BOWYER, ELBERT G.

BOWYER, PUGH, GRAY, WHIFFEN, FRYFOGLE, NORRIE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/21/2004 at 15:09:18

Biography reproduced from page 677 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

For thirty years Elbert G. Bowyer has been engaged in the jewelry and music business in Algona, and no history of the community would be complete without extended mention of him and the part he has played in the affairs of our city. He was born in Cass county, Indiana, in 1857. His father, Franklin F. Bowyer, was a graduate of Greencastle University, studied law and became a prominent attorney in the state of Indiana. He married Naomi Pugh and the subject of this sketch is one of the children of this marriage.

Elbert G. Bowyer came west in early life and obtained part of his education in Harris Academy in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1876 he went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and engaged in the jewelry business in connection with S. W. Gray, and in February, 1878, he came to Algona and launched out into business for himself and since that time has been one of the business men of Algona. In 1879 Mr. Bowyer was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Gray, a daughter of Charles Gray, one of the pioneers of Kossuth county and the first from Algona to enlist in the Civil war, leaving behind him his young wife of twenty years and his two baby daughters. He was a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowyer are the parents of five children. Edith Elberta, the wife of Walter Whiffen of Mexico City, Mexico, is a celebrated musician, having graduated from the Chicago Musical College, where she afterwards taught for eight years. She was the pupil and assistant of Ernest Consolo, also studied under Rudolph Ganz and other celebrities. She has traveled extensively and been received in the highest society, and by request has given concerts before the notables of Mexico, including President Diaz and President Madero.

Ambrose A., a son of the subject of this sketch, married Miss Gladys Fryfogle and is connected with commercial life in Chicago. Gwendolyn is the wife of Claude Norrie of Toronto, Canada, and is an accomplished pianist. Marjorie and Genevieve are still at home and are attending the Algona high school. It is needless to say that both are musically inclined.

Mr. Bowyer is a man of high moral character, and has been fearless and outspoken in his opposition to lawlessness, and many times has sacrificed his individual interests on the altar of moral and civic righteousness. While serving on the city council of Algona, he was cartooned as the “watchdog of the council.” When in authority he has been strong and resolute and a force in bringing things to pass. He is a brother of the late Rear Admiral Bowyer, whose fine executive ability was recognized by the government, when it placed him at the head of its naval school at Annapolis. Admiral Bowyer was also captain in command of the battleship Illinois in the recent trip of the American fleet of sixteen war vessels around the world. Like his distinguished brother, Elbert G. Bowyer of Algona is well fitted mentally, morally and physically for any position of honor and trust and responsibility.