New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07
HENRY C. BOWEN AT HOME.
A RECEPTION FOR HIS SONS NEW WIFE.

SKETCH OF THE SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT AND
rprroE-etxTY YEARS OF BUSINESS LIFE.
Cards have been issued for a reception Mt the house
NJ Henry c. Bowen. on Brooklyn Heights. next Thurs
day evening" the hundreds Of invited guests VIII
meet one Of his sons. Clarence W. Bowen. ana his
Young bride. II will be remembered that Mr. Bowen
married Miss Wentworth of Chicago, on January 2e.
md snce that time they been their bridal trip
In the South
Mr. Bowel's home IS Of the landmarks OF the
Heights II was built many years ago by David
Ieayitt president OF the American Exchange Bank ana
was purchased thirty years ago, by Mr. Bowen
Tor $4,000 Since iat time the interior has been ell
trely remodeed. the decorations being almost enureN
those suggested by Mr. Bowen AS one enters the NAH
he finds himself surrounded by birds Of every variety
On the ceiling there is a representation OF congress
OF birds held time since the creation OF the "ou'
(he place Of meeting was not recorded py inc reo'
present. to settle the question which was inc pSt p'Ii'
Two doves act judges one bird comes sha sings 'U
sweetest notes another presents its Dea"ulu pu70
= ,h,,d cives evidence Of its remarkable swiftness.
After the representatives from every nation had Deen
heard at length, the sage Judges declue ha' e''Vh nc,
possesses peculiar advantages ana Sliu' ana 'd' 'e0
fore comparison is impossible. and they are 10 ce" o
strife and go billing and oopns a. III tie centuries
past. This they promise 70 do' ai" siHs ''0 i'
Chorus they adjourn
The library is also the work OF Mr. Bowen ihn'"'
and here he displayed his passion Tor coiorS 'e
library table the chairs. bookcases, piano. curtains
and all the other articles OF furniture and decoration
uere made at his express order. In ordering the car
net his idea was giving the impression OF ahdlui
a, rces strewn carelessy about the floor The dealer
said that no carpet had been ordered that ooHei
like that Mr.. Bowen replied that that was suhaehe
cas on for his having it, The carpet was mace accou
Ing TO hts design, and the merchant heaved sign Vi
relief when the purchaser expressed Rfs s''sa'"'''
with It, go 49,, 1890
When tho decorators came to the ceiling, they pro
posed 10 put ideal pictures in the corners, but MI
Bowen desired instead of having faces IN his workshop
designed by Michael Angelo, to have the faces vi HIS
wife and three daughters before him. Inc MISSES
Bowen protested against this exhibition OF ther ld
mrs but their father promised that If they were ho.
t.rod thirty DAYS after the work done, he would
have the panters change the faces. Several years
have rassed and no complaint has yet been MADE INC
dresses are ideal, hut the faces are real FROM ~o
ceiling of the parlor the beautiful faces OF Mt. no"0
fourteen grandchildren look down upon the Na'e1 '"r
s.cm lust ready to drop into his arms. Inc WALLS ="
~. sna,,ous rooms are hung with several beautiful
paintings. ~ tho
On the floor above In Of the rooms are ,ne
heads of the fathcr and lis seven sons carved III 0
furniture The historical chamber has groups rop'O
senting the landing Of Columbus. washington AZ Nsnes
rnrr. Miles standish. and Lincoln signing the froc
,omst,op 81 Fmancipatoll while in the corners are
IN. po,1rsits Of Standish. Washington Columbus anu
lincoln A third room is Overrun WIN hsn'
tracery OF vines, upon which are foreign oiiuS anu
bottles In their natural colors on a srecnish gray
ground while the centre is occupied py ai ivan
wreath Of fuolsia.
Tn Nr Bowen,s own room Is little section Of
Eoseland Park his picturesque gift TO Woodstoch'
Conn. lis native town. As he faces the "'noo"
md looks toward the ceiling his eyes rest upon 'Ae
boathouso in which Presidents officers OF the CABINET
Members Of Congress. presidents N colleges poets
of national fame and business mon have dlned at te
country peopIe ssuntered the trees and along
the shores OF Lake WabbaQuassett waiting fer the
succch- making resume; the FAMOUS "lhuhh anu
n part OF the lake Also shown IN inc HILL
stands large iron safe, containing documents OF I'M
told value to their possessor. including numerous IN
,erestiug "reminiscences of pubic with whom
Mr.. Bowen has come into personal relations since
his entry into New-York life, sixty years ago.
Mr. Bowen was born in Woodstock, Conn., IN
sAptpmber 1873 When twenty years old he
to this city and entered inc
drygoods store Of Arthur Tappan Co. Sub
seouently he married the daughter of Lewis Lafan,
one OF the partners of the firm the present Mrs. Bow
en- was the daughter of Dr. Hiram Holt, Of Pomfret
Conn. and is cousin of he- husband After An
apprentlceshp OF five years in the New York store ne
and a fellowclcrh. Theodore McNamee. formed q
partnership friend supplying The capital and joining
as special partner. The Lsffans were strong anti
slavery men, and their clerks shared their views then
not altogether popular. historical card was
published in october, 1850 BY the firm OF Bowen q
Mcyamee IN "1he NewYork Journal OF Commerce
The members Of the firm had refused to sign call
with some 5000 others for great meeting In Castle
Garden the special object Of which WAS TO endorse
the Fugitive Slave Law" the new movement TO help
catch runaway niggcrs' on their way TO Canaca ana
also 10 help tho Union" and the southern
trade particularly, which then being transferred
from New-York to Philadelphia, Baltimore. Richmond
Charleston and NewOrleans. When the hrm were
publcay and severaly denounced for their refusal to
sign the paper by the prosavery press generally they
made the following reply -
FOR THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE
A Card-The public. including "The New-York journal
Of Commerce. informed that we are SILK merchants
and keep extensive and welassortd stock OF goods
which responsible buyers reasonable terms
As individuals entertain views on the various
religious moral and political questions OF the dsy winch
we are neither afraid ashamed declare all proper
occasions. wish It distinctly understood that
our goods, principles, on the market
The attempt punish merchants for the exercise
OF our liberty As citizens we leave tho judgment OF
the community. BOWEN Il McNAMEfS-
New-York, october IS, 1850
In 1s48 a paper wanted by the religious people
OF NcwYork and Brooklyn, somewhat In advance OF
those then published and Mr.. Bowen, Mr.. McNarnte,
Simeon y. Chtenden, seth Il. Hunt and John. oan
Hunt started The Independent" which subsequently
passed into Mr. Bowens hands Although nearly eighty
years old Mr.. Bowen Is 5 alert OF sixty and
controls his paper few editors do Associated with
him two Of his and several other able editors
and business men, but the hand OF the master is on
every part OF the machinery
COngreg atonalism In New-York, Brooklyn and Wood
stock and especially In the Western States, is greatly
indebted TO the labor and given freely by Nr.
Bowen. Or. Storrs's church built with his help
Plymouth Church its existence and It's great pastor
largely 10 him. though expelled him from it, member
ship after the famous trial because OF charges which
ne made against the who had been his firm friend
for many years. Mr.. Bowen strongly criticised
making the charges wlich he did without supporting
them by the evidence which he said he could produce
His reasons for NOT diyulsing what he knew OF Mr..
Beecher were these:
First. The information conHdentaly and from
such source l could honorably give it TO the
public Second IL would have been terrible blow to the
woman and did not think my duty to expose her