7o BOWLES. BOYDEN. 1848 he was chosen treasurer of the East Boston Savings Hank, which position he resigned in 1880 — he still remaining a trustee. In 185 1 Mr. Bowker was elected presi- dent of the North American Fire Insurance Company, and unanimously re-elected thirty-six years, resigning the position December 21, 18S7. He was president of the Boston Board of Underwriters, also of the East Boston Trade Association and of the board of directors of the East Boston Ferries. In 1861, '62 and '66 he served in the Boston common council. In the rebellion, and in the war in South America between Paraguay, Uruguay, the Argentine Republic and Brazil, he held a controlling interest in eleven out of six- teen steamers in which he was a partial owner. Of self-made, self-educated men, Mr. Bowker is certainly one worthy of study and imitation. He has been a successful business man — successful with one excep- tion, and that, incident to the great fire of Boston, 1S72, in which he lost all his insur- ance stock in seven of the largest dividend paying companies in that city. Mr. Bowker was married in East Boston, June 22, 1843, to Sarah, daughter of Ben- jamin and Henrietta (Knowlton) Lamson. Of this union, the two living children are Sarah Fitz and Mary Frances Bowker. Mr. Bowker's residence is in East Bos- ton, overlooking the bay, where arrive and depart the magnificent fleet of steamers known as the Warren Line, so called from the founder, George Warren, a fellow-mem- ber of that early club, with Edwin P. Whip- ple, the distinguished essayist and lecturer, Daniel N. Haskell, of the " Boston Tran- script," Bishop Field, ct a/., to whose exam- ple, association and inspiration Mr. Bowker is wont cheerfully and gratefully to ac- knowledge indebtedness. BOWLES, SAMUEL, son of Samuel and Mary Dwight (Schermerhorn) Bowles, was born in Springfield, Hampden county, October 15, 185 1. He received his early educational train- ing in the public and private schools of his native city. This was supplemented by two years' study and travel in Europe, and two years' special course at Yale Col- lege. As a youth he also traveled ex- tensively in this country. His degree of A. M. was conferred by Amherst College. But the most valuable part of his educa- tion was the training in journalism which he received from his father ; and he was fully prepared when the time came to take up and carry forward the work of his predecessors. Mr. Bowles began business life in 1873, as an assistant in the editorial department of the "Springfield Republican." In 1875 he became its business manager, and at the death of his father (1878) he became editor-in-chief and publisher, which posi- tion he still holds. He is the third "Samuel Bowles" that has successfully presided over the leading journal of Western Massachusetts — three generations of sires and sons. Their sym- pathies have always been with the funda- mental principles of the Republican party, and its predecessor, the Whig, but they have been distinguished by their independ- ent attitude on political questions. The "Springfield Republican" has always held country above party, and clearly shown the mission of independent journalism. Mr. Bowles, as a citizen, possesses the confidence and esteem of his fellows, but has never allowed himself to be caught in the whirl of political ambitions. The only public office he has accepted is that of director of the Springfield City Library Association. Mr. Bowles was married in Concord, June 12, 18S4, to Elizabeth, daughter of Ebenezer Rockwood and Caroline 1). (Brooks) Hoar. Of this union is one son: Samuel Bowles, Jr. BOYDEN, ALBERT GARDNER, son of Phineas and Harriet (Carroll) Boyden, was born in South Walpole, Norfolk county, February 5, 1827. He attended the common district school in summer till ten, and in winter till seven- teen years of age. He worked on the farm and in his father's blacksmith shop, until he had mastered the trade, at twenty-one years of age, and in the meantime had taught school in the town of Foxborough, three winters. He was graduated from the state normal school, Bridgewater, Novem- ber, 1849 ; taught grammar school in Hingham, in the winter of 1849 and '50. He became assistant teacher in the state normal school, Bridgewater, in 1850, and held the position until 1853 ; was principal of the English high school, Salem, three years ; sub-master in Chapman grammar school, Boston, one year ; first assistant again at Bridgewater normal school 1857 to i860 ; and was then appointed principal of the school, which position he has since filled in a faithful and pre-eminently able manner. Mr. Boyden was married in Newport, Maine, November 18, 185 1, to Isabella
