Willis Reese Bowen

Willis Reese Bowen (February 6, 1875, Butler County, Alabama, USA – 1975, Amber Valley, Alberta)[1] was one of the first settlers in Amber Valley, Alberta. His home, Obadiah Place, is a historic site.[2]

Bowen was one of a group of black Americans who moved to Canada from Oklahoma in 1911, filing for homestead north of Edmonton and east of Athabasca Landing.[2] Bowen organized the original group of five families who moved from Oklahoma.[3]

Bowen originally settled in Vancouver, BC with his wife, Jeanie Gregory Bowen,[4] and children. Bowen hauled gravel by horseteam, earning $25 per day.The family had little money and the oldest child, Mary, abandoned her plans of becoming a teacher to work as a maid. Their baby girl developed a common coastal bacterial infection, suffering severe diarrhea, dying in 1912. The family and their eight children then moved to Amber Valley, Alberta.[5] Some of their children included Boadie Bowen (1900–1981) and Elrene Bowen (1909–1936).[4]

In Amber Valley, Bowen homesteaded, while working as a freighter who hauled goods from Athabasca to Lac La Biche and Wabasca. He also worked on a ranch in Saskatchewan, in a packing plant in Edmonton, and on Alberta grain farms.[5] His eldest daughters also contributed to the family income by working as domestic workers in Athabasca and Edmonton.[5]

Jean died in 1932 and Willis Bowen died in 1975.[5] His grandson, Oliver Bowen designed the CTrain.

Homestead

Bowen homesteaded Obadiah Place (Bowen Residence) in 1913. His original log cabin was a community meeting place, post office, and site of the first telephone.[2] It was recognized as an Alberta historic site in 1999.

In 1938, his son Obadiah Bowen replaced the cabin, building a house in its place.[2] Obadiah was pastor at an interdenominational church that was built on land he donated in 1953, about a half mile from the house.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Willis Reese Bowen". Find a Grave. Retrieved 5 Feb 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "OBADIAH PLACE". HistoricPlaces.ca. Retrieved 5 Feb 2017.
  3. ↑ Mikell, Montague. "Fixing Obadiah Place". Alberta Settlement. Legacy Magazine, Summer 2000. Retrieved 5 Feb 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Obadiah Bowen". Find A Grave. Retrieved 5 Feb 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Bowen Family". Alberta's Black Pioneer Heritage. Retrieved 5 Feb 2017.
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