- EDWARD R. BOWERMAN, one of the leading business citizens of Shiocton, Wisconsin, and proprietor of the Shiocton Telephone Company, was born December 8, 1864, at Clifton, Winnebago county, Wisconsin, a son of Israel and Mary (Foster) Bowerman, natives of this State. The parents of Mr. Bowerman came to Outagamie county in 1873 and settled in Bovina township, where the father died in 1893, Mrs. Bowerman having passed away twenty years before when thirty-four years of age. Israel Bowerman was a millwright by trade, and followed that occupation during his youth, but later on learned the jewelry business, in which he was engaged during the remainder of of his life. Edward R. Bowerman was the third of his parents' eight children and his education was secured in the public schools. At the age of thirteen years he commenced working for himself and during the years that followed he was engaged in various occupations until 1902, when he established the Shiocton Telephone Company, buying out the Hortonville Telephone Company, which consisted of fourteen telephones and a line between Hortonville and Shiocton. He has increased the business to such an extent that there are now over 500 telephones, 100 miles of toll lines and three exchanges are operated, one each at Shiocton, Black Creek and Seymour. Connection is made with the Bell organization at Seymour and Hortonville, and the service is rapid and efficient. Mr. Bowerman is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a Republican in politics, although he has not found time to engage actively in public matters. In 1882, Mr. Bowerman was married to Miss Harriet Nagreen, who was born October 22, 1886, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Nagreen, natives of Austria and Pennsylvania, respectively. They came to Wisconsin in 1866 and settled in Hortonville, and are now residents of Appleton, the father being eighty-six and the mother seventy-six years old. Joseph Nagreen was a furniture dealer and undertaker, occupations which he followed throughout a long career, his retirement occurring in 1898. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Thirteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and when his service had expired he reenlisted in the same regiment and served until the close of the war. He was a brave and faithful soldier and was an active participant in some of the bloodiest engagements of the war, but the only injury he received serious enough to cause his confinement in the hospital was a sunstroke which he suffered before Vicksburg. Mr. and Mrs. Bowerman have one child: Edward Roy, born February 27, 1884. They are members of the First Congregational Church of Shiocton.
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1864 - Aft 1930 (66 years)
1905 State Census
