Miss Grace Scott Bowen was born on 9 March 1867 on Lake Street in Cooperstown, Ostego, New York.
She was the daughter of Samuel Adams Bowen (1834-1884), a county judge, and Anna Frances Butts (1833-1904) who both hailed from New York and who had married prior to 1865. She had three siblings of whom she was the only one to survive into adulthood: Ruth (1870-1872), Harry (1871-1872) and Samuel (1976-1882).
She first appears on the 1870 New York census living in Cooperstown and is still living in the village by the time of the 1880 census. She was educated in Cooperstown High School and was among the fourth graduating class of that establishment when she graduated in 1883.
Her father died in early 1884 and she and her mother continued to reside in Cooperstown, appearing there on the 1900 census. Grace lost her mother on 3 May 1904. She later became employed by the wealthy Ryerson family of Pennsylvania to act as a tutor and governess to the children. She accompanied the Ryersons to Europe and for her return to the USA she boarded the Titanic as a first class passenger in Cherbourg on 10 April 1912.
Miss Bowen survived the sinking, escaping with the Ryersons in lifeboat 4.
Following the Titanic disaster and in later years Grace committed the rest of her life to teaching and was the principal of St Christina School of the Susan Fenimore Cooper Foundation from 1922 to 1924, following which she had a fifteen year spell heading the Latin department at the Knox Girls' School in Cooperstown. She was an avid gardener and was also renowned for her New Years' parties where she entertained many who she had tutored during her life. She was never married and continued to live in the family home and, following retirement, would always write about the history of her neighbourhood, many articles of which were published in her local newspaper.
Grace died at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital following a stroke on 3 May 1945 aged 78. She is buried in Lakewood Cemetery with her parents and siblings.
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Ok this is a really long shot but would anyone have any further information on Miss Grace Scott Bowen, esp her place of birth. I have a possible genealogy connection. thanks
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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...
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Dear Tom, Miss Bowen was born on Lake Street in Cooperstown, New York, on March 9, 1867. Do you need additional information about her early life? The Cooperstown Historical Society has a large file on the Bowen family of that village, including many pictures. Mike Findlay
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Hello, Can anyone tell me where I can find a picture of Grace Scott Bowen? I've come across a photo that's supposed to be of Titanic survivors. It has a lady and a teenage boy. I'm trying to figure out if it's Ms. Bowen and Jack Ryerson. Thanks for any help, Kathleen Poulin
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It took me over a year, but I finally found a pic of Miss Grace Scott Bowen. I thought someone else might be interested, so here she is.
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