John A. Bowler Biography


	This biography appears on pages 461-462 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN A. BOWLER. 

	In financial circles of South Dakota the name of John A. Bowler 
is well known. During the early years of his residence in this state he 
was closely associated with commercial affairs, but since 1903 has 
concentrated his energies upon the upbuilding of the business of the 
Western Surety Company, a bond company of Sioux Falls. He is a close 
student of the signs of the time and as the years have passed has so 
guided and directed the affairs of the company of which he is president 
as to make it one of the strong financial concerns of the state. 

	New England has furnished to South Dakota many of her valued 
citizens, which number includes John A. Bowler, who was born at North 
Adams, Massachusetts, on the 8th of April, 1861. The greater part of 
his life, however, has been passed in the middle west, as he was but 
six years of age when he accompanied his parents, William and Bridget 
(Malvey) Bowler, to Sparta, Wisconsin. His father was a native of 
County Kerry, Ireland, and after his marriage there came to America in 
the early '50s, settling first in Massachusetts, whence he removed with 
the family to Wisconsin. He had a family of nine children, four sons 
and five daughters, eight of whom are yet living. William Bowler was a 
son of William Bowler, Sr., who also came to America, and he and his 
wife lived with their son William until death called them. 

	In the schools of Sparta, Wisconsin, John A. Bowler began his 
education, completing the common-school course in 1879. He then started 
out in life to earn his living and spent one winter in working as a 
section hand on the railroad. The succeeding year he entered an 
agricultural implement store at Sparta, Wisconsin, in which he was 
employed for one year, when he decided to try his fortunes still 
farther west and made his way to Groton, South Dakota. There in the 
spring of 1883 he became a member of the well known implement and 
machinery firm of Short & Bowler, continuing in the business until 
1909. In 1884, however, he purchased his partner's interest, thus 
becoming sole proprietor of what was one of the growing and profitable 
commercial enterprises of that city. In 1896 he established a branch 
house at Sioux Falls, which he conducted for three years. It was in May 
of that year that Mr. Bowler was made warden of the State Penitentiary 
at Sioux Falls, in which position he continued for two years. In 1903 
he purchased an interest in the Western Surety Company, a bond company 
at Sioux Falls, and was elected its president and general manager. He 
has since remained at the head of the business, which has grown 
steadily and is today one of the strong financial concerns of the city. 
He is most careful in placing his investments, thoroughly understands 
the value of commercial paper and has carefully looked after the 
interests of his clients in a way that has made satisfied patrons a 
further advertisement in the upbuilding of the business. 

	On the 31st of December, 1883, at Sparta, Wisconsin, Mr. Bowler 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Linehan, a daughter of Patrick 
Linehan. She presides with gracious hospitality over their attractive 
home, which is the center of a cultured society circle in Sioux Falls. 

	Both Mr. and Mrs. Bowler hold membership in the Catholic church 
and he is also identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. No history of his life would be complete were 
there failure to make prominent reference to his political activity, 
for he is one of the recognized leaders of the democratic party in 
South Dakota. since attaining his majority he has labored e earnestly 
and effectively for the upbuilding of party interests and his opinions 
have carried weight in its councils. He has shown considerable power as 
an organizer and it was this which led to his being chosen chairman of 
the state central committee in 1894. A contemporary biographer said of 
him in relation to his chairmanship: "In this responsible and exacting 
position he demonstrated ability and resourcefulness of a high order 
and so thoroughly was the party organized under his management and so 
earnestly and effectively did he conduct the campaign of the above year 
that for the first time in its history the state gave a democratic 
majority." Mr. Bowler continued in the chairmanship until 1900. During 
that period Andrew Lee was elected governor in 1896 and again in 1898 
and the state was also carried for Bryan. In 1903 Mr. Bowler was the 
democratic nominee for the position of United States senator and 
received the full support of his party in both houses of the 
legislature but could not overcome the normally strong republican 
majority. The course which he pursued throughout the campaign won for 
him many warm friends among those holding opposing political views. 
Again we quote from a contemporary biographer: "Mr. Bowler is a man 
without an enemy, for his large humanity embraces all races and neither 
party feuds nor religious differences are able to separate him from his 
kind nor mar the cordiality of his social relations." He looks at life 
from a broad standpoint, keeps in touch with the best thinking men of 
the age and in every relation of life is actuated by the spirit of 
progress.