John E. Bowcock, attorney at law of St. Louis, has since 1911 been connected with the division of building inspection in this city, having studied and specialized in this branch of law, so that he has become a recognized expert in this branch of the profession. He came to this city from the Atlantic seaboard, his birth having occurred in McGaheysville, Rockingham county, Virginia, February 23, 1860. He is a son of the late Jesse L. Bowcock, a native of Virginia and of English lineage, the family having been founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war. He took up the occupation of farming and stock raising as a life work and at the time of the Civil war responded to the call of the Confederate army, which he joined as a private, serving with his command throughout the period of hostilities. He married Maggie E. Reppetoe, a native of Virginia and of French descent. Both have now passed away. Mrs. Bowcock died in 1902 at the age of fifty-two years, while the death of Mr. Bowcock occurred in 1912 when he had reached the age of seventy-six. Their family numbered five sons and a daughter.
John E. Bowcock, the eldest of the six children, was educated in private schools of Virginia and spent his life to the age of twenty-two years on the home farm, his experiences being those that usually fall to the lot of the farm bred boy. He came to St. Louis in 1889, when a young man of twenty-nine years, and in 1892 took up the study of law. He had previously filled the office of deputy sheriff of St. Louis and in 1898 was admitted to practice at the bar of this state. From 1899 until 1911 he engaged in the general practice of law, trying all kinds of cases and trying them well, but in 1911 he became associated with the building inspection department of the city service and has since here remained, having broad and intimate knowledge of the law pertaining thereto, so that his ability has splendidly qualified him for the responsible duties that devolve upon him in this connection.
On the 20th of October, 1889, Mr. Bowcock was married in St. Louis, Missouri, to Miss Mollie A. Outley, a native of this city and a daughter of Lorenz and Margaret (Fox) Outley, who were of a prominent old St. Louis family.
In his political views Mr. Bowcock is a republican and has been very active in politics, doing all in his power to promote the growth and advance the success of the party. He belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics and is a member of the St. Louis Bar Association. He holds to the highest standards and ideals of his profession and is rendering valuable service to the city in the position which he now fills.