Countelow M. Bowles facts for kids
Countelow M. Bowles (born 1840) was an important figure in Mississippi's history. He was a skilled barrel maker, a brave soldier, and a leader in state government. As an African American and a member of the Republican Party, he served in both the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate.
Early Life and Military Service
Countelow M. Bowles was born in 1840 in Virginia. Before the American Civil War began, he lived in Cleveland for several years.
In March 1865, near the end of the Civil War, Bowles joined the Union Army. He became part of the 38th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. He quickly rose to the rank of Corporal, a non-commissioned officer, before leaving the army the following year.
A Leader in Mississippi Politics
After the war, Bowles became active in politics. In 1869, he was elected to the board of police in Bolivar County. This board was a local government group that helped manage the county.
Bowles then moved on to state-level politics. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives and served from 1870 to 1871. This is where state laws are first proposed and debated.
Later, he became a member of the Mississippi Senate. He served two terms there, from 1872 to 1874, and again from 1877 to 1878. The Senate is the other part of the state's law-making body. In 1874, he was removed from his position because he had been out of Mississippi for more than four months, which was against the rules at the time.
See also
