Norwich bulletin., 1910-06-01
Oliver w. Bowen.

There was widespread expression OF
regret in Danielson when the an
nouncement of the death of Oliver w.
Bowen was made Tuesday morning.
Mr. Bowen died at 10 O'Clock at his
home on Reynolds street. He had
been i'll for about two weeks with
heart trouble, but his Improvement
during the past few days has been so
ENCOURAGING as to indicate his early
recovery. He was even regarded as
better a few hours before his death,
which was unexpected DIR. George
Burroughs was at the Bowen home,
making his usual morning call when
Mr. Bowen suffered the fatal attack.
He was stricken in the bathroom and
when assisted to his bed his condition
had become so serious that he expired
in a few minutes.
Oliver William Bowen was born in
Foster, r. l., June IS. 1913. the son OF
Nelson and Olive (Green) Bowen He
came to DanielSOn in April 1888 Two
years later he removed with his par
ents to Wauregan, where he was edu-
Gated in the public schools and Plain
field academy. He was clerk and as
siStant postmaster for II. a. Atkins for
five years in what is now the Waure-
gan store, and was in the office of the
Wauregan company for one year.
In August, 1864, he left Wauregan
to become clerk in the general store of
Samuel Fenner at South Woodstock,
where he was engaged about a year.
He then went to Willimantic to assist
his father IN the DuliOlnS or the
No. mill of the Willimantic Linen
company. He remained there for three
years before going to Taftville to work
on another mill His father was
prominent builder. The Wauresan
mills and nearly all the mills at East
Killingly were erected by him
Mr.. Bowen returned to Danielson in
October, 1869. and entered into the
hardware and undertaking business
with his father under the name of n.
C. Bowen & Son He started a livery
stable in Danielson in 1882, and con-
tinued to conduct this branch of his
business until a few years ago, when
he sold to A F. Wood, by whom it is
still conducted.
Mr. Bowen had been a prominent and
wideawake public official in the town
of killingly for many years and had
been hOnOred with some of the most
important offices within the gift of the
community. For ten years, 1883 to 1898,
he was first Selectman and clerk of
the board u deputy sheriff of Windham
county for twenty years, member of the
1SS9-1900 session of the state legisla-
ture as a representative from Killing
ly, creditab1y serving as chairman of
the committee on manual and roll and
as clerk of the committee on roads,
rivers and bridges; member of the
board of relief in his home town for
several years. president of the Wind
ham County Agricultural society from
1892 to 1898 and had served on various
concerning the affairs of the town In
each and every instance his duties
were wisely considered and judiciously
discharged.
Ten years ago MI Bowen suffered a
serious illness and has since been less
active in public life, although he fol-
lowed current events with the closest
interest For the past few years he
has been inspector of roads for the
state highway commission and only a
few weeks ago was named by Com
missioner J. H. Macdonald as state
supervisor of road repairs for Wind
ham county. He only entered upon
his duties under this appointment
when he was taken ILL.,
Mr. Bowen was a staunch republican
always and the political honors con-
ferred upon him were without excep-
ton the gift of the members of that
party, although many of his supporters
at times were democrats. He was well
known throughout the state.
Mr. Bowen was a member of Moriah
lodge. No. Is, f. and A M, Warren
chapter, No. u. Montgomery council,
No. 2. all of DsniefsOn, Columbian
commandery, No. 4, Il T, of Norwich
and Sphinx temple of Hartford. He
was at the time of his death chairman
of the executive committee of the Bo-
hemian Club corporation, an organiza-
ton of which he was a past president
and one in which he was particularly
interested.
Mr.. Bowen IS survived by his wife
and by sister, Emma, of Hartford