John C. Bowers

**John C. Bowers, Jr.** (February 9, 1811 – October 5, 1873) na he be an African American entrepreneur, organist den vestryman at St. Thomas African Episcopal Church, deb a founding member of de first Grand United Order of Odd Fellows give African Americans insyd Pennsylvania. Na he be active insyd de anti-slavery movement insyd Philadelphia, wey he be involved insyd de founding of chaw organizations wey dey include de Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. "A fervent abolitionist den outspoken opponent of colonization, na [he] be much in demand as a public speaker."

## Early life den career

Na dem born John C. Bowers insyd Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John den Henrietta Bowers. Na ein poppie, John C. Bowers Sr. (1773–1844), be a secondhand clothing dealer, a vestryman den school trustee at St. Thomas African Episcopal Church, den one of de founders of de Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society.

Na de younger Bowers sanso be a member of St. Thomas African Episcopal Church, wer na he cam be de organist. Na two of ein siblings pursue singing careers. Na Bowers train ein bro, Thomas Bowers, insyd de piano den organ; eventually na ein bro pursue voice training plus famed African American concert artist Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, wey na he embark on a solo career as a concert tenor. Na dema sisto Sarah Sedgwick Bowers study as a concert soprano wey she tour professionally insyd 1856.

Na John C. Bowers train as a tailor den he cam be de proprietor of a clothing shop at No. 71 South Second Street, Philadelphia. Na Martin Delany describe am as de owner of a "fashionable merchant tailor shop" togeda plus ein bro, Thomas, wey dey cater to upper class gentlemen den businessmen insyd Philadelphia, while na Henry M. Minton dey characterize am as "de most prominent" of 15 tailors insyd de city.

## Community activism

Na Bowers be a member of chaw literary societies. Na he be one of de signatories of de constitution of de Philadelphia Library Company of Colored Persons, dem institute on January 1, 1833. Na de company ein object be "de collection of a library of useful works of every description, for de benefit of ein members, wey fi der successfully apply widout comparatively any cost, for dat mental good wich na dem no fi readily obtain elsewer". For a membership fee of $1, na African Americans of all classes be afforded an opportunity make dem further educate demaselves. Na de library ein members adopt a system of organized reading den weekly debate wey enable ein members to practice elocution den public speaking. In spite of ein name, na de Library Company be a male institution. Na Bowers sanso support de education of women, writing to de *Liberator* insyd 1834 insyd praise of women dema literary groups. Na Bowers be involved insyd starting de Gilbert Lyceum, dem institute on January 31, 1841, wich enable women den men make dem work togeda insyd literary den scientific pursuits.He cam be secretary of de weekly newspaper *The Colored American* insyd 1841.

As a member of de Library Association of Philadelphia, na he be a delegate to de first meeting of de American Moral Reform Society insyd 1837, wer na he give a speech on temperance. Na de society ein platform include "Education, Temperance, Economy den Universal Liberty". Na Bowers sanso be a member of de Association for Moral and Mental Improvement.

Wen na de Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1838 (dem know as de Reform Convention) meet make dem amend de state constitution to restrict suffrage to whites, blacks form dema own Committee to respond. Na J. C. Bowers be one of dat committee, along plus Robert Purvis, James Cornish, Robert B. Forten, J. J. G. Bias, James Needham, den John P. Burr. Na dem prepare den publish de "Appeal of Forty Thousand Citizens Threatened with Disenfranchisement, To the People of Pennsylvania", hoping e go convince white citizens no to approve de amended constitution. Na Bowers be active in raising money for de publication. In spite of dema efforts, na de citizens of Pennsylvania ratify de new state constitution on October 9, 1838, wey dey disenfranchise free African Americans insyd Pennsylvania. Na dem no regain de franchise til na dem pass de 15th Amendment insyd 1869. During dat time, na Bowers continue to lobby for African American suffrage.

Na Bowers be concerned plus institutions for mutual relief, wey he help compile den publish a list of aid societies give African Americans insyd 1831. Na Bowers be a founding member of Unity Lodge No. 711, de first lodge of de Grand United Order of Odd Fellows wey na dem established insyd Pennsylvania for African Americans, on June 5, 1845.Na de Odd Fellows provide mutual aid, similar to insurance, plus practical benefits for events such as illness, death, disability, den widowhood. Na Bowers be involved insyd dis "friendly society" for African Americans thru out de rest of ein life. Na he serve repeatedly as a Director, for three terms as Deputy Grand Master (1855, 1857, 1858), den for one term as Grand Master (1870).

Insyd an obituary for Bowers, na *The Philadelphia Inquirer* wrep: "na he be an active den enterprising citizen, warmly interested insyd all plans for de advancement of ein people, prominent insyd ein hostility to slavery." Na dem sanso report ein death insyd San Francisco ein *Pacific Appeal*, an African American newspaper wey speak of am as "one of de very best representative colored men wey Philadelphia fi boast of."

## Personal
Insyd 1835 na John C. Bowers marry Mary C. Collins, daughter of Cato Collins. Na she teach Sunday school insyd de church. She die a year after dema marriage.

Bowers die insyd 1873 wey na dem bury am insyd Lebanon Cemetery insyd Philadelphia. Insyd 1903, na dem move ein remains den those of odas to Eden Cemetery insyd Collingdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania &#x2013; de oldest public African American burial ground insyd de United States. Na dem move burials from Lebanon den oda cemeteries secof construction projects within de city of Philadelphia.
## References

## External links

* John C. Bowers at Find a Grave