----Source: 1891 History of Clark & Jackson Co., Wis.

ERASTUS BOWEN, president of Greenwood State Bank, Greenwood, Clark County, Wis., is a native of this state, having been born in Richmond, Walworth County, June 5, 1846, son of John A. and Elizabeth (McCord) Bowen, natives of New Jersey, the father being of English and the mother of Irish descent. John A. Bowen, who was a farmer, settled in Walworth County in 1842, taking a tract of government land. In 1848 he moved to Columbus, Columbia County, Wis., where he opened up and improved a farm. He held the position of township assessor for ten years in succession, and was also for some time chairman of the township board. He, his wife and family belonged to the Presbyterian Church. The children were Edward, Eliza and Erastus.

Erastus Bowen was educated in the district school and spent his youth on the farm. When old enough to be independent he bought a farm of 176 acres in Columbus Township, on which he engaged in general farming, raising good stock. While, residing there he served As assessor, was town clerk for three years, and, was chairman of the town board. He had to come to Clark County in 187l, on a hunting trip, and had been favorably impressed with the county and its people, which caused his settlement. It was in 1900 that he became a permanent citizen of the county, buying out the place of Charles Miller, of Greenwood. In the same year he helped to organize the Bank of Colby, becoming its president, which office he still holds. In 1906, Mr. Bowen became president of the Greenwood State Bank, of Greenwood and remains at the head of this institution. He is also president of the. Greenwood, Roller-Mills, and has been for two years a member of the city council of Greenwood. Enterprising and progressive and of good business ability, he has taken a warm interest in the growth and development of the community in which he has cast his lot, in which development he is himself one of the potent factors.

Mr. Bowen was married in 1881 to Mary E., daughter of George C. and Lorinda (Chamberlain) Andrews. He and his wife have had two children, both daughters-Rosa A., wife of Ray Howard, of Greenwood, and Grace, who died when 9 years old.