History of Clinton, (Clinton County) Iowa United States of America

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Henry Francis Bowers, of Clinton, was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., August 12, 1837.

His father, Augustus Bowers, or Bauer, as it was originally spelled, was a native of Germany, and before emigrating held the position of lieutenant in the German regular army. He came to America and settled in Baltimore, where he married Emaline Lewis. She was a native of Baltimore and a niece of Dr. Nelson Reed, who, with Dr. Coke, established Methodism in America. Thomas Barton, of Newark, one of the first Baptist divines of this country, was another uncle, and General Wayne, familiarly known for his desperate valor as Mad Anthony Wayne, was a grand-uncle.

When Henry was a child his father started to return to Germany to settle up the estate of his paternal ancestor, and by the foundering of the ship in which he took passage, was drowned at sea. Henry's early education was obtained at home from the instruction of his mother and aunt. During the time when he should have been attending the public schools they were closed and he was deprived of that privilege which the youth of to-day enjoys so fully. The schools of the entire state of Maryland were closed by an act of the state legislature and remained closed for several years. In April, 1857, the family moved west and located on a farm near De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa. At this period Henry completed his education by candle-light study while others slept. Their farming experience was not satisfactory and they moved to the town of De Witt, where Henry secured employment as carpenter and cabinetmaker.

In 1863 he entered the office of the clerk of the courts of Clinton county as deputy. He served one term in the clerk's office and two terms as deputy recorder of the county and during this time studied law. Soon after he was elected and served two terms as county recorder. June 20, 1877, he was admitted to practice law in the courts of Iowa, and in 1878 was appointed special aid-de-camp on Governor Gear's staff and served to the end of his term. He was admitted to practice in the supreme court in April, 1879, and in the United States court in April, 1882, and has enjoyed a good practice since. Mr. Bowers' party affiliations have always been with the republican party. Shortly after the convention which organized that party, he had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the candidate for president, Gen. John C. Fremont, in the city of Baltimore, and with his uncle occupied a position on the platform during the meeting.

Mr. Bowers enjoys the distinction of being the founder and the past supreme president of the American Protective Association, commonly known as the APA. He was led to establish this organization by the closing of the Maryland public schools, which deprived citizens of their rights under the ordinance of 1798, where it is recommended that every American child should have a common school education. It was established for the purpose of maintaining the public schools against the machinations and influence of their enemies and does not oppose any church societies or any man's right to worship God as he sees fit. No organization is antagonized so long as it does not resolve itself into a political faction for the destruction of our public institutions, the abridgement of free speech, a free press and a free ballot.

For twenty-eight years Mr. Bowers has been a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and for twenty-five years a member of the Consistory and of the Scottish Rite bodies of the thirty-second degree and of the Mystic Shrine. In religious matters he follows the church relations of his mother and is a Methodist.

He was married October 25, 1870, to Emma V. Crawford, of Barnsville, Belmont county, Ohio, and they have three children, Clyde C., born October 21, 1871; Homer H., born May 7, 1876, and Emma V., born July 3, 1878. His wife died October 24, 1878.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Clinton, (Clinton County) Iowa

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