Willis Reese Bowen

Willis Reese Bowen (b.Feb. 6, 1875, Butler County, Alabama, USA; d. 1975, Amber Valley, Alberta) was one of the first settlers in Amber Valley, Alberta. His home, Obadiah Place, is a historic site.

Bowen was one of a group of black Americans who moved to Canada from Oklahoma in 1911, filing for homestead north of Edmonton and east of Athabasca Landing. Bowen organized the original group of five families who moved from Oklahoma.

Bowen originally settled in Vancouver, BC with his wife, Jeanie Gregory Bowen, and children. Bowen hauled gravel by horseteam, earning $25 per day.The family had little money and the oldest child, Mary, abandoned her plans of becoming a teacher to work as a maid. Their baby girl developed a common coastal bacterial infection, suffering severe diarrhea, dying in 1912. The family and their eight children then moved to Amber Valley, Alberta. Some of their children included Boadie Bowen (1900–1981) and Elrene Bowen (1909–1936).

In Amber Valley, Bowen homesteaded, while working as a freighter who hauled goods from Athabasca to Lac La Biche and Wabasca. He also worked on a ranch in Saskatchewan, in a packing plant in Edmonton, and on Alberta grain farms. His eldest daughters also contributed to the family income by working as domestic workers in Athabasca and Edmonton.

Jean died in 1932 and Willis Bowen died in 1975. His grandson, Oliver Bowen designed the CTrain.

Bowen homesteaded Obadiah Place (Bowen Residence) in 1913. His original log cabin was a community meeting place, post office, and site of the first telephone. It was recognized as an Alberta historic site in 1999.

In 1938, his son Obadiah Bowen replaced the cabin, building a house in its place. Obadiah was pastor at an interdenominational church that was built on land he donated in 1953, about a half mile from the house.

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