Obadiah Bowen (born May 16, 1907,

Lincoln County, Oklahoma Lincoln County is a County (United States), county in eastern Central Oklahoma. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the population was 34,273. Its county seat is Chandler, Oklahoma, Chandler. Lincoln County is part of the Oklahoma ...

, USA; d. Apr. 7, 2004,

Athabasca, Alberta Athabasca ( 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 Highway 2 and Highway 55, on the banks of the Athabasca River. It is the cen ...

, Canada) was one of the original settlers to

Amber Valley, Alberta Amber Valley is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada, approximately north of Edmonton. Its elevation is . Originally named Pine Creek, Amber Valley was among several Alberta communities settled in the early 20th century by early ...

, 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 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 located in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The entire town including the hotel, is situated in Banff National Park, a national park managed by Park ...

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

Family

Bowen married Eva Mae Mapp Bowen (1912–1972) and had four children, including Norma Jean Bowen (1938–2010), Yvonne Bowen (1941–1941),

Oliver Bowen Oliver Bowen (December 21, 1942 – January 1, 2000) was a Canadian engineer who managed the design and construction of the first line of Calgary's light rail transit system: the CTrain. The City of Calgary acknowledged his engineering work by na ...

(1942–2000), and Vern Bowen (? - present). In 1996, he moved from Amber Valley to an Athabasca nursing home. His siblings were Boadie Bowen (1900–1981) and Elrene Bowen (1909–1936).

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