Résumé

Bowser enlisted in the US Navy at age 14 years and 11 months on 10/04/1880 in Boston, MA. He was to serve until his 21st birthday on 10/28/1889. His rank was listed as "3C Boy." At this age, he stood 5-feet, 4-inches tall, and had brown eyes, sandy hair and a fair complexion. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: U.S., Naval Enlistment Rendezvous, 1855-1891 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 04/13/2018.)

Soon after he was released from his naval service in 1889. Bowser opened an architectural practice in Boston, MA. During his approximately 15 years practicing here, the architect moved around a great deal, and entered into two partnerships, suggesting some instability in his working life. After setting up a practice in 1890, the Boston City Directory, 1892, (p. 168) indicated that he had "removed to Wakefield."

Principal, A. Merrill Bowser, Architect, Boston, MA, 1890, 1894, 1896-1900. Bowser's practice in Boston, MA, moved frequently, as did the architect's residence. His practice was located at 62 Hano Street in Allston, MA, in 1890. The Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1897,listed two different business addresses for Bowser; on p. 191, it listed 34 School Street, Room #44. On p. 1752, it inidcated that he rented space at 113 Devonshire Street, Room #73, in Boston. Bowser had an office at 31 Batavia Street in Boston, in 1898. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1898, p. 1752.)He worked at 683 Atlantic Avenue in 1900. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1900, p. 200.)

Partner, Bowser and Hosmer, Architects, Boston, MA, 1895. This pair had its office at 121 Tremont Street, Room #66. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1895, p. 177.)

Partner, Thayer and Bowser, Architects, Boston, MA, 1902-1903. In 1902 and 1903, the firm had an office at 683 Atlantic Avenue, Room #87. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1902, p. 205 andBoston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1903, p. 223.)

A listing for Bowser last occurred in the Boston City Directory, 1905, (p. 269): "A. Merrill, pres 149A Tremont rm 18 1/2." Bowser's name did not appear in the architect's classified index of the Boston City Directory, 1905,(p. 1906-1907).

Principal, A. Merrill Bowser, Architect, Oakland, CA, c. 1909-1913. Bowser had an office at 969 Broadway in 1909. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1909, p. 196.)

It appears that Bowser moved his practice to Exeter, Tulare County, CA, c. 1914.

Relocation

Born in MA, Bowser lived with his family in Minneapolis, MN, in 1875. The family probably resided in MN between 1871 and the late 1870s. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, accessed 04/13/2018.)

In 1880, Bowser lived in Malden, MA, with his mother, maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Stoddard (born c. 1815 in NH), and three siblings. They lived with his paternal grandparents, John W. Bowser (born c. 1815 in NB) and Francis J. Bowser (born c. 1817 in NB), and their children, Richard Bowser (born c. 1855 in NB) and Sarah F. Bowser (born c. 1857 in NB). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: 540; Page: 426D; Enumeration District: 399, accessed 04/13/2018.)

Bowser had a residence in Cambridgeport, MA, in 1895. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1895, p. 177.)He lived at 96 Magazine Street in Cambridge, MA, in 1896. (See Cambridge, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1896, p. 126.) A year later, Bowser had taken lodgings at 16 Allston Terrace.(See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1897, p. 1752.) He had moved to rented quarters at 113 Warren Avenue in Boston, in 1899. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1899, p. 191.) This changed to 13 Raymond Street in 1900. (See Boston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1900, p. 200.) The US Census of 1900 stated that he lived at this address with his wife, Effie, their two daughters, Grace and Florence, andher mother, Phoebe C. Rowell (born c. 12/1831 in ME). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Boston Ward 25, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 1538, accessed 04/13/2018.) He rented an apartment at 455 Massachusetts Avenue in 1903. (SeeBoston, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1903, p. 223.) Bowser last appeared in the Boston City Directory, 1905, (p. 269.)

The Boston City Directory, 1904, indicated that Mrs. Effie G. Bowser lived on her own at 15 Raymond Street in Allston, her husband not being listed. (SeeBoston City Directory, 1904, p. 266.) A. Merrill Bowser was not listed in that directory's architect's index either (p. 1859).

Bowser lived in Berkeley, CA, in 1909. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1909, p. 196.) The US Census of 1910 reported that Bowser and his wife lived at 2436 Prince Street in Berkeley. They had two boarders, a husband and wife, Morton McDonald (born c. 1883 in CA) and Golden McDonald (born c, 1886 in CA).

In 1916, he lived in Exeter, CA, in Tulare County.

Just before his death in 1923, he resided at the Alma Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

Bowser died at Saint Luke's Hospital in San Francisco on 05/18/1923. The cause of death was chronic myocarditis. He was buried in Cypress Lawn Cemetery. (See Ancestry.com, California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985 for Arthur Merrill Bowser, Godeau Funeral Home, 05/1923, accessed 04/13/2018.)

Parents

His parents were William Legget Bowser (born 06/06/1843 in Sackville, NB-d. 08/14/1878 in Boston, MA) and Susan Symmes Stoddard (born 03/1845 in Boston, MA-d. 02/18/1917 in Boston, MA). They married on 11/06/1867 in Boston, MA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 04/13/2018.)

His siblings included Constance S. Bowser (born 10/28/1871 in Crystal Lake, MN-d. 08/10/1878 in Boston, MA),Florence S. Bowser (born 08/07/1873 in Minneapolis, MN-d. 02/26/1914 in Foxborough, MA), William Townley Lawrence Bowser (born 08/31/1876 in Boston, MA-d. 12/05/1938 in Winchester, MA), and Marion Leggett Bowser (born 11/26/1878 in Boston, MA-d. 08/28/1979 in Norfolk, MA)

Spouse

The 1910 US Census indicated that A. Merrill Bowser had been married twice. He wed his first wife, Effie G. Rowell, (born c. 09/1865 in MA), on 10/29/1888 in Boston, MA. This marriage may have ended in divorce. Effie would live on past 1954, and referred to herself as a widow.

Arthur Merrill Bowser married Gertrude Constance Oliver (born c. 1878 in MA) on 04/26/1905 in Providence, RI.

Children

With Effie, they had three children, two of whom were listed as being alive in the US Census of 1900. The two surviving girls were Grace Constance Bowser (born 09/09/1889 in Boston, MA-d. 02/07/1979 in Lexington, MA) and Florence Hazel Bowser Becker (born 08/11/1897 in MA-d. 11/1975 in Lexington, MA).

His third child was Harold Silloway Bowser, (born c. 1891 in Allston, MA-d. 05/10/1895 in Cambridge, MA.)

Biographical Notes

According to California voter registration rosters, Bowser was a Republican c. 1910 and 1916. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 04/13/2018.)

The Architect and Engineer reported that Bowser had a significant illness in 09/1922: “Architect A. Merrill Bowser is reported to be seriously ill at the Fabiola Hospital, Oakland.” (See “Personal,” Architect and Engineer, vol. LXX, no. 3, 09/1922, p. 108.)