BOWERS, Henry F.

BOWERS, BAUER, LEWIS, CRAWFORD, JONES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 21:11:00

HENRY F. BOWERS

Among the well known and highly respected citizens of Clinton who have borne an important part in the development of this portion of the state is the Hon. Henry Francis Bowers, whose name is enrolled among the pioneers who came to eastern Iowa in the middle of the nineteenth century. He has ever been a prominent factor in the progress and advancement which have wrought a marvelous transformation here. It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies not in the machinery of government, nor even it is institutions, but in the sterling qualities of its individual citizens, in their capacity for high and unselfish effort and their devotion to the public good. Regarded as a citizen Mr. Bowers belongs to that public-spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number, and it is therefore consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his records be given among those of the representative men of the county. His reputation, however, is not limited by the confines of the county, for his labors in connection with the American Protective Association have gained him national fame.

Mr. Bowers was born in Baltimore, Maryland, August 12, 1837. His father was Augustus Bowers, a native of Germany, and in that country the name was spelled Bauer. He served as a lieutenant in the regular army of the fatherland and after coming to America took up his abode in Baltimore, where he married Emeline Lewis, a native of that city. During the childhood of our subject the father started for Germany to settle up the estate of his paternal ancestors, but the ship on which he took passage sank and he was drowned.

The early education of Henry F. Bowers was acquired under the direction of his mother and aunt, who were highly educated ladies and representatives of a prominent southern family. During the time when he should have attended the public schools they were closed and he was thus deprived of the privilege which is and should be the inherent right of every American child. The schools throughout Maryland were closed by an act of the state legislature and remained thus for several years. In April, 1857, the family came to the west, locating on a farm south of Dewitt, Clinton county. At this period Mr. Bowers completed his education by candle light, studying while others slept. Later the family removed to DeWitt and he there secured work as a carpenter and cabinet-maker. In 1863 he entered the office of the clerk of the courts of Clinton county, acting as deputy clerk for one term and as deputy recorder for two terms. During this time his leisure hours were devoted to the study of law. Not long afterward he was elected and served for two terms as county recorder, and on the 10th of June, 1877, he was admitted to the bar of Iowa. The following year he was appointed special aid-de-camp (sic) on the staff of Governor Gear and filled the position until the close of his term. In April, 1879, he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state, and in the United States courts in April, 1882. From the beginning of his professional career he has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. As a lawyer he is sound, clear-minded and well trained. The limitations which are imposed by the constitution of federal powers are well understood by him. He is at home in all the departments of the law from the minutiae in practice to the greater topics wherein is involved the consideration of the ethics and the philosophy of jurisprudence and the higher concerns of public policy. But he is not learned in law alone, for he has studied long and carefully the questions which affect the public policy and the stability of American institutions. He is felicitous and clear in argument, thoroughly in earnest, full of the vigor of conviction, never abusive of adversaries, imbued with the highest courtesy and yet a foe worthy of the steel of the most able opponent.

In his political affiliations Mr. Bowers has always been a Republican and shortly after the convention which organized the party he had the pleasure of seeing and hearing its first presidential candidate, General John C. Fremont, in the city of Baltimore, where with his uncle he occupied a position on the platform during the meeting. Perhaps Mr. Bowers is most widely known in connection with his work on behalf of the American Protective Associations, best known as the A.P.A. He is the founder of the organization, which he was led to establish through the closing of the Maryland public schools, thus depriving the citizens of the state of their rights under the ordinance of 1798 wherein it is recommended that every American child should have a common school education. The organization was effected for the purpose of maintaining public schools against the machinations and influence of their enemies and does not oppose any church societies or any man’s right to worship god as he sees fit; no organization is antagonized so long as it does not resolve itself into a political faction for the destruction of our public institutions, the abridgement of free speech, a free press and a free ballot. It does not discriminate against foreign-born citizens as such. It not only claims “America for Americans” of native birth, but for “all who will be true Americans, irrespective of race, color, creed, original nationality or previous condition of life.” The highest welfare of the national body politic is what the organization is designed to promote. That the order has accomplished a great and good work is widely acknowledged by the majority of loyal citizens of the Republic, who place their country before all foreign powers or interest. Mr. Bowers served for six years as president of the order and is now a member of the supreme council of the world.

On the 25th of October, 1870, Mr. Bowers married Miss Emma V. Crawford, of Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio, who died on the 24th of October, 1878, leaving three children: Clyde C., who is engaged in the jewelry business; Homer H.; and Emma V., who became the wife of David Jones and has one child, Henry F. Mr. Bowers has a very fine home, and an extensive library and art collection, having surrounded himself with the creations of man which uplift the thought and add to the beauty and goodness of the world. For thirty-one years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity; for twenty-eight years he has been identified with the Consistory, having taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. In his life he exemplifies the benificent spirit of the order, the mutual helpfulness, forbearance and charity. He belongs to the Methodist church and has been a leading factor in the progress of Clinton county. Educational, church and social interests owe their promotion in a considerable degree to him. For forty-four years the county has been his home – years largely devoted to the public good.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.