David Sovereign Bowlby, the leading physician and surgeon in Berlin, is a son of Adam Bowlby, whose sketch appears in this volume, and Elizabeth, nee Sovereign, and was born in Townsend, county of Norfolk; September 5, 1826. He received his literary education in Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto; studied his profession at first in the Toronto School of Medicine, and then in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York city, receiving the degree of M.D. at the former institution in 1852, and at the
latter in 1853. He is one of the most thoroughly educated men in the medical profession in the county.
Dr. Bowlby practiced a few months in Paris, county of Brant, and in October, 1853, settled in Berlin, being the longest in the practice of any man now here, and having an excellent reputation, both professional and personal.
Dr. Bowlby was in the town council for some years, and resigned to accept the office of jail surgeon, which he still holds, and has held for many years. He has been a member of what is now called the high school board nearly as long as he has resided here, and is chairman of the same. He is president of the Berlin Rifle Association, and of the Reform Association of the county of Waterloo, being decidedly radical in his political views.
His religious connection is with the Church of England. He has held the office of warden of St. John’s church, Berlin; has been a lay delegate to the synod, and is a man of solid character. The wife of Dr. Bowlby was Martha Esther Murphy, of Montreal, married July 7, 1856. They have five children.