Obadiah Bowen (born May 16, 1907,

Lincoln County, Oklahoma Lincoln County is a county in eastern Central Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,458. Its county seat is Chandler. Lincoln County is part of the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan statistical area. In 2010, the center of popu ...

, US; d. Apr. 7, 2004,

Athabasca, Alberta Athabasca (2021 census (Canada), 2021 population 2,759), originally named Athabasca Landing, is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of Edmonton at the intersection of Alberta Highway 2, Highway 2 and Alberta Highway 55, Hig ...

, Canada) was one of the original settlers to Amber Valley, Alberta, as well as a pastor and community leader. He was one of the first Black settlers to Alberta.

Homesteading

Obadiah Bowen came to Canada from Oklahoma in 1909 with his parents

Willis Reese Bowen Willis Reese Bowen (February 6, 1875 – 1975) was one of the first settlers in Amber Valley, Alberta. His home, Obadiah Place, is a historic site. Bowen was born in Butler County, Alabama, and was one of a group of black Americans who moved fro ...

and Jeanie Gregory Bowen and several siblings, as well as four other families his father helped organize. Bowen's father homesteaded Obadiah Place (Bowen Residence) in 1913. His original log cabin was a community meeting place, post office, and site of the first telephone. In 1938, his son Obadiah Bowen replaced the cabin, building a house. It was recognized as an Alberta historic site in 1999.

Civic leadership

Bowen served as the town preacher for people of various denominations. His interdenominational church was built on land he donated in 1953, about a half mile from the house.

Work

Bowen also worked in construction at the

Banff Springs Hotel The Fairmont Banff Springs, formerly and commonly known as the Banff Springs Hotel, is a historic hotel in western Canada, located in Banff, Alberta. The entire town, including the hotel, is situated in Banff National Park, a national park manag ...

and built roads and railways, and worked as a freighter.

Family

Bowen married Eva Mae Mapp Bowen and had four children, including Oliver Bowen. In 1996, he moved from Amber Valley to an Athabasca nursing home.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, Obadiah People from Amber Valley, Alberta Canadian people of African-American descent Black Canadian people Canadian emigrants to the United States People from Lincoln County, Oklahoma 1907 births 2004 deaths