Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Bowen, William Alfred March 17, 1853 - March 2, 1919 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: J. Orr orr@hawaii.com August 28, 2009, 2:41 pm Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925. Author: Edited by George F. Nellist WILLIAM ALFRED BOWEN, Constructive Citizen. With the death of the late William A. Bowen in 1919, his many friends in Hawaii mourned the passing of a man who, for almost forty years, had devoted his best efforts to the upbuilding of the islands he had chosen for his home. As a business man of sterling integrity, Mr. Bowen was widely known in commercial circles. He was esteemed as a philanthropist who could be counted upon to support any worthy cause. He was counted as a friend by rich and poor alike and throughout his career was a leader in church work. Much of his time was given to educational work and to activities in the Christian Americanization movement in Hawaii. During the later years of his life he worked with unflagging zeal in developing the Mid-Pacific Institute. He was for many years one of the best loved leaders in the Portuguese church and Sunday school. As a member of the Hawaiian Board of Missions he gave himself to the work of all the churches of the Territory. He gave to the church generously, not only of money but of the highest order of devoted service. Always active in Central Union Church, he served for two years as superintendent of its Sunday school. At the time of his death he was a deacon in the church, a teacher of the Young Men’s Bible class of the Portuguese Sunday school, a member of the standing committee, Hawaiian Board of Missions; a member of the board of managers of the Mid-Pacific Institute, and held a place on the official board of Kalihi Church. He was an auditor for many benevolent institutions and an active member of the Anti-Saloon League. Mr. Bowen, in line with his interest in education, served at one time as commissioner of education for the Territory and was a public school fund commissioner. He served for one year as president of the Y.M.C.A. His business career in Hawaii dated from July, 1878, when he entered the firm of Castle & Cooke, coming to Honolulu shortly after completing his education in Ohio. He became one of the partners in the firm in 1888 and when Castle & Cooke, Ltd., was incorporated in 1894 became treasurer of the corporation, serving in that capacity until 1906, when he became second vice- president. He retired from active business in 1916 but served as a director of Castle & Cooke until his death. Born in York, Medina County, Ohio, March 17, 1853, Mr. Bowen was the son of Caleb A. and Mary Jerusha (Castle) Bowen. He was educated at Oberlin High School and later attended Oberlin College, where he received a B. A. degree in 1878. Mr. Bowen and Emma Viola Kennedy were married in Brunswick, Ohio, August 20, 1885. They were the parents of two children, Mary Elizabeth Bowen (deceased), and William S. Bowen. The son served as an instructor in the U. S. Aerological Service during the World War. Mr. Bowen died in Honolulu, March 2, 1919. Mrs. Bowen still resides here. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/bowen7bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb