Garrison M. Bowlby

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Garrison M. Bowlby

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

Wonderful initiative and the ability to make the most of opportunities offered are the characteristics that stand out with prominence in the career of Garrison M. BOWLBY. In 1897 he conceived the idea of plotting out his farm, which lay adjacent to the city of Dover, into suburban lots, calling the new addition Bowlbyville. This section is now inhabited by over 500 people and is one of the most attractive residential quarters of Morris county. In addition to his real estate interests Mr. BOWLBY has promoted various other business projects and it is interesting to note that all of his surplus cash has been invested in the improvement of Bowlbyville. A native of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, Mr. BOWLBY was born at Norton, the date of his birth being June 2, 1853. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (MILLROY) BOWLBY, the former of whom was a prominent farmer in Hunterdon county during his lifetime. Joseph BOWLBY owned two well improved farms—one in the vicinity of Norton and the other near Asbury, New Jersey. He and his wife became the parents of fifteen children, of whom the subject of this review was the thirteenth in order of birth.

Garrison M. BOWLBY lived on the farm at Norton during the first two years of his life and then was taken by his parents to Asbury, where he was reared to maturity. He early began to assist his father in the work and management of the home farm and in the winter months attended the neighboring district schools. In 1884, at the age of twenty-one years, he began to work as a clerk in the store of J. A. Lyons, at Dover, remaining with that concern for a period of four years, then one year with Mr. Baker, having formerly opened a merchandise store for himself at Washington, New Jersey, which he conducted for two years. He was engaged in business as a merchant for two years but as his health began to fail he felt forced to change his occupation to outside work. Accordingly he disposed of two pieces of property that he had acquired in Dover for a farm of one hundred and one acres, located half a mile distant from the business section of that city, the same lying in the townships of Randolph, Rockaway, and Dover borough. He then proceeded to lay this farm out into streets, blocks and building lots land called it the suburb of Bowlbyville. He met with success from the beginning and he now holds a reputation for having sold more lots than any other man in Dover. Bowlbyville now has a population of over l500 people and it boasts fully 100 school children. So great was the demand for his lots that in one week Mr. BOWLBY disposed of property worth over $10,000. He still owns 400 lots in this section and he also has a lake, covering twenty acres of ground, on the banks of which he has erected an ice house. This property was boomed greatly by the location of the stove works in Dover and it has the convenience of gas and city water. Many fine building has been erected in Bowlbyville and residences are now under construction for the accommodation of nine families.

Needless to say Mr. BOWLBY is himself a resident of this suburb and his beautiful home is one of the show places of the district. In politics he is a loyal and public-spirited Republican. He served for fifteen years as a member of the Randolph township board of education and for three years was president of that board. Every matter projected for the improvement of the general welfare of his home city meets with his heartiest support. He is a power in the business world of Dover and inasmuch as his success is the result of his own ingenuity and energy it is the more worthy of admiration.

September 28, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. BOWLBY, to Anna SAMPSON, daughter of Roswell SAMPSON, who was for many years a teacher at Denville, New Jersey. Mrs. BOWLBY is a granddaughter of Stephen COOPER, an old resident of Morris county. She was educated by her father and was graduated in the Morristown High School. Mr. and Mrs. BOWLBY have one son, Russell S. He attended the public and high schools of Dover and in 1912 was graduated in the University of New York. During the past three years he has been principal of the schools at German Valley. He married Carrie SKINNER, daughter of Albert SKINNER, a resident of Dover. Mr. SKINNER is a teacher by profession and he has served with honor as principal of the schools of Hackettstown, Chester and other New Jersey cities. Mr. and Mrs. Russell S. BOWLBY have one daughter, Carrie, aged six years.