Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Bowen, Frank L 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 11:42 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

FRANK L. BOWEN, president of the Star Publishing Company of Joliet, and editor 
of Joliet Sunday Star, is one of the well-known newspaper men of his city.  In 
connection with George L. Erhard, in November, 1897, he established the Joliet 
Sunday Star, the only Sunday paper published in the city.  From the first the
enterprise was popular and met with success. The paper takes a strong stand 
for the enforcement of law and order and for the election of men who will 
enforce the laws.  In fact, the first shot that was fired in the campaign 
against the lawless element in the city was fired by the Star, and, while the 
paper has always been strictly non-partisan, its independent and brave stand 
for the fright have caused both parties to seek to nominate only men with 
clean records.  The circulation is large and is not limited to the city.  In 
size the Star is a seven-column, eight-page paper, containing forcible 
editorials as well as local and general news of interest.  The publication is 
managed by a company, of which Mr. Bowen is president, and treasurer and 
manager.  He also acts as agent for the Burnell Commercial Agency of 
Marshalltown, Iowa, and publishes their daily report for Will County.

Mr. Bowen was born in Greenwich, Huron County, Ohio, January 16, 1870.  When 
he was a child his parents moved to Michigan.  He was educated in the high 
school and college at Hillsdale, Mich., and the Grand Rapids high school, from 
which he graduated in 1891.  In the fall of the latter year he entered the 
department of law, University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1893 
with the degree ofLL-B.  During his university course he was a member of the 
Jeffersonian Society, and at the same time he took special studies in the 
department of literature, science and arts.  In 1893 he was admitted to the 
bar in Michigan. He continued special study at the university, taking the post-
graduate course in law, and the next year was given the degree of LL.M.  Going 
to Chicago in 1894 he spent a year in the office of Col. Robert Rae, a 
prominent practitioner at the federal bar in that city.  From the time he was 
seventeen he had been interested in literary work, and in this way he had paid 
his expenses while in college.

In 1895 Mr. Bowen accepted a position with the Joliet Morning Post.  After 
three months he was made city editor of the paper, and continued in that 
capacity until the paper was discontinued in 1896.  From that time until the 
spring of 1897 he was connected with the Daily Republican on the reportorial 
staff.  He was then elected justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket, 
receiving  a good majority although the township was Republican.  He took the 
oath of office in May, 1897, for a term of four years, and has since served 
with efficiency and satisfaction to all. Until the national convention of 1896 
he was a Republican, but, being a believer in the free coinage of silver, he 
could not follow his party in its gold standard platform, hence he joined the 
Democratic ranks.  He has been a delegate to the city and county conventions 
of his party and in 1898 he was a delegate to the state convention at 
Springfield, where he was assigned to committee work.  He was also secretary 
of the congressional committee.  He is identified with the University of 
Michigan Alumni Association, the Modern Woodmen of America and the North 
American Union.  In religious faith he is a believer in Christian Science.  
His marriage, which took place in Chicago in 1895, united him with Miss Grace 
Bursmith, of that city, by whom he has one son, Frank L., Jr.



Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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