Of English descent and oldest son of Wm and Martha Bowden.
"---John and Anna Blackburn Bowden, both natives of Georgia, and of English and German descent, respectively.  The father was born in 1777, and was married about 1796. He and his wife emigrated from Georgia to Tennessee, and there they received their final summons, the father dying at the age of ninety-five, and she at the age of sixty-five years.  Their family consisted of fifteen children, eight sons and five daughters of whom grew to mature years, two died in infancy.  Those living are named as follows:  Polly, William Feriba, James, Anna, Jane, John S., Jackson J., Charles, Newton, Wiley, Lucinda and Allen.  The paternal grandfather of these children emigrated from England to America at an early day, and fought for independence in the Revolution."
"My grandfather and grandmother BOWDEN - were John and Ann.  They reared twelve children, eight boys and four girls  -  My father's brothers were:  James, who married Elizabeth McANALLY; William who married Winnie BREWER; Charles married Elvira LADD; Newton married Polly POLLOCK; John married Elizabeth REYNOLDS; Allen who married Isabelle STOUT; Jackson married Selina LEIGH (LAY). My fathers name was Wiley and he married Susanah POLLOCK.  My father's sisters were:  Ann who married John CHAMBERS; Lucinda who maried George BARNETT; Jane married Lowery POAG(POGUE); Feraby married Elisha McANALLY."
His family moved from Georgia to Maury Co, Tennessee in 1819, and then moved to Lawrence Co, Tennessee in 1820. Listed in the 1820 census with males: 5<10, 2=10-16, 1=26-45; fem 1<10, 2=10-16, 1=16-26, 1=26-45 adjacent to what seems to be his brother.
The family moved to Arkansas sometime around 1844, where 3 more children, another daughter and two sons were born. Listed as a farmer age 73 born in North Carolina in the 1850 Tenn census. Again at 83 in the 1860 census, without his wife.