14. Bowie’s wife died in 1833, while he was away in Natchez
In late summer, 1833, Bowie was again in Natchez attending to business when he was stricken with yellow fever. His home in San Antonio, which had been built on land given him by his father-in-law, was empty. During his absences, Ursula lived in the Monclova mansion owned by her father. The Bowie’s had two children during their brief marriage; Marie, born in 1832, and James, born in 1833. When Bowie was in Monclova for brief periods of time, he too stayed at his father-in-law’s house and often importuned him for loans of spending money, claiming nearly all of his own money was tied up in investments. Bowie appeared to be a man of wealth, though he frequently had little money for expenses.
While Bowie was ill at Natchez, a cholera epidemic swept through Monclova. The Veramendi household was particularly hard-hit. Ursula and both children died in the epidemic that September. So did Bowie’s benefactor, Juan Martin de Veramendi, and his wife. Bowie was unaware of their deaths in October, and was so ill himself that he dictated his will that month, leaving his estate to his brother Rezin and his sister. When Bowie learned of the deaths of his wife and children is disputed. Most historians believe he was informed while recovering in Natchez in November, 1833. If so, he bequeathed his entire estate to his brother and sister knowing that he would leave behind two fatherless children.