Hey Tom,
Grace Bowen was born in 1867 in Cooperstown, New York and was a life-long resident of that city. Her father was Samuel Bowen, a native of Middlefield, New York, and her mother, nee Anna Butts, was a native of Hudson, New York. Grace was one of four children and I believe she was the only one who lived to maturity.
Grace graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1883 (the 4th class to graduate from the school). She never married and was a teacher and private tutor throughout her life. She was keenly interested in the history of Cooperstown and wrote many articles and some booklets on the subject. But her main passion was her flower garden.
As is stereotypically thought of "old maids," she had some interesting eccentricities. At her annual New Year's Eve parties she always served the same kind of salad and always dressed in the same manner. There is also a funny story about the scarves she always wore (and why). I'll elaborate more in a later biography of her.
I don't know if any of this helps you to tie in to her family. There are still cousins surviving in New York and Massachusetts.
Regards,
Phillip
