Re: William Bowen, died in Richland Co.1858
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In reply to:
Re: William Bowen, died in Richland Co.1858
1/03/00
F P Bowen came to this county with his brother, W J Bowen, in September, 1854. They purchased the saw mill and water
power, which is now known as "Bowen's mill." In the fall of 1855 they rebuilt the mill, put in a circular saw, the first in Richland
county, and operated the same until 1858, when F P Bowen sold his interest to his brother, and in 1859 succeeded Dr. H C
Priest in the drug business. In 1861 he traded the drug business to D L Downs for his interest in the Richland Center Tannery.
This property he sold about two years afterwards, and in 1865 purchased a half interest in the drug business of D L Downs,
and owned the same until March, 1883. In 1867 Mr. Bowen re-purchased a half interest in the mill property and, with his
brother, built the flouring and grist mill, known as "Bowen's mill," with which he was connected for five or six years. In 1871 he
commenced dealing in live stock, in which business he is now extensively engaged. F P Bowen was born in Vermillion Co., Ill.,
April 5, 1835. In 1836 the family removed to Green Co., Wis. The parents, William and Electa (Phelps) Bowen, came to
Richland county in 1855. The father died in 1858, and the mother in 1871. Mr. Bowen, in 1860, was married to Margaret
Turner. She died in 1866, leaving two children --- Hellen and Mattie. In 1868 he was married to Mrs. J A Wait, nee Busby,
and by this union there are six children, four of whom are living --- Charles F, Alice, Dwight and F P. Mr. Bowen took an
active interest in building the railroad, as he does in all public enterprises. He is a republican in his politics, and a member of the
AF&AM.
W J Bowen, one of the prominent and representative men of Richland county, was born in Vermillion Co., Ill., July 8, 1825.
He came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1836. In December, 1854, he was married to Mary Thorp, then of Green county,
but a native of Pennsylvania. He then came to Richland county and purchased the property since known as Bowen's mills, and
of which he is still the owner. A history of this mill and his connection with it appears elsewhere. Mr. Bowen has been an
enterprising, successful business man, and now owns over 500 acres of land in one body, has a comfortable home and good
improvements. He also has other property, among which are five dwelling houses occupied by tenants. Mr. Bowen is in politics
a republican, and has held several local offices of trust, is a member of the AF&AM. The children now living are --- John W
and Frank. Edward H died at the age of five months, in 1872. Mr. Bowen lived with his parents in Green county until 1850. In
April of that year he started for California overland, and there remained until September, 1852, engaged in mining. Thence he
went to Australia, where he landed in December, and remained about thirteen months, thence to Peru, South America, landing
in the month of April, where he remained until the following August, exploring for gold, but did not find it. He then came to New
York by way of Panama, and thence in fall of 1854 to the farm where he now lives.