Representative Daniel Hampton Bowen View All Years

HON. DANIEL HAMPTON BOWEN

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of Daniel Hampton Bowen, beg leave to submit the following report:

Daniel Hampton Bowen was born on a farm in Green county, Wisconsin, on September 6, 1850. His early days were similar to those of the sturdy young farmer boy of that time. He attended school in the winter months, transferring his time to the farm work in the summer. Early in life he determined upon the medical profession as his future life work. After spending the three years in the office of Dr. Broughton of Brodhead, Wisconsin, Mr. Bowen finished his work with a course at Rush Medical College in the city of Chicago, from which institute he graduated in 1876. In the same year, with the growing tide of immigration to the westward, Doctor Bowen removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he spent his remaining life.

Although a man with peculiar professional responsibilities, he early manifested his interest in matters affecting the public welfare, and was elected and served as councilman and mayor of his home city of Waukon. He was an interested patron of the schools, and served for many years as president and member of the local school board of that city.

In 1895, he was elected to the legislature from Allamakee county, and was re-elected to the two succeeding terms, serving in the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-sixth extra, Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth General Assemblies. During his last term the members of the House recognizing his ability for such a position, elected him speaker of the House, after a spirited contest in which were pitted against him some of its ablest members.

In his legislative career he served on important committees and was recognized as one of the able men of the state legislature, and in the conscientious discharge of his many duties, be proved himself entirely worthy of the confidence placed in him.

During the late war Dr. Bowen, whose patriotism and loyalty were of the most tense nature, exercised the greatest devotion in serving his country as chairman of the County Defense Board, and was zealous and untiring in performing his duty in connection with the draft. He also took part as speaker at many of the loyalty gatherings, and was always inspiring in the glorification of the flag he dearly loved.

He was a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges and took a prominent part in fraternal work.

Dr. Bowen was married at Albany, Wis., Feb. 25, 1877, to Miss Hettie Burns. To this union were born three children. The first died in infancy, the other two being a son, Albert Sidney, and a daughter, Mary Charlotte. Sidney now occupies the position of major in the medical department of the regular army, being stationed at Camp Lewis, Wash., and Miss Mary is teaching in one of the city schools of Indianapolis.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that in the death of Daniel Hampton Bowen, the state has lost one of its most able citizens who contributed his best efforts in laying the foundations of the early purposes of the great state of Iowa, the county among whose people be lived and ministered so many years has lost a citizen of the highest type, and his home community bas been deprived of its friend and counselor.

Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be printed in the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward to the family of the deceased an engrossed copy.

THEODORE B. STOCK,

JOHN H. WEBER,

E. A. GRIMWOOD,

Committee.

Adopted April 12, 1923.