son of Charles Bowen & Susanna Dickinson
He married Sarah A. Demund 26 Apr 1855 Wyoming Co., PA

The LaPorte Daily Argus Bulletins, LaPorte, IN
Thursday, 23 Apr 1909 obit

DEATH OF FITZ D. BOWEN
Former Official of LaPorte County Passes To Reward At Ripe Old Age.
Fitz D. Bowen, one of the pioneer residents of LaPorte county, identified for many years with its political and agricultural life, a familiar figure in this city for the many years of long residence, died at an early hour this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F. H. Willson, in Michigan City. Mr. Bowen had been in failing health for several years. With the passing of time his old-time rugged health became impaired and complications developed which presaged the end which came this morning. The body was worn out, the spirit was ready for the transition. Today the body of Mr. Bowen was brought to this city by Undertaker Cutler. Tomorrow the lifeless clay will be taken to the home of Mrs. O.P. Ludlow, Jr., 1602 Indiana avenue, another daughter, and here the funeral will be held, the time and the name of the officiating clergyman to be announced tomorrow, when arrangements for burial will have been made. He was 75 years of age.
Mr. Bowen was a native of Pennsylvania and richly endowed with all the sterling attribures of citizenship. He was born in Wyoming county, that state, coming to LaPorte county in 1855. He followed farming for a time and was active in his political relationship with the democratic party. With the election of Edward Hawkins as sheriff of the county Mr. Bowen became his deputy, filling the position of trust with true conceiption of its importance. He succeeded Mr. Hawkins as sheriff and was a popular and efficient official for the period of four years. Zeal and honesty marked his official stewardship. Other activities followed Mr. Bowen's retirement from office. He was for a time an associate of Charles Barney in the livery business.
Surviving Mr. Bowen are three daughters, Mrs. Ludlow, Mrs. Willson and Mrs. Daisy LeJuene, of Nunica, and one son, William S Bowen, who is also a resident of Nunica. He was a member of the LaPorte Masonic fraternity and the order to whose tenets he gave fealty will probably pay a last tribute to his memory.

23 Apr 1906
Fitch D. Bowen, one of the "old guard" of the Democratic party and known the country over during his occupancy of the sheriff's office for his part in the capture of part of the Eddie Quinn gang at the time of the Val jewelry store robbery and in the recovery of most of the stolen goods, passed away at 3:15 o'clock this morning at the home of his daughter Mrs. F.H. Willison of Michigan City. He had been ill for some time and death was not unexpected. The end came quietly and peacefully. Since the death of Mrs. Bowen eight years asgo he had been making his home with his children spending some time here with Mrs. O.P. Ludlow then going to Michigan City and then to Nunica., Mich.
Mr. Bowen was born Aug. 30 1834, at Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, Pa., and came to LaPorte county in 1855, , since which time he had always been a resident of this county. In 1874 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Edward Hawkins and served four years. In 1878 he was nominated for sheriff by the Democrats and elected over August Schausten, the Republican candidate. In 1880 Mr. Bowen was re-elected. He was always
remembered as one of the best sheriffs thas county ever had and but few evil doers escaped from him. His work in the Vail robbery, one of the biggest jewelry robberies in the history of the country and also one of the most daring will never be forgotten. It was through his efforts that the gang was finally apprehended and sent to prison. Even after the Chicago police has spent days and nights searching the city over and had been within a few feet of the stolen jerelry, Sheriff Bowen went to Chicago and located the loot. He then planned a coup which resulted in the capture of Hooligan, son of the member of the gang. He handled several other big cases, but the Vail robbery was the one which made him known all of the country.
After retiring from the sheriff's office he engaged in the livery business and for many years was associated with Charles Barney in the conducting of a barn at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Monroe street.
Mr. Bowen was commander of "Bowen Post," a mythical organization, which became wellknown through the county and which aroused much interest and furnished much amusement for the supposed members. Mr. Bowen enjoyed the distinction which the position gave him and undoubtedly got as much enjoyment out of it as any of the members of this supposed organization, all of whom were alleged to have gone through the battle of Bald Hill.
Those who know Mr. Bowen best will have only the kindiliest recollections of him. He was a just man, a man of stong convictions. He was a stalwart Democrat and during the days that he was actively in politics he was one ot the leaders-one of the wheel horses. He was one of the few left when Edward H. Hawkins, Mortimer Nye, Morgan H Weir, James Murdock, Judge Noyes, E.J. Church, L.D. Webber, Ellis Michael and H.E. Wadsworth were the stalwarts and shaped the destinies of the Democratic party. There were big men in the front rank of the Democratic party in LaPorte county in those days.
The deceased is survived by four children. Mrs. O.P). Ludlow of LaPorte, Mrs. F. H. Willson of Michigan City,Mrs. Fred LeJeunne of Nunica, Mich. and W.S.Bowen of Nunica, Mich. He leaves also a sister, Mrs. Hulda Case.
During his more active life Mr. Bowen was a prominent member of the Masonic order of this city and was also a leading Knights Templar.