Michael Bowyer, Jr.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Other-Begin: White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier Co, West Virginia; founder

Notes:

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA
John W. Lund
Geo-Heat Center
http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull17-2/art4.pdf

SETTLEMENT AND USE BY EUROPEANS PRIOR TO
THE CIVIL WAR
Indians and the French and Indian War (1756-1763)
prevented any serious settlement of the area until near the end of the 1700s. The land was originally surveyed around 1750 and then received the name Greenbrier region. In 1784,
Michael Bowyer received clear title to 385 ha (950 acres)
along Howard's Creek, a tributary of Greenbrier River, site of the present-day golf course. At the same time, Thomas
Jefferson wrote of the spring in his "Notes on the State of
Virginia (1784)", and noted of this spring and others in the
vicinity that none had undergone careful chemical analysis and the medical benefits had not been studied enough to justify more than just an enumeration of the cures.
By the end of the 1700s, a primitive resort existed at
"Bowyer's Sulphur Spring" consisting of log cabins around the spring. The access to the resort was assisted by the
construction of the James River and Kanawha Turnpike
through the mountains connecting Virginia with the Ohio
River valley. This route, later named the Midland Trail, is
present day U.S. 60, and portions of Interstate 64. Other
springs were also being developed in the area: Sweet Springs, Warm Springs and Hot Springs.

The first half of the 1800s saw the development of
Bowyer's wilderness resort into the south's grandest resort by his son-in-law and daughter, James Calwell and Polly Bowyer.
The resort then took the name "White Sulphur Springs" a name
derived from the white deposit left by the water on the
surrounding rocks (Conte, 1989).
A tavern had been constructed earlier by Michael Bowyer, and this was followed by a spring house to enclose the source of water. The spring house was a symbolic altar of health and a recognition of the importance of the spring in the commercial development of the resort. The top of the roof support a carved image of an Indian queen in costume carrying a bundle of arrows and a bowl--reinforcing the Indian legend (Figure 1). Meals were served in the tavern, reported to handle as many as 100 at a sitting. Parties and balls were also held in the tavern. To resort guests who sometimes complained about the rates, lodging, or food, James Calwell would reply somewhat like this, "You are paying me eight dollars a week for the use of the waters; I am giving you your food and lodging free" (Conte, 1989)

Michael married Frances Carpenter in 1766 in Augusta Co, Virginia. Frances was born about 1747 in of, Augusta Co, Virginia; died after 1800. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Calwell (Caldwell). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1920, Richmond Clay Ward, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia

Notes:

Census:
Widowed, living with daughter Lucy and husband John B. Easley.
John B Easley 57 1863 VA VA VA
Lucy B Easley 51 1869 VA VA VA
Agnes E West 50 sister widowed VA VA VA
Virginia C Breckenridge 79 mother-in-law widow VA MD MD

Mary married Cary Breckenridge on 2 Jun 1866. Cary (son of Cary Breckenridge and Emma Walker Gilmer) was born on 5 Oct 1839 in Catawba (near Fincastle), Botetourt Co, Virginia; died on 11 May 1918 in Aspen Hill, Fincastle, Botetourt Co, Virginia; was buried in Godwin Cem, Fincastle, Botetourt Co, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]