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HON. W. M. BOWKER
PASSED AWAY SUNDAY
NIGHT AT 10 O'CLOCK
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The Deceased Was One of the Lead-
ing and Most Highly Esteemed
Citizens of this City.
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Senator Bowker Was One of the
Ablest and Most Successful Law-
yers in This State--Funeral Services Wednesday
After-
noon at the Home.
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With genuine regret the news
of the death of Honorable W. M. Bowker will be received not only in this
city and county but in all parts of the state. The life of this
splendid man and outstanding citizen reached its close at ten o'clock
Sunday night at the home on North Washington street, following an
illness of many months. As is well known Mr. Bowker had been ill
for some time but after his return from Kansas City, where he had been
under the care of specialists, his many friends hoped that his health
would be restored and that once again he would enjoy good health and
resume the important place he had held in his profession and as a public
spirited and leading citizen of this community. Friends and
members of his family were painfully disappointed for all that medical
skill and tender and constant care could offer proved of no avail.
A recent attack of pneumonia proved too much for his constitution to
withstand and his life's journey came to its end, peacefully and not
wholly unexpected.
In the passing of Senator
Bowker his devoted wife and daughter, Mary Frances, have suffered a loss
that words cannot express, the one surviving brother, J. O. Bowker, of
Payette, Idaho, and two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Arbaugh of Springfield and
Mrs. Harriet Peck of Topeka, have also been called upon to give up a
brother whose place cannot be filled. Nevada has lost one of its
most prominent, influential and most useful residents and the state has
lost one of its outstanding men.
Senator Bowker was born May
2, 1865, at Carthage, Illinois, where he attended the public schools and
later attended Craddock College at Quincy, graduating on June 17, 1886.
After completing his college course he entered the office of Judge
Scofield in Carthage, Ill. and studied law and later was admitted to the
bar by the supreme court of Illinois. In 1889 Senator Bowker
located in Nevada for the practice of law and soon became recognized as
a lawyer of exceptional ability. In 1905 he became associated with
his brother-in-law, the late L. L. Scott, and this law firm continued
until the death of Mr. Scott, after which Senator Bowker continued to
practice his profession alone. Mr. Bowker's first wife, who was
Miss Nadine Scott, passed away in 1910 and several years later he and
his surviving wife were married and to this union was born the surviving
daughter, Mary Frances.
As a lawyer Senator Bowker
was one of the ablest in Southwest Missouri both as a trial lawyer and
counselor and none were more successful or stood higher in the
estimation of the bar and the public. He practiced in all the
courts and was widely and favorably known in all parts of the state by
members of the State Bar Association. During the past several
years he was the district attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railway
Company. Politically, Senator Bowker was a democrat and he took a
leading part in the affairs of his party in this county, district and
state and was a prominent figure in all of the district and state
conventions and conferences. He was a strong supporter and
personal friend of the late United States Senator Stone and also of
ex-United States Senator James A. Reed of Kansas City. Senator
Bowker's support and advice was sought by many of the state's democratic
senators, governors and others who held high office. Always a
strong, old fashioned democrat and party leader, he was a gallant and
fearless champion but never offensive in political battles nor did he
countenance trickery to gain a victory. He served as a state
senator from 1919 to 1923 and was one of the outstanding and most
influential members of the state senate. He also served as a
member of the State Eleemosynary Commission.
While a member of the state senate Mr. Bowker performed many services
valuable to the state and was a member of the most important committees,
one of which was that of the executive committee which had charge of the
state-wide Centennial celebration held at the state fair grounds
August 8-20, 1921.
As a citizen of Nevada he gave of his talent, money and time to every
cause that was for the betterment and growth of this city. He
supported loyally every worthy institution and every movement that
sought to make other happier and more prosperous. Senator Bowker
was not only a professional man of the highest order but he also was a
man of exceptional business ability and in his dealings in real estate
he was successful. At the time of his death he was the owner of
the Hotel Mitchell building and the three story business house at the
southeast corner of the square, two of the most valuable business
properties in the city.
Personally Senator Bowker
was always the American gentleman, fair and considerate of others in his
every act and thought, always ready to give to his utmost in serving his
fellowman; a more delightful companion, loyal and steadfast in his
friendships and a hospitable and gracious host in his home. In all
his various dealings with is fellowman he never harbored resentment or
ill will against any man. He seemed always to quickly forgive any
lack of consideration on the part of those who were most indebted to
him. If there ever was a men in Nevada who always had a friendly
feeling toward everyone that man was Senator Bowker.
In every relation in life,
citizen, lawyer, husband, father, brother, friend, Senator Bowker
measured fully up to the highest American standard. He met fully
every duty and every responsibility, he gave much and asked for very
little in return; he lived and labored well, accepted both sunshine and
shadows bravely, calmly and like the true man he was he was modest in
victory and unresentful in defeat.
The shadow of sorrow has now
crossed the threshold of his home but the memory of him who lived for
those within will soften the darkness as the years pass.
Funeral services for Senator
Bowker will be held at the home on North Washington street Wednesday
afternoon at 8 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Lambert, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church. Interment at Deepwood.
The Nevada Daily Mail and Evening Post
Monday, February 9, 1931, page 1. |
