NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The firm of BOWDEN & O達RIEN, operators of a bottling establishment in Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, is one of the important enterprises of that section of the State, and the two men who are at the head of it are worthy of especial mention.

Dennis BOWDEN, father of the senior member of the firm of BOWDEN & O達RIEN, was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, September 20, 1854, a son of Philip and Johanna (DERMODY) BOWDEN, and died in Morris county, New Jersey, in 1912. Philip BOWDEN having died in Ireland, his widow with several of her children emigrated to America, and made her home at College Point, Long Island. In 1865 Dennis BOWDEN and his brother joined the others of the family, and while he has had limited opportunities for acquiring an education, his naturally keen powers of observation and his intense desire to acquire knowledge, enabled him to pass muster very well. He was but a young lad when he commenced to assist in the support of the family, his first work here being in the Rubber Jewelry Factory at College Point, where he was employed as a marble cutter. At the end of the three years he went to New York, where he was employed in the jewelry trade several years, and then in the rubber works at Butler, Morris county, New Jersey. He became a resident of Boonton, Morris county, in 1879, and purchased the Mansion House one year later. This hotel he conducted very successfully until 1882, then opened the Mansion House in Paterson, New Jersey, and conducted this personally for a period of two years. In 1884 he returned to Boonton and reopened the Mansion House, and continued as its proprietor until his death, when his son took charge of it. Mr. BOWDEN was a man of much energy and executive ability, and in addition to managing his hotel business he engaged in the bottling business in 1887, and worked up his enterprise to a very satisfactory condition. He was a charter member of the board of trade, and treasurer of the fire department, of which he had been a member many years. Politically he affiliated with the Democratic party, and he was a communicant of the Roman Catholic church of Boonton. Mr. BOWDEN married, August 2, 1880, Nellie, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (MULQUEEN) SHANAHAN, of College Point, Long Island; children: Philip Walter, William, Margaret, Harry, Thomas, John, Mary, Dolores, and Joseph.

William BOWDEN, son of Dennis and Nellie (SHANAHAN) BOWDEN, was born in Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, where he was also educated, and then became an assistant to his father in the conduct of the Mansion House, and when the bottling business was established he practically had charge of it. Upon the death of his father he took charge of both of these enterprises and has conducted them in a masterly manner. He has associated with him as a partner D. H. O達RIEN, and their plant is located at No. 816 Main street, Boonton, with an office at No. 805 Main street. They are bottlers of carbonated waters, beer and liquors of all kinds. In political matters he prefers to form his opinions independently, and casts his vote irrespective of partisanship. Mr. BOWDEN is not married.

D. H. O達RIEN, junior member of the firm of BOWDEN & O達RIEN, was born in Ireland, a son of James and Catherine (HOWARD) O達RIEN. The former was engaged in the shipping business in Ireland and never came to this country. He had two children. D. H. O達RIEN received his education in his native country, and was graduated from the Presentation College, in Ireland. He came to the United States in 1905, and engaged in the electric business in the City of New York, remaining in that until 1909, when he entered into his present business connection. He also is independent in his political opinions, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Mr. O達RIEN married May BOWDEN, and has one child: Catherine.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

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