Jehdeiah Bowen (July 19, 1817 – November 18, 1891)[1] was a native of Wales who emigrated to the United States and became an American merchant, pioneer, and politician.[2][3]
A resident of Carbondale, Pennsylvania from 1830 until the 1850s,[4][5] he relocated to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he established a knitting factory and worked with Alvan E. Bovay to form a chapter of the Republican Party.[6][7] A member of the Democratic Party at the time, Bowen was later described by Bovay as his "chief helper" in making the new chapter a reality.[8][9]
In addition he helped to found Ripon College.[6][7]
Biography
editBorn in Llanelly, Brecknockshire, Wales, Bowen emigrated from home in 1830. Traveling to the United States, he settled in Carbondale, Pennsylvania[10][11] and found work as a store clerk.[6][7]
In 1850, Bowen moved to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he established a knitting factory and became active in civic affairs.[6][7]
He helped to found Ripon College.[6][7]
Active as a Democrat in local and state politics, Bowen worked with Alvan E. Bovay to found a new Wisconsin chapter of the Republican Party.[6][7][12][13]
Bowen served as mayor of Ripon, Wisconsin in 1859 and 1868.[14] In 1871, Bowen served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.[15][16][7]
References
edit- ^ Proceedings of the Society at Its 34th Meeting, Wisconsin Historical Society: 1892, Biographical Sketch of Jedediah Bowen, p. 21.
- ^ "Portrait of a Ripon College founder donated to art collection." Ripon, Wiscon: Ripon College, October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Jehdeiah Bowen." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: Carbondale Leader, August 25, 1900, p. 2 (subscription required).
- ^ "Executors' Notice: Estate of William Morgan, deceased." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, June 28, 1845, p. 3 (subscription required).
- ^ "Executors Notice: Samuel T. Hopkins, dec'd." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, September 11, 1847, p. 3 (subscription required).
- ^ a b c d e f "Portrait of a Ripon College founder donated to art collection," Ripon College, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jehdeiah Bowen,"Carbondale Leader, August 25, 1900.
- ^ "Politics In County, State and Nation." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: Lebanon Daily News, March 20, 1954, p. 4 (subscription required).
- ^ "GOP Born 100 Years Ago Out of Whigs, Free Soilers, Democrats." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Scranton Tribune, March 19, 1954, p. 2 (subscription required).
- ^ "Executors' Notice: Estate of William Morgan, deceased," The Lackawanna Citizen, June 28, 1845.
- ^ "Executors Notice: Samuel T. Hopkins, dec'd." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, September 11, 1847.
- ^ "Politics In County, State and Nation," Lebanon Daily News, March 20, 1954.
- ^ "GOP Born 100 Years Ago Out of Whigs, Free Soilers, Democrats," The Scranton Tribune, March 19, 1954.
- ^ a b "Death of J. Bowen, of Ripon". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. November 25, 1891. p. 11. Retrieved November 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wisconsin Blue Book, 1871, Biographical Sketch of Jehdeiah Bowen, p. 375.
- ^ Biographical Profile, Ripon College Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
