James Bowie, reputed inventor of the Bowie knife, and one of the heroes of the Alamo, was a son of Reason Bowie, who came from Maryland to Sumner County about 1793. On November 10 of that year, he purchased from James and George Winchester 640 acres of land on Station Camp Creek, about one mile west from Gallatin. Two months later he sold 217 acres of the land to James Odom, founder of the Odom family of Sumner County. Bowie built his house on the banks of a small creek, and in that house the only vestige of which remains are the ruins of the stone chimney, it is claimed that Colonel James Bowie was born. Some writes say that he was born in Maryland, and others give Georgia the credit. There seems to be no records as to when the Bowie family left Sumner County. The lands on which they had their home passed to the ownership of James Odom, whose son, Harris Odom, in 1827, built his home about fifty yards south from the Bowies house. The Harris Odom home, a commodious story and a half brick, is still standing, and is in a perfect state of preservation, and is occupied by the present owner of the farm, W.A. Hewgley. Harris Odom died in the fifties, and the farm passed to Captain Walton, who later sold it to James Alexander, who, in 1887, sold it to Mr. Hewgley.

The Bowie family went to Louisiana, where they were wealthy planters, and where James and his brother, Reason P., became noted for reckless daring and for being dangerous men. They found a number of duels, and each had more than one "notch on the handle of his pistol." They were men of superior education, over six feet high, with fair complexion and blue eyes; said to have been remarkable handsome and fascinating men, with the manners of a Chesterfield; brave, fearless, and daring: devoted to their friends and a terror to their foes. Some time before the revolt of Texas against Mexico James Bowie went to Mexico, where he married Ursulita de Veramendez, the only daughter of Governor Veramendez, of one of the Mexican States. She was born in Monclova, Mexico, but was pure Castilian blood. General Santa Anna was her godfather. When Texas seceded from Mexico, Bowie espoused the cause of the former and was a Colonel in the army of the new republic. He commanded a detachment in the battle of Conception, the "Texas Bunker Hill," and in other engagements, distinguished himself for bravery. He was one of the heroic band of 150 as brave men as ever faced a foe, which, on March 6, 1836, made the victory of General Santa Anna and his army of 4000 Mexicans "cost them dearer than defeat." The Alamo never surrendered. As long as there was a man able to fire a gun or draw a blade they held the fort. When the Mexicans entered the garrison there were none left to oppose them, none left to tell the story of how they died fighting to the very last. Colonel Bowie's wife and child died before he did. His brother, Reason P. died in 1838, aged 40 years. Bowie County, Texas, was so named for James Bowie.