Charles Bowerfind's biography, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan

Copyright © 2000 by Bryan Taylor. This copy contributed for use in 
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American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men with Portrait 
Illustrations on Steel, Volumes I-II



Name: Charles Bowerfind
City Tax Collector, of Adrian, Michigan, is a native of Augsburg, Bavaria, 
Germany, and was born February 7, 1831. He is the son of Christopher 
Bowerfind, a man of position, who was Mayor in Augsburg for ten successive 
years. Charles Bowerfind received a careful elementary, and a good 
business, education; he formed studious, persevering, economical, 
industrious habits, and was never known to be without work after he left 
school. His school opportunities closed at thirteen years, and he passed 
the succeeding three years in learning the baker's trade with an uncle, who 
was a severe master, but a good teacher. The remaining time, until he was 
twenty-one, was spent in Gratz, Austria; he then, according to the German 
custom, entered the army. After a little over a year's service, he hired a 
substitute and sailed for the United States, hoping to realize a fortune 
more speedily than in Germany. He arrived at Monroe, Michigan, in 1854, and 
worked six weeks at his trade as a journeyman. He encountered many 
difficulties; money was not to be gained, nor fortune won, without a severe 
struggle. A hard master made life a burden at Monroe; and, in the fall of 
1854, he went to Adrian, Michigan, arriving with no capital except a dollar 
bill worth only fifty cents. Here he has continued to reside, variously 
engaged, but always actively working, either at his trade or in commercial 
life. Finally, with a capital of two hundred and fifty dollars, and a small 
house and lot, he, with two others, bought out the established business of 
his old employer. The firm, Bowerfind, Messinger & Co., were enabled, after 
a nine months' trial, to pay six thousand four hundred dollars for the 
building. They continued in operation six years; at the expiration of that 
time the company retired, and the business was continued by Bowerfind & 
Messinger until May, 1877, since which time Mr. Bowerfind has conducted the 
business alone. In April, 1876, he was elected by the Republican party, 
with which he has always worked, to the position of City Tax Collector, 
which he still holds; he cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont. He has held 
many important offices in secret societies, in Germany, but has not 
connected himself with any in this country. He has always attended the 
Lutheran Church, and is a useful member of that church in Adrian. He has 
not had leisure to travel much, but during the Centennial he visited 
Philadelphia and most of the Eastern cities. He married, April 6, 1856, 
Elizabeth Gibbard. She died February 16, 1865, leaving a family of six 
children,--four of whom are still living. His second marriage occurred 
March 1, 1867, when he was united to Elizabeth Richleau. By her he has had 
six children,--five of whom are living. His business career has been a 
successful one. His sterling integrity, and cheerful willingness to put his 
own shoulder to the wheel, have won for him the respect of all who know 
him.
Database: Full Context of Michigan Biographies, 1878