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Moses and Rebecca Bowen left
Wales and settled in Pennsylvania where thry lived and were buried.
At least six of their children moved to Southwest Virginia where
descendants of at least three of them, Rees, Arthur, and William
are now living. The three brothers settled on the Clinch River
about 1770. William and Arthur were not married when they moved,
however, Rees married Louisa Smith, formerly o Rockingham County,
Virginia. In Colonel Pendleton's book, The History of Tazewell
County, Rees Bowen's name is spelled "Rees" instead
of the more common spelling "Reece," which is the more
common spelling "Reece," which is the more generally
accepted spelling in the Bowen Family. The three sons, William,
Rees, and Arthur, were all members of Captain William Russell's
company of militia and all of them distinguished themselves in
defending the border against Indians, serving as rangers. When
Rees was killed in the Battle of King's Mountain, he left his
widow with eight children, three boys and five girls.
The original house was built
as a cabin around 1770 by Rees, and later it was enlarged as
a frame house by his son in 1800. General Rees Tate Bowen added
the front section of the home in 1883. The house served as Maiden
Spring Fort in 1774, hosted troops during the Civil War, and
has provided a home to seven generations of one family.
Paul was from March until July
1940 making the model, and it took him 132 hours to complete.
This house is known as the
Dickenson Mansion or the Melbourne home, though it was built
by Judge Benjamin Martin of Lee County. It was built around 1840
and was one of the first brick houses erected in that county.
Benjamin Dickenson was the first owner of the house, however,
the Dickenson family died young. Soon after, Andrew Melburn bought
the house and resided there for close to fifty years. During
the Civil War, the Union Army used the house as headquarters
and a hospital.
Paul's work on the model was
from August 9 - November 11, 1938.
This house was built as a stagecoach
inn by John M. Preston. It is located just off I-81 near Chilhowie,
Virginia, on the Wilderness Road. The property was bought by
the late Colonel Cary I. Crockett, U.S. Army Retired, son of
Eugene Crockett, of Crockett's Cove, Wythe County, Virginia,
and stepson of General John D. Imboden, Confederate Army. In
recent years, portions of the house were used by the Crockett
family as the Wilderness Road Training Post, which offered items
such as local crafts and unique items. Today, however, the entire
house is the private residence of Mrs. Cary I. Crockett and members
of her family.
Paul worked on the model from
August 21, to October 5, 1939. He worked 85-1/2 hours and was
paid approximately $42.75 for his work.
 
The Southwest Virginia Museum
would like to thank Mrs. Mildred Walker, Paul Walker, Jr., David
Walker, Doug Martin and Tony Williams for their willingness to
loan many of the photographs which were at one time on display
in the museum, and for their willingness to share Paul's life
story with us. We would also like to thank the Southwest Virginia,
Lee County, Tazewell County, and Wythe County Historical Societies,
as well as the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for
all their valuable assistance while researching the homes. |
