to the place where they had camped on that chilly September evening two months earlier. Their father, Adam J. Bower, came with them; they had come back to start anew, Henry Bower and his father, Adam, moved on the claim Henry had staked out when he first arrived on that September evening. They built a sod house in the fertile valley fringed by blackjack oak and dense thickets. This was the first house in miles. The quarter section they staked is the southwest corner of Main Street and Broadway. Cedar was hauled from Cleo Springs to build a stable for their horses. A well was dug and other permanent improvements were made. Early one frosty morning in January, 1894, Adam walked forth from his sod house. He looked to the north, south, east and west, then turned back to the east to view a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise. He named the vicinity Fairview. The name comes from an Indian word meaning "Fair Valley". Thus, Mr. Adam J. Bower became known as "The Father of Fairview" He and his sons had a large part to play in the building up of the new settlement in it's early days.

C.D. Bower, another son of Adam, received the first postmaster's commission and became the government agent in charge of the mail at Fairview. The first Post Office was located in a 12 ft. x 14 ft. box house on Mr. Bower's claim. He went three times a week to Homestead, south of Fairview, where he met the government mail carriers who arrived there about 8 p.m. Mr. Bower then carried the mail the twelve miles back on horseback. On October 1, 1894, the government gave Fairview a Post Office and mail was carried by Star Route in a cart or spring wagon. Fairview was now officially a federally approved establishment. Adam and his son, Henry, put a store in the building which housed the post office. It was called Bower Brother's Store. At first groceries and hardware were handled, then in 1895 additions were made to the building and shoes were sold and then a little later dry goods were added. The Bower Brothers' Store was the beginning of a trading center at Fairview. Clifford kept the post office and his brother Henry and father Adam, kept the new store. Clifford continued to serve as postmaster but saw the need for supplies in a the settlers with furniture, so he opened the first furniture store in Fairview in 1896. Henry Bower was born in Rushville. Illinois in 1869. In 1910 Henry purchased an interest in the Farmers and Merchants National Bank and served as the bank's president for thirty-six years. Untiring in his work, his deeds and good name spread into other states. His ability and energy found their main outlet in civic work and building good roads, though he still had time for his family and home and the raising of fine gladiolus and dahlias. As his father before him, Art Bower continued in the civic and government work to carry on the fine tradition and good name of his family while becoming nationally known as a fair and good man. Art Bower was born in Fairview on September 8, 1910. He attended grade and high school in Fairview, graduating in 1928. In 1932 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma City University and in September of that year married Mary Hoge, of Oklahoma City. They have two children, Bruce and Marilyn. Art's banking career began as a janitor and later a bookkeeper during vacation while he was in high school. In 1928 he served as bookkeeper on the night shift at the Security National Bank in Oklahoma City. Art majored in banking and finance while in college and upon graduation he assumed the duties of assistant cashier at the Farmers and Merchants National Bank in Fairview and the presidency of the bank in 1947. He also served as secretary of the Board of Directors from 1932 until he volunteered for service in the United States Army Air Corps in 1942. He received his discharge in 1946 as a 1st Lieu- tenant. Art developed his qualities of leadership at an early age. In high school he was elected president of his senior class and in college he served as president of both his junior and senior classes and president of his social fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, the Beta Upsilon Sigma Business fraternity, and Pi Gamma Mu honorary fraternity. Following the death of long time State Representative, J. Howard Lindley, Art was elected to that office in 1957 and served four two year terms. During this time he was the Assistant Minority Floor Leader from 59 to '64. In 1966 Governor Dewey Bartlett appointed him to the Board of Regents of O.C.L.K A post he was still holding at the time of his death.

Art also served as President of the Oklahoma Bankers Association in 1961-62 and later held a national office with the American Bankers Association. Art also served on many city and county organizations. He served as president of the Fairview Rotary Club; a past president of the Fairview Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Board of Directors of the State Chamber of Commerce. During his lifetime and speaking as his son, he left his heart with his community of Fairview as he did with his family.