Ernest S. Bowen, a member of the firm of Fay & Bowen, belongs to that class of society, which has developed our great manufacturing industries, spread our commerce and built up our cities. He is the son of Wilford M. Bowen, who was a farmer, and died in 1893.
Ernest S. Bowen was born in Levanna, Cayuga county, New York, May 8, 1858. He attended the public schools of Aurora, New York, then Hillsdale College, Michigan, and finally, Cornell University, from which he was graduated in 1890 from the mechanical engineering department, his name being one of the ten on the honor list. From his earliest years he had had a decided leaning toward mechanics, and at the age of eighteen years he commenced, independently, to learn the machinist’s trade, being thus occupied for a period of four years prior to going to Hillsdale College, and worked his way through college, depriving himself of many luxuries, and even necessities, in order to accomplish his aim by his own unaided efforts. Upon the completion of his college course, he found employment with McIntosh, Seymour & Company, as assistant superintendent, remaining with them for five years, and then entered into a partnership with Walter L. Fay, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work, under the firm name of Fay & Bowen. Mr. Bowen has been active in the public affairs of the township for a long time, and has served as a member of the board of public works for six years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Grotto, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Kanadasaga Club.
Mr. Bowen married, 1888, Clara L., born at Granville, New York, in 1863, daughter of Charles Hogle. Children : Gertrude, born in 1893; Olive, born in 1897; and Kenneth, born in 1901.