BOWEN, A. L.

BOWEN, BOWLES, KING, BAMSEY, BROWN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/21/2004 at 15:11:02

Biography reproduced from page 241 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

A.L. Bowen , who is living retired in Algona, was for many years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Kossuth county and he still has extensive farming interests in Cresco township. He was born in Williamson county, Illinois, on the 12th of February, 1861, and is a son of Peter and Martha (Bowles) Bowen. The father was a native of the state of New Jersey but during his early manhood he removed to southern Illinois, where he lived during the war. He was a millwright by trade and during the Rebellion he owned and operated a gristmill. He twice enlisted in one of the Illinois regiments, but they refused to permit him to go to the front as he was needed more at home, his mill at one time being the only one in operation in five counties, the others being destroyed by the enemy. In 1870 together with his wife and family he removed to Rock Island county, Illinois, and resided there until Grover Cleveland was serving his first term as president. He then came to Kossuth county and upon his arrival here bought a partially improved farm on section 17, Irvington township. Later he disposed of this and purchased eighty acres of land in Cresco township, located on section 25. He continued to live on this property until his death in 1898. Mr. Bowen was a very public-spirited man and while living in Illinois took an active interest in political affairs, giving his support to the men and measures of the republican party, and held several of the township offices. The Bowen family are originally supposed to have come from Holland, as they belonged to the Dutch Reform church. The mother was a native of Kentucky and passed away in Kossuth county in 1900. Our subject is the eldest of four children born to his parents, the others being as follows: W. W., who is a physician in Fort Dodge, Iowa; E. C., a lawyer at Bottineau, North Dakota; and John, deceased.

A.L. Bowen was reared in his native state and educated in its common schools. When his parents removed to Iowa he accompanied them and thereafter devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits almost entirely, remaining with his people until they died. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land on section 25, Cresco township, and there for many years he engaged in general farming, making a specialty of raising thoroughbred cattle. In the development of his interests he closely adhered to the most highly approved methods of the modern agriculturist and stockman, yet at the same time he is too conservative to adopt any theory that does not appeal to him as being practicable, and as a result he prospered in his undertakings. Four years ago he withdrew from active work and removed to Algona, where he is now living retired. In addition to his fine farm and property in town, Mr. Bowen is interested in land in Bailey county, Texas, and has made various other investments.

Mr. Bowen has been married twice, his first union being with Miss Belle King, a daughter of D. W. King of Algona. She died eleven months after their marriage, leaving two daughters, twins: Lillie Belle and May Belle, both of whom have graduated from the Algona high school and are now in college, the latter attending Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and the former a college at Valley City, North Dakota. In 1899, Mr. Bowen married Miss Elizabeth Bamsey. She was born in Salem, Washington county, New York, and is a daughter of Hugh and Mary J. (Brown) Bamsey, who were born, reared and married in the same place. They removed to Mercer county, Illinois, when Mrs. Bowen was a child of about one year, but they later returned to New York. When she was nine years of age they again located in Mercer county, removing from there to Union county, Iowa, in 1872. There the mother passed away seven years later and in 1884 the father and family came to Kossuth county. Mr. Bamsey always devoted his energies to farming but after coming here he practically lived retired until his death in 1891. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bamsey, of whom Mrs. Bowen is the eldest. The others are as follows in order of birth: Susie, who is deceased; Russell, who is a farmer at Montgomery in the vicinity of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and Frank, whose whereabouts are unknown. Mrs. Bowen was educated in the common schools of Illinois and at the age of nineteen years began teaching in Union county, and continued to follow this profession after coming to Kossuth county until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowen belong to the Congregational church, and he is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity and they are both affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star. His political allegiance he always gave to the republican party, but he is now a member of the new progressive party. For seventeen consecutive years he was trustee of Cresco township and held other local offices. In the direction of his interests, Mr. Bowen has always manifested much foresight and sagacity, systematically following a definite plan of action in the achievement of his purpose, and his efforts have been crowned with a corresponding degree of prosperity.