Story of my line of the Bowens
They Bowen family
As the nation was torn apart by the Civil War, Frederick Bowen followed the call of duty, leaving home to serve his country like so many men of his time. Upon returning, he and his wife, Harriet, built a family, welcoming three sons and a daughter. Frederick and Harriet lived out their lives in Bertie County, leaving a legacy that would continue through their descendants.
A. E. Bowen and his siblings all grew up in Merry Hill, North Carolina. They were educated in a schoolhouse with only one room and completed eighth grade and graduated, as was customary at the time.
AE also became heavily involved in baseball in the region. He sponsored and managed the Albemarle League’s local semi-pro baseball team that played surrounding county teams. The teams were made up largely of college players who spent their summers playing ball for lodging and experience.
Some players who came through those leagues later became well known, including Beal Wilman, coach of Clemson University; Earl Smith, a coach at East Carolina University; and players such as Gaylord Perry, Bobby Crawls, J.J. Monk Harrington, and Jimmy Williford. During the season, many of these players even stayed in the Bowen family home.
AE also owned the property at the bend of Main Street and later gave it to the town of Windsor so a new baseball park could be constructed.
AE married Carrie Gibson Ward in September of 1922. Carrie’s story is worth mentioning because she worked hard to become a teacher. She would ride the train across North Carolina to Asheville and then travel another twenty-two miles north by car to attend Mars Hill Teachers College. She traveled round-trip this way for two damn years to receive her teaching certification.
After receiving her certification, the college found placement for her in Mary Hill, North Carolina—wouldn’t you know it, in the same one-room school where AE himself had graduated. And of course Carrie had to deal with the stupidity of the time. Once she married AE Bowen, she was no longer allowed to teach, because during that era, married women were not permitted to be teachers. So after marriage, she became a baby factory.
In 1919, AE Bowen partnered with Norman Godwin to open a wholesale business. Over time, AE bought out Godwin and ran the business himself, operating out of 209 W. King Street, a location now occupied by Timberland Unlimited Inc. Forest Managers.
The wholesaler supplied local businesses in Windsor with goods and became an essential part of the town’s commerce.
AE established the wholesale grocery while Carrie focused on raising the family. They had five children: four sons—Arthur, Daniel, Ralph, and Wheeler—and a daughter, Joyce.
When AE’s first son, Arthur Eugene Jr., was born in 1923, he added “& Son” to the business name. By 1926, with the birth of his second son, Daniel Ward, he modified it again to “AE Bowen & Sons Wholesale Grocery.”
Outside of business and baseball, Eugene had a love for gardening that kept the family supplied with homegrown fruits and vegetables. One of his more unusual hobbies was raising white turkeys, which he would give away to people at Christmas.
Throughout the years, the Bowens lived in several homes in Windsor. Many of the children, including Howard Wheeler Bowen (born 1929), grew up at 102 S. Queen Street. Historical preservation records describe the home this way:
“102 S. Queen Street (#79) is a mature example of a Queen Anne style dwelling with a prominent front gable, large dormers, and a wrap-around porch. It also possesses an impressive spindle-work screen in the front hall.”
It’s funny because the historical society lists that house as the Bowen home, but according to an actual Bowen, that wasn’t the Bowen homestead - That distinction belonged to another house
This one (Below)
In 1938, AE purchased the house at 203 North King Street, which became known as the “Bowen Home Place.” According to family accounts, damn near every living Bowen at the time lived in that house at one point or another.
When the Bowens still owned the Victorian home on King Street and the house on Queen Street, they also bought the first black-and-white television in the area. People would come over just to see what the new craze was and watch whatever happened to be on the screen.
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After serving in the Air Force following World War II and being stationed in Germany, Howard Wheeler Bowen returned home and continued the family legacy, eventually taking over the wholesale business.
From most accounts, Wheeler Bowen was a tough man—but there was another side to him, too.
My cousin Tex has told me many stories about Wheeler. To Tex, Wheeler was like a second father and would take him hunting regularly. From Tex’s accounts, Wheeler seemed like a very likable man.
Otherwise, he had a reputation for being stern.
Which comes as a surprise when my mom used to tell me stories about Wheeler doing something that became almost legendary in the family. If someone was sitting in a chair—maybe one of the girls’ boyfriends visiting the house or just someone hanging around—Wheeler would walk up to them, hike his leg like a dog, and fart on them.
Family history isn’t always dignified.
After Wheeler married Jane Earp when she was only nineteen, the couple briefly lived in a small house at 305 Winton Lane before moving into the Bowen Home Place on King Street. There they raised their children: daughters Donna and Debbie, and their son Steve.
At one point, the town approached Wheeler about placing the Bowen Home Place under historic preservation, like several other homes in Windsor. Wheeler refused and reportedly said:
“I’ll be damned if I’m letting someone tell me what color I can paint my house.”
Time and nature eventually took their toll.
My name is Selene, and I am proud to say I share Bowen blood.
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