The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-24
miscellaneous.
MEMORIAL ADDRESS,
ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
DIR. WILLIAM BOWEN.
Delivered Before The Union Medical Association
Of northeastern Ohio at Their Meeting In
Canton, Tuesday, May 4th. 1880, by
Lewis Slusser, N. d.

man, whether that life be noble or lg-
noble. That which has been lovely and
of good report, entitled to praise, we
should strive to emulate, and where it
has been marred by dishonor, should be
a beacon light, warning US to avoid the
rocks and q~uicksands upon which that
life was wrecked. "No man liveth unto
himself" The power and duration of in-
fuence witch mind has over mind, is
wonderful to contemplate. How often
an apparently triAing action or word has
changed the whole current or purpose of
a life. We are so curiously linked to-
gether in the change of being, that the
same il huence, once exerted, passes on
from generation to generation. A pebble
thrown into the placid water starts a
wave which, in concentric movements,
expands until it reaches the distant shore
So with influence, Naught but the shores
of time can stay the energy aroused by
our example.
We have lost a brother member by
the hand of death. One of the founders
of our organization, long and favorably
known, esteemed by all who knew him,
for his many excellent qualities of head
and heart; and it is beneftting that we
pause in our regular proceedings and APP
propriate a brief hour to the considera-
ton of his life and character,
Dr.. William Bowen was born in Gene.
see county, N, Y, July 90th, 1905, His
father was a soldier in the wal of 1912;
had served out his term If enlistment
and on his return home, in attempting to
cross Lake Erie on the ice, lost his way
and persisted from the cold. The widow
was left with six children, and in
Strengthened circumstances. 1t was a
struggle with the family for the necessa.
ries OF life, and the means and opportu-
nifty for educating the children limited.
As scon as the subject of our sketch had
attained a suitable age, he was appren-
tiCed to a carpenter. Completing his
term of service he came West, prompted
by a two fold considerations desire to
see something of the world, and to OBJ
tain employment at increased wages, On
reaching Stark county he obtained en-
ployment of Jehu Brown, at that time
engaged in building a grist mill near
Canton for William Reynolds. Mr.Brown
combined with his trade of mill wright
that of Baptist preacher, and as ne was
a man of more than ordinary discern
m6nt, he soon discovered in his jour
BILLY Bowen" as he was Familiarity
called, a latent talent, that only awaited
opportunity for development. He was
emphaticalIy a book. worm-had but lit.
tie taste for the pleasures and sports in
which young men usually indulge, but
preferred spending his leisure hours in
some quiet corner with a fsvorite author,
These facts coming to the knowledge Of
Mr.. Reynolds, he sought him out, and
pleased with the disposition of the young
man to improve himself he kindly prof.
fered to render him assistance. At that
time Canton had a circulating library,
and as Mr.. Reynolds was n OF the prin-
cipal stockholders, he wasable to furnish
young Bowen with the choice of the Ii.
brary. Reading matter was not 80
abundant then as now, neither was it so
trashy. Would that the young of the
present day gave more thought to the
character of the reading matter they alb.
sorb. At the time Of which we write
Canton had an amateur Thespian Society,
composed Of young men of the town,
William Bowen was ore of the company,
and there are persons yet living who say
he acted his part we'll, that he was good
in heavy tragedy as we as light comedy.
Among those associated with him in
these scenic performances, who after
wards attained prominence on the stage
of life, may be mentioned Judge Christ
mas, Capt. Allen, DR.. Stidger, General
Jarvis and DR.. Bonfeld.
Having expressed a desire to improve
in scholarship, Mr.. Reynolds assisted
him to means whereby he was enabled
to attend the school of Barak Kitchener,
at that time a popular teacher Of the Z
higher branches of education, Upon the
completion Of a term at school he under
took the roll of teacher in the village of
Paris, Stark county. While thus engaged,
a warm friendship grew up between him
and DR.. Robert Estep (then a resident
of Paris, who enjoyed quite a local rep
u~tation, not only as a bold operator in
surgery, but as a general practitioner Of
more than ordinary ability, He, too, was
a selfmad9 man, and between them
there grew up a strong sympathy. From
this intimacy, it ia but rational to pre-
sumo, that medicine and kindred sub.
jeCts would constitute eDgrossing topics
of conversation and discussion. DR..
Bowen was thus Influenced to think
favorably of the practice Of medicine as
a life pursuit, and upon the encourage Y
ment of help proffered by DR.. Estep, he
decided to commence with him the study.
To obtain the means to meet his neces-
sary expenses while studying the text
books, he taught school in winter and
during the summer assisted in the store
of Daniel Burget, a prominent merchant
of the place, This arrangement would
seem to have left him little time for
study, but "where there is a wiU there is
a Wdy', and by ap~propriatlng more years !
than is customary to the preparatory !
improving his leisure hours and !
less to sleep than do most young !
men, he was ablel to make satisfactory )
progress. 1t is a ell.known fact that !
many Of our great men, statesmen and l
scientists, attained success by overcom
ing obstacles which, TO the common {
mind, appeared insurmountable. Labor {
vincit should be inscribed upon our I
banners. alH !
While engaged in his preparatory |
he married Miss Huldah Chitten-
den. After completing q thorough course
Of reading, be engaged as an assistant 8
with bis preceptor, DR.. Estep, which af- ]
forded him ample opportunity for clint :
cal instruction. Medical colleges were ]
not az abundant than al now and nran.tl 9