The Bowen Family - Pioneers Of Historic Bramwell
Joseph ( Joe ) Hopkinson Bowen, a prominent Bramwell business man, was born in St. Clair, PA on May 27, 1887. He was the third son of W. Harry Bowen (1860 - 1942) and Harriet Hopkinson Bowen ( Died in 1932 ). Joseph was an alumnus of the University of Virginia, class of 1910. When he graduated from UVA he went to work for the BOOTH-BOWEN COAL AND COKE COMPANY that was founded by his grandfather , Jonathan P. Bowen, in 1884. Joe Bowen married Elizabeth Prichard in 1914 and they were parents of four children. Following a lingering illness, Joe Bowen died October 9, 1966, followed by his widows death in 1967. Elizabeth was the daughter of William John Pritchard, born in Wales, and Ann Harris Thomas of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Their children were Joseph, Ethel, William and Ann. Joseph's parents were Harry Bowen and Harriett Hopkinson Bowen. Joe's father, W. Harry Bowen was one of the founders of the Pocahontas Fuel Company. Harry's son, Joe Bowen served as the Chairman of the Pocahontas Fuel Company until 1951. At that time, Joe Bowen and his associates purchased a controlling interest in the West Virginia Armature Company in which his son Joe Jr. ( born October 19,1915 ) was active in this company's management. Joe Bowen was also President of the Limestone Dust Corporation with his son William Henry Bowen serving as operating manager. At the time of Joe Bowen's death in 1966, he was a Director of many of the leading businesses in Southern WV. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bowen's grandfather and fater are pictured below. The grandfather was the co-founder of the Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Company. Jonahan Bowen's son and grandson spent theirvery successful careers in the coal industry.
Careers of Jonathan P. and son W. Harry Bowen; W. Harry Bowen was a leading operator in the Pocahontas fields of Mercer County, his home being at Simmon Station, Freeman Post Office, half a mile from Bramwell. He has been active in the coal industry forty years and. in later years has acquired widening interests in other affairs. Mr. Bowen was born October 14, 1860, at Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, son of Jonathan P. and Hannah (Evans) Bowen. Jonathan Bowen came to America when his parents came from Wales. Harry Bowen's farther, Jonathan Bowen worked along side his father in coal mines. Following the death of his father he became the head of the family at the age of twelve. He eventually held responsibilities as mine foreman and superintendent while living in Pennsylvania. In 1885 W. Harry Bowen came to West Virginia . He teamed up with a fellow named Booth and the formed the Booth-Bowen properties. Booth first started this operation in 1884. The Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Company was founded by William Booth and Jonathan P. Bowen in 1884. In 1893 Jonathan Bowen and his son Harry assumed responsibilities for of the company. Harry Bowen went to high school in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He started in the mining industry working as a utility boy. He also worked his way up to become blacksmith tor the Beading Coal & Iron Company. He went on to manage the Booth-Bowen mines and operations, and was once vice president of the Bank of Bramwell. In 1881, at Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Harry Bowen married Miss Harriet Hopkinson. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Howard) Hopkinson. Her parents were born in England. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen were Jonathan, Ethel, Elizabeth, Joseph and Hedley.
( Initial Material furnished by Mary Clark Gross and Bill Gross & from Martha Jane Becker's Book, Bramwell...The Diary of a Millionaire Coal Town ) |
Bowen Family Mausoleum - Woodlawn Cemetery, Bluewell, WV |
W. HARRY BOWEN (1860 - 1942) President of
Booth - Bowen Coal & Coke Co. ( Wife - Harriet
Hopkinson Bowen ).