Not long after the turn of the this century it was 1902 to be exact, Jim Bowman moved to Ravenden with his family to work for Sam H. Ball. Mr. Bowman was Sam Ball's bookkeeper for a number of years. The family was natives of Evening Shade in Sharp County.

They were a devout Christian family and upon arriving here found there was no meeting house of their faith in the town. This family, for a time, lived in a house located at the northeast corner of First and Elm Streets, on the property now belonging to Mrs. Carson Brown. (Same property, different house). They later made a permanent home on Second Street across from where the Municipal Building now is. Their home was what is now Manila Anderson's home (Same building).

When they first arrived here members of their faith met at the Bowman home for worship services. So the flrst congregation of their faith was established in 1902 or 1903.

Mrs. Bowman vowed she would not remain in a town without a meeting house. At that time Mr. Frank Gee also worked for Mr. Ball. so Mr. Bowman and Mr. Gee with the help of Mr. Ball got the church building built. They sent wagons to a sawmill at Eminence. Missouri for the pine lumber and later got some of it from Evening Shade.

So with the help of Sam Ball the first church building in Ravenden was erected about 1905. This was the old Church of Christ building located on First Street near the eenter of Block 6, between Welch and Nettleton Streets. This old white frame building with its belfry and bell remained there until it was razed to make way for the modern brick structure which now stands on the same location being built about 1955 or 1956. The windows in the old frame building were beautiful pointed at the top with some panes being stained glass. Those had to be a special order.

Mr. Bowman and Mr. Gee worked for Mr. Ball until about 1908 or 1909 when Mr. Ball thought there should be another store in town and helped them get started in business for themselves. Their first store was across Main Street from where the old railroad depot once stood. This was an old frame building sitting on Lot 11 in Block 2. They continued in business there until 1917 when they built a new brick building in Block 1 on Lots about 9 and 10. This would be about 120 feet east on Main Street from the corner of the Perry Store building.

This article was taken from the Lawrence County Historical Society Quarterly, Summer 1982, Volume 5, Number 3. The information on this page may be used for historical and genealogical purposes and not for financial gain. Any use must be accompanied by written permission of the page owner and this copyright must appear with the article. Jeri Helm Fultz