Henry Bowen

For the American businessman, philanthropist, and publisher, see Henry Chandler Bowen.

Henry Bowen (December 26, 1841 – April 29, 1915) was a Virginia lawyer, soldier and politician from Tazewell County, Virginia. After raising a unit which became the 22nd Virginia Cavalry, he fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, after which Bowen served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives, first as a Readjuster, then as a Republican.

Henry Bowen
Portrait by C. M. Bell c. 1883–1889
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th district
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885
Preceded by	Abram Fulkerson
Succeeded by	Connally Findlay Trigg
In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889
Preceded by	Connally Findlay Trigg
Succeeded by	John A. Buchanan
Personal details
Born	Henry Bowen (1841-12-26)December 26, 1841 Tazewell County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 20, 1915(1915-04-20) (aged 73) Tazewell, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Jeffersonville Cemetery 37°07′18″N 81°30′35″W
Political party	Readjuster (1883–1885) Republican (1887–1889)
Alma mater	Emory and Henry College
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1864
Rank	Captain
Unit	Army of Northern Virginia
Commands	8th Virginia Cavalry Payne's Brigade Lee's Division
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Family and early life

Born at "Maiden Spring," near Tazewell, Tazewell County, Virginia, Bowen was the son of Democratic Congressman Rees Bowen, nephew of Senator John Warfield Johnston (a postwar member of the Conservative Party of Virginia, and cousin of Tennessee's last Whig governor William Bowen Campbell. After a private education suitable to his class, he attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia.

Confederate captain

Bowen farmed, then entered the Confederate Army in 1861 as a captain in Company H of the 8th Virginia Cavalry, which fought with Payne's brigade, Lee's division, Army of Northern Virginia. On December 21, 1864, Sheridan's cavalry captured Capt. Bowen at Lacy Springs, Virginia. Upon being paroled on June 19, 1865, Bowen returned to his native county and resumed farming.

Political career

Bowen was elected and re-elected as one of Tazewell County's representatives in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1869 to 1873. In 1883, he was elected as a Readjuster to the Forty-eighth Congress, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885. Bowen failed to win renomination in 1884. He was elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress, serving from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888 to the Fifty-first Congress.

Bowen later in life

In 1892, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He returned to his farm and raised livestock in Tazewell County, Virginia.

Death and legacy

Bowen died at his home, "Maiden Spring", in Tazewell County, April 29, 1915, and was buried in Jeffersonville Cemetery, Tazewell, Virginia.

References

• United States Congress. "Henry Bowen (id: B000683)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.