Jehdeiah Bowen Explained

Jehdeiah Bowen (July 19, 1817  - November 18, 1891)^[1] was a native of Wales who emigrated to the United States and became an American merchant, pioneer, and politician.^{[2] [3]}

A resident of Carbondale, Pennsylvania from 1830 until the 1850s,^{[4] [5]} he relocated to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he established a knitting factory and worked with Alvan E. Bovay to form a chapter of the Republican Party.^{[6] [7]} A member of the Democratic Party at the time, Bowen was later described by Bovay as his "chief helper" in making the new chapter a reality.^{[8] [9]}

In addition he helped to found Ripon College.^{[6] [7]}

Biography

Born in Llanelly, Brecknockshire, Wales, Bowen emigrated from home in 1830. Traveling to the United States, he settled in Carbondale, Pennsylvania^{[10] [11]} and found work as a store clerk.^{[6] [7]}

In 1850, Bowen moved to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he established a knitting factory and became active in civic affairs.^{[6] [7]}

He helped to found Ripon College.^{[6] [7]}

Active as a Democrat in local and state politics, Bowen worked with Alvan E. Bovay to found a new Wisconsin chapter of the Republican Party.^{[6] [7] [12] [13]}

Bowen served as mayor of Ripon, Wisconsin in 1859 and 1868.^[14] In 1871, Bowen served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.^{[15] [16] [7]}

He died in Ripon, Wisconsin on November 19, 1891.^{[14] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Proceedings of the Society at Its 34th Meeting, Wisconsin Historical Society: 1892, Biographical Sketch of Jedediah Bowen, p. 21.
2. "Portrait of a Ripon College founder donated to art collection." Ripon, Wiscon: Ripon College, October 4, 2021.
3. "Jehdeiah Bowen." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: Carbondale Leader, August 25, 1900, p. 2 (subscription required).
4. "Executors' Notice: Estate of William Morgan, deceased." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, June 28, 1845, p. 3 (subscription required).
5. "Executors Notice: Samuel T. Hopkins, dec'd." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, September 11, 1847, p. 3 (subscription required).
6. "Portrait of a Ripon College founder donated to art collection," Ripon College, 2021.
7. "Jehdeiah Bowen,"Carbondale Leader, August 25, 1900.
8. "Politics In County, State and Nation." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: Lebanon Daily News, March 20, 1954, p. 4 (subscription required).
9. "GOP Born 100 Years Ago Out of Whigs, Free Soilers, Democrats." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Scranton Tribune, March 19, 1954, p. 2 (subscription required).
10. "Executors' Notice: Estate of William Morgan, deceased," The Lackawanna Citizen, June 28, 1845.
11. "Executors Notice: Samuel T. Hopkins, dec'd." Carbondale, Pennsylvania: The Lackawanna Citizen, September 11, 1847.
12. "Politics In County, State and Nation," Lebanon Daily News, March 20, 1954.
13. "GOP Born 100 Years Ago Out of Whigs, Free Soilers, Democrats," The Scranton Tribune, March 19, 1954.
14. News: Death of J. Bowen, of Ripon. Green Bay Weekly Gazette. November 25, 1891. 11. Newspapers.com. November 8, 2016 .
15. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1871, Biographical Sketch of Jehdeiah Bowen, p. 375.
16. http://www.ripon.edu/library/archives/exhibits/founders.htm Biographical Profile, Ripon College