BIOGRAPHIES:  John E. BOWEN, Barron, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
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John E. Bowen, prominent business man and farmer of Barron, is one of the
leading men of the county. He has been mayor of Barron two years, is active
in various lines of endeavor, and has taken his full share in political,
commercial, agricultural, fraternal, social and church life. The subject of
this sketch was born in Burns Township, La Crosse County, Wis., Aug. 18,
1867, son of Oscar and Mary J. (Hanton) Bowen. He learned agriculture from
his father, and while still on the home farm was engaged for several years
as a cheese maker. In 1890 he bought a farm in his native township, where
he followed farming for ten years. In 1901 he came to Barron County and
purchased 280 acres of partly improved land, without buildings. He erected
buildings, moved onto the place, and continued improving the farm for
several years. It is now a good farm, well tilled, with suitable equipment,
and good structures. This he still operates, although he no longer occupies
it. In connection with his farming he has conducted a number of other lines
of business. For some years he was an extensive buyer and seller of stock,
and this he still continues to some extent. From 1902 to 1910 he was
manager of the Barron Co-operative Creamery. In 1914 he formed a
partnership with F. A. Hulbert in the produce and seed business, and this
firm is still operating on a constantly increasing scale. His financial
connections are with the Bank of Barron in which he is a stockholder and
director. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and the Modern
Woodmen. The Barron Methodist Episcopal Church finds in him a liberal
supporter and efficient worker, and for some years he has been the
superintendent of its Sunday School, as well as a member of the official
board. During the war period, for about three years, he was chairman of the
Barron County Chapter of the Red Cross, and gave his time and money
liberally to its support. All in all, he is a useful and active man and a
real influence in the daily life of the county. The family residence, which
was purchased in 1907, is located on Division Street and is one of the
finest in Barron. Mr. Bowen was married Sept. 3, 1890, to Lillian I.
Hemstock, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Steadman) Hemstock, of Burns
Township, La Crosse County, this state. Mrs. Bowen was born in that
township, Aug. 29, 1871, and has proven her husband's worthy helpmate in
all his endeavors.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 553.


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