Husband Calvin M. Bower, Esq. 1 2 3
Born: 20 Apr 1849 - Haines Twp, Centre Co, PA 1 2
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Father: Jacob Bower ( - ) 2
Mother: [Unk] Motz ( - )
Marriage: 9 Jun 1874 1
Wife Ella E. Moyer 1
AKA: Ellen Meyer 3
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Father: John Meyer (1806-1878) 3 4
Mother: Mary Klose (1810-1865) 4
Children
1 M John Jacob Bower 5
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General Notes: Husband - Calvin M. Bower, Esq.
He spent his early days as a farmer's boy, working on his father's farm during the summers and attending the public schools during the winter months. In November, 1866, he entered the Aaronsburg Academy to prepare for college. In the following spring he went back to his father's farm, and remained there until the fall of 1867, when he returned to the academy and spent the winter at his studies. In the spring of 1863 he again returned to the farm, and remained at work (except for five months spent in teaching a term of school in the neighborhood) until August, 1870, when he entered Central Pennsylvania College, at New Berlin, Pennsylvania. During the time spent on the farm he was a faithful student, making use of his spare time in finishing his preparations for college. He remained at college until October, 1871, when he came to Bellefonte to begin the study of law. He entered the law office of Orvis & Alexander, then one of the most noted law firms in central Pennsylvania. There he pursued his studies with the same zeal that characterized his school work, and in December, 1873, he was admitted to the Bar of Centre county.
Immediately upon his admission to the Bar he was offered and accepted an interest in the law firm with whom he had been a student, and in January, 1874, he became a member of the firm of Orvis, Alexander & Bower. When Judge Orvis, the senior member of the firm, was appointed to the Bench, the remaining members of the firm continued the practice under the firm name of Alexander & Bower. This partnership continued for a period of eleven years, during which time they were engaged in most of the important cases tried in Centre County. He early acquired a large practice at the Orphans' Court, and was looked upon as especially strong in this class of cases. The firm during its existence had a large practice, and by taking an active part in the work he soon became one of the leading lawyers of the county. One of the strongest evidences of Mr. Bower's ability as a lawyer is the fact that when Judge Orvis retired from the Bench he chose him as his law partner. The law firm of Orvis, Bower & Orvis, consisting of Judge Orvis, Mr. Bower, and Ellis L. Orvis, was organized January 1, 1885. This partnership at once came into prominence, and was recognized as one of the leading law firms of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bower took an active and prominent part in their practice, and his success placed him prominently among the leading lawyers of the State. For many years he was concerned in the trial of many of the important ejectment cases tried in Centre County, and he was recognized as a well-equipped lawyer in that important branch of the law. The records of the court in the central part of the State show the extent of his practice, and the supreme court reports, for years, attest his prominence at the Bar, showing that he frequently appeared before that tribunal in the leading cases from the courts to which his practice extended.
Mr. Bower was always an uncompromising Democrat, faithfully devoted to the principles of his party. These principles, as laid down by Jefferson, Jackson and Tilden, have always found in him an earnest and faithful supporter. As early as 1875 he was chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and by his untiring work succeeded in effecting an organization that brought out a full party vote, resulting in a majority of 1,500 in the county for the Democratic nominee for governor. He has frequently been a delegate to State Conventions, and in 1880 he was honored with a place on the Electoral ticket. In 1894 he was unanimously nominated by his party for President Judge of the 49th Judicial District, then comprised of the counties of Centre and Huntingdon. In the disastrous campaign of that year he was defeated with the rest of the Democratic candidates, but he ran 1,529 votes ahead of his ticket in the district. When Mr. Bower was nominated, one of the Democratic papers in the district said: "The nomination comes to him without a contest. His eminent position at the Bar in this section of the State makes him the natural candidate of his party, and he is conceded by Democrats and Republicans alike to be the strongest Democratic nominee to be found in the district." In the following year the Democratic County Committee instructed the delegates from Centre county to present Mr. Bower's name before the State Convention for the nomination of Justice of the Superior Court, and passed a resolution instructing the delegates to use all honorable means to secure his nomination. Huntingdon and other counties took similar action, and it soon became evident that there was a strong sentiment in his favor in various sections of the State. His friends made a strong fight for his nomination, and he was only defeated by an unfortunate ruling of the chairman of the Convention, which gave the nomination to Judge Magee, of Pittsburg, by twenty-eight majority.
Mr. Bower was a prominent and an active member of the Reformed Church. Frequently he was a delegate to Classis and Synods, and filled various other positions with credit to himself and honor to the Church. While he was thoroughly devoted to his Church, he was interested in the cause of religion without regard to denominational lines. He was also active in Sunday-school work, and was district and county chairman of the State Sabbath-school Association. He was also an active worker in the cause of education. For years he was a member of the board of trustees of Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and as a mark of appreciation of his work for the college, and his literary attainments, that institution conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He owned one of the finest libraries in Bellefonte, and by earnest and careful study he became as prominent in literary circles as he was in his profession. Judge Orvis, when on the Bench, fittingly recognized Mr. Bower's legal and literary attainments by appointing him a member of the examining committee; and he was reappointed by Judges Hoy, Furst and Love, and was the President of the Board.
General Notes: Wife - Ella E. Moyer
She was particularly noted for her love of plants and flowers, and the home of the family on the extreme eastern end of Linn street was one of the finest in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The grounds surrounding the house were one mass of vines and flowers, all under her immediate care.