Biographical Sketch of

Orrin W. Bow

Transcribed by Barbara Voss for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 656 - 657 - 658


Hon. Orrin W. Bow is numbered among the prominent farmers and pioneers of Green Lake County and it is 
with the greatest pleasure that we record his sketch in this volume. His well spent life marked by honesty, 
uprightness. Benevolence and unbounded kindness of heart has made him many friends. Probably no one in 
the county is so widely known or stands higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens. Mr. Bow was 
born in Pittsfield, Mass., on the 24th of September 1822 and is one of two children, whose parents, Caleb 
and Sally (Wing) Bow, were both natives of the old Bay State. Our subject is now the only representative 
of the family. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, died when Orrin was a mere child. The mother 
then removed with her children to Monroe County, N.Y., where her death occurred. Her sister Ann became 
the wife of Mr. Herrick and both are now deceased. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in Monroe County, N.Y., the days of his boyhood and youth being passed 
upon a farm. He received no special educational advantages but acquired a good knowledge of the common 
branches in the schools of his neighborhood, after which he engaged in teaching for four years. On attaining 
his majority he determined to cast his lot with the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin and in the spring of the 
year (1843) landed in Janesville, where he remained for sixteen months. At the end of that time, however, 
he returned to the East, but in the month of June, 1846, he again came to Wisconsin and located in Marquette 
County, on the section of land which has since been separated under the name of Green Lake County.  In the 
town of Albany he purchased 400 acres on sections 22, 25 and 26, the entire amount being in its primitive 
condition. He had intended entering it from the government, but another party located it as his claim and 
Mr. Bow was then obliged to purchase it second handed.

In the meantime, while in the East, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia C. Morse the wedding taking 
place October 25, 1845. The young couple began their domestic life in the West in a little log cabin, which 
for a number of years continued to be their home. On their arrival Mr. Bow found that he had but twelve 
shillings in cash. That was certainly not a very bright outlook, the produce of the farm did not net any 
very great gain; wheat brought fifty cents per bushel and other grains sold in proportion. Mr. Bow labored 
from the rising of the sun until darkness forbade him continuing longer at his task. Many were the hardships 
and difficulties which he encountered, but he was buoyed up by the hope that ere long his land would yield 
bounteous returns for the labor which he bestowed upon it and thus enable him to make a comfortable home, 
and his desires were at length rewarded. The work of development went gradually on and the rich and fertile 
fields paid a golden tribute to the cultivation which he bestowed upon them. The boundaries of his farm were 
extended until his landed possessions now aggregate 1,200 acres, all of which is situated in Kingston Township. 
The land, too, is all cultivated.

No man in the community has taken a more active part in developing the resources of Green Lake and Marquette 
Counties than Mr. Bow, and to him a debt of gratitude is due which can never be repaid. Never has he refused 
his aid when solicited in behalf of some worthy enterprise calculated to benefit the public. Churches and 
schools have been the recipients of his liberality and many a poor and needy one has reason to bless him for 
his timely assistance in their hours of need. During the years of the Rebellion, when the younger men had to 
leave their homes and families and fight for their country and its cause, he cared for the wives and children 
left behind. The soldiers� pay was not such as to support a family with any great degree of comfort and many 
a sack of flour, barrel of potatoes or other needed article found its way into the homes of the suffering 
soldiers, the inmates little dreaming whence came the assistance. His acts of charity and benevolence have 
been performed in a quiet and unostentatious manner, he caring little for the praise of men, content with 
the knowledge that he had aided one in need of assistance.

By the union of Orrin Bow and Lydia Morse a family of six children has been born � Cora, principal of the 
schools of Mason City, Neb., is the wife of Charles Loucks, who is engaged in farming near that city; Elizabeth 
is the wife of Edwin Ring, a farmer of the town of Kingston, Green Lake County; Anna at home, has for several 
years been principal of the schools of Kingston; Orrin W., who is engaged in the practice of law, is a young 
man of more than ordinary ability, and bids fair to make a brilliant  career in the world; Lydia is the wife 
of William Milligan, a furniture dealer and undertaker, of the town of Kingston; Lilly is at home. Neither 
labor nor expense has been spared by Mr. and Mrs. Bow in providing the best educational advantages for their 
children, four of whom are college graduates.

Mr. Bow is everywhere recognized as one of the most useful and valued citizens of Green Lake County and the 
people have shown their appreciation of his worth and ability by three times electing him as their representative 
to the General Assembly of Wisconsin. While a member of that body, he gave to each question which came up for 
settlement his careful consideration and his decision was therefore unbiased. He labored for the interests of 
the district which he represented and was a worthy member of the House for six years. In politics he is a 
supporter of the Democratic Party and never wavers in his allegiance to its principles as taught by its eminent 
leaders.






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