Willis Reese Bowen facts for kids
Willis Reese Bowen (born February 6, 1875 – died 1975) was a very important early settler in Amber Valley, Alberta. His family home, called Obadiah Place, is now a special historic site.
Willis Bowen was born in Butler County, Alabama. In 1911, he was part of a group of Black Americans who moved from Oklahoma to Canada. They were looking for new land to settle, called homesteads, north of Edmonton and east of Athabasca Landing. The Canadian government was encouraging new settlers to come to Alberta at that time. Willis Bowen helped organize the first five families who made this big move from Oklahoma. Like many others, he had left the southern United States after slavery ended and during a time called Reconstruction. People moved to Oklahoma hoping for better lives and more opportunities.
Willis Bowen first settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife Jeanie (Gregory) Bowen and their children. He worked hard, hauling gravel with horses and earning about $25 a day. The family didn't have much money. Their oldest daughter, Mary, even gave up her dream of becoming a teacher to work as a maid and help support the family. Sadly, one of their young children passed away in 1912. After this, the family and their eight children decided to move inland to Amber Valley, Alberta. Among their children were Boadie Bowen (1900–1981) and Elrene Bowen (1909–1936).
Life in Amber Valley
In Amber Valley, Willis Bowen claimed his own piece of land to build a home and farm. He also worked as a freighter, which meant he used horses to haul goods and supplies from Athabasca to places like Lac La Biche and Wabasca. He also worked on a ranch in Saskatchewan, at a meat packing plant in Edmonton, and on grain farms in Alberta. His older daughters also helped the family earn money by working as domestic helpers in Athabasca and Edmonton.
Jeanie Bowen passed away in 1932. Willis Bowen lived until 1975, also passing away in Amber Valley, Alberta. His grandson, Oliver Bowen, grew up to become an engineer. Oliver Bowen is famous for designing the CTrain system in Calgary, Alberta.
The Bowen Homestead
Willis Bowen officially claimed his homestead, known as Obadiah Place (also called the Bowen Residence), in 1913. His first home was a simple log cabin. This cabin became a very important place for the community. It served as a meeting spot for neighbors, a post office where people could send and receive mail, and even the location of the first telephone in the area. Because of its history, the Obadiah Place was recognized as an Alberta historic site in 1999.
In 1938, Willis's son, Obadiah Bowen, built a new house to replace the original log cabin. Obadiah was also a pastor at a church that welcomed people from different faiths. In 1953, he donated the land for this church, which was located about half a mile from the family home.
