Person Sheet
NameJohn Bowen
Birth12 Sep 1838, Whitney, Herefordshire, England
Death12 Jan 1902, Allentown, PA
Misc. Notes
John Bowen was for many years one of the most prominent residents of Allentown, Pa. He was closely identified with the development of the city. At his death, Jan 12, 1902, he left behind him an unstained record and an honorable heritage to his family. He was born Sept. 12, 1838, in Whitney, Herefordshire, England. He received common school education, and came to America with his father, John in 1850, and settled at Mauch Chunk, Pa. where the father was a teacher for two years when he returned to England.
The son located in Lowhill township, Lehigh County, and there worked on a farm; taught school, etc, and when 20 years of age, decided to migrate to California. He traveled from Allentown to Pittsburgh and from there by boat and rail to Kansas City, Mo., being accompanied by Capt Creitz, a native of Lynn; then became a driver of an ox team, conveying government supplies to the United States Army posts at Salt Lake City, being three months on the journey and suffered great hardships en route. After undergoing many privations he reached his destination. After various up-hill experiences he prospected for gold and silver in Idaho, Montana, California and other states and many were the escapes from being killed by Indians having been attacked four times.
In 1865, Mr. Bowen returned to Allentown, Pa. via Panama. He soon formed a partnership with Charles Christman, in the cattle business. In 1868, they established in a small way, a grocery store on Hamilton Street and after the death of Mr. Christman he had various partners, always under the name of John Bowen and Company. In 1888, he purchased the Hagenbuch Opera House and conducted there a grocery store alone from that period until his death in 1902.
He made many improvements to the store and it became the leading store of its kind in the city. He erected and sold about 100 houses in the West End; and was one of the organizers of the Lehigh Valley Trust and Safe Deposit Company, becoming a director and in 1898, he was elected its vice president was a trustee of the Presbyterian church, and also of the Y. M. CA.
He made several trips to England, the last one in 1851, when he brought his mother and brothers - Thomas, William of Akron, Ohio, and Arthur P., also his sister, Elizabeth and family, back with him. His mother died in Lorraine, Ohio, in October, 1895.
Mr. Bowen married Emeline Klein, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Wetherhold) Klein, the former named was a son of Jacob and Susanna (Gross) Klein and the latter a daughter of Joseph Wetherhold, who was married three times.
The son located in Lowhill township, Lehigh County, and there worked on a farm; taught school, etc, and when 20 years of age, decided to migrate to California. He traveled from Allentown to Pittsburgh and from there by boat and rail to Kansas City, Mo., being accompanied by Capt Creitz, a native of Lynn; then became a driver of an ox team, conveying government supplies to the United States Army posts at Salt Lake City, being three months on the journey and suffered great hardships en route. After undergoing many privations he reached his destination. After various up-hill experiences he prospected for gold and silver in Idaho, Montana, California and other states and many were the escapes from being killed by Indians having been attacked four times.
In 1865, Mr. Bowen returned to Allentown, Pa. via Panama. He soon formed a partnership with Charles Christman, in the cattle business. In 1868, they established in a small way, a grocery store on Hamilton Street and after the death of Mr. Christman he had various partners, always under the name of John Bowen and Company. In 1888, he purchased the Hagenbuch Opera House and conducted there a grocery store alone from that period until his death in 1902.
He made many improvements to the store and it became the leading store of its kind in the city. He erected and sold about 100 houses in the West End; and was one of the organizers of the Lehigh Valley Trust and Safe Deposit Company, becoming a director and in 1898, he was elected its vice president was a trustee of the Presbyterian church, and also of the Y. M. CA.
He made several trips to England, the last one in 1851, when he brought his mother and brothers - Thomas, William of Akron, Ohio, and Arthur P., also his sister, Elizabeth and family, back with him. His mother died in Lorraine, Ohio, in October, 1895.
Mr. Bowen married Emeline Klein, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Wetherhold) Klein, the former named was a son of Jacob and Susanna (Gross) Klein and the latter a daughter of Joseph Wetherhold, who was married three times.