Dr. David Sovereign Bowlby^{[1, 2]}

1828 - 1903  (75 years)

• Name	David Sovereign Bowlby
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	15 Sep 1828	Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., Ontario   [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1856	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	doctor
  Elected Office	1857	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	councillor - Kitchener
  	years served: 1857, 1859, 1860-61
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143468493
  Occupation	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	physician
  Occupation	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Anglican
  Residence	1897	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Residence of Dr. David S. Bowlby. From: Busy Berlin Jubilee Souvenir 1897, published by Berlin News-Record
  Occupation	1901	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Died	26 Dec 1903	Rome, , Lazio, Italy
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [11]
  Honoured	David St. in Kitchener, Ontario is named for him.
  Honoured	David St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	David St., Kitchener named for him
  Interesting	medical, story
  Name	D. S. Bowlby
  Residence	25 Joseph St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Bowlby,DavidSovereign-0001-Property1879.jpg 1879 map showing property of David S. Bowlby at 25 Joseph Street, Kitchener, Ontario
  		Kitchener-JohnSt.-0025-nowJosephStreetNearVictoriaParkEntrance-UniversityofWaterloo.jpg 25 John Street, now Joseph Street, Kitchener, Ontario Home and office of Dr. David S. Bowlby - University of Waterloo https://digital.library.uwaterloo.ca/uwdl-f1017ecc-5019-4b0c-b16b-344e8a91a2c0/bowlby-david-sovereign-residence
  Residence	25 John St. [now Joseph], Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Kitchener-JohnSt.-0025-nowJosephStreetNearVictoriaParkEntrance-UniversityofWaterloo.jpg 25 John Street, now Joseph Street, Kitchener, Ontario Home and office of Dr. David S. Bowlby - University of Waterloo https://digital.library.uwaterloo.ca/uwdl-f1017ecc-5019-4b0c-b16b-344e8a91a2c0/bowlby-david-sovereign-residence
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-34051P
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I34051	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Captain Adam Bowlby,   b. Between 20 Mar 1792 and 29 Mar 1792, , Wilmot County, Annapolis, Nova Scotia ,   d. 26 Feb 1883, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 90 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Sovereign,   b. 9 Mar 1795, , New Jersey ,   d. 19 Aug 1867, Canandaigua, Ontario, New York, USA  (Age 72 years)
  Married	1819  [5]
  Family ID	F23671	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Martha Esther Murphy,   b. 4 Jul 1838, Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec ,   d. 29 Dec 1925, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 87 years)
  Married	1 Jul 1856	Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec   [5, 10]
  Children	1. Bowlby,   b. of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 12 Dec 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   2. Bowlby   3. Jane Elizabeth "Janie" Bowlby,   b. 18 Apr 1858, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 28 Jul 1942, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)   4. Emma Allen Bowlby,   b. 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Jan 1897, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 35 years)   5. Dr. - Mayor George Herbert Bowlby, M. D.,   b. 16 Jul 1865, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 10 Nov 1916, Seaford, , Sussex, England  (Age 51 years)   6. Grace Esther Bowlby,   b. 18 May 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Oct 1936, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 65 years)   7. David Shannon "Shannon" Bowlby,   b. 24 Jan 1874, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Oct 1938, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F10129	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		David Sovereign Bowlby
  		Bowlby-DavidSovereign-0002-UniversityofWaterloo-DigitalLibrary.jpg David Sovereign Bowlby - Clement Bowlby Famly Fonds. https://digital.library.uwaterloo.ca/uwdl-daffa5b5-35aa-452c-a3ee-4425a48f292d/bowlby-david-sovereign
  		Bowlby-DavidSovereign-0001-UniversityofWaterloo-DigitalLibrary.jpg David Sovereign Bowlby - Clement Bowlby Famly Fonds. https://digital.library.uwaterloo.ca/uwdl-a68b0cc8-b940-4568-8066-e18c8435a1ea/bowlby-david-sovereign
  		Bowlby-DavidSovereign-0003-UniversityofWaterloo-DigitalLibrary.jpg David Sovereign Bowlby - Clement Bowlby Famly Fonds. https://digital.library.uwaterloo.ca/uwdl-48c492de-a948-4fcd-bc72-749589a80976/bowlby-david-sovereign

  
  

• Notes

  David Sovereign Bowlby, the leading physician and surgeon in Berlin, is a son of Adam Bowlby, whose sketch appears in this volume, and Elizabeth, nee Sovereign, and was born in Townsend, county of Norfolk; September 5, 1826. He received his literary education in Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto; studied his profession at first in the Toronto School of Medicine, and then in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York city, receiving the degree of M.D. at the former institution in 1852, and at the latter in 1853. He is one of the most thoroughly educated men in the medical profession in the county. Dr. Bowlby practiced a few months in Paris, county of Brant, and in October, 1853, settled in Berlin, being the longest in the practice of any man now here, and having an excellent reputation, both professional and personal. Dr. Bowlby was in the town council for some years, and resigned to accept the office of jail surgeon, which he still holds, and has held for many years. He has been a member of what is now called the high school board nearly as long as he has resided here, and is chairman of the same. He is president of the Berlin Rifle Association, and of the Reform Association of the county of Waterloo, being decidedly radical in his political views. His religious connection is with the Church of England. He has held the office of warden of St. John's church, Berlin; has been a lay delegate to the synod, and is a man of solid character. The wife of Dr. Bowlby was Martha Esther Murphy, of Montreal, married July 7, 1856. They have five children. Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880 ________________________ St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church Early Anglican services were held in the Berlin area in the 1840s by the Rev. Michael Boomer of the Galt Mission. In 1856 William Jaffray moved from Galt to Berlin and established an English-language newspaper, the Berlin Chronicle. An Anglican, who had attended Trinity Church in Galt, Mr. Jaffray led in the formation of a congregation in Berlin, where he acted as Lay Reader. Two other gentlemen influential in establishing the Anglican presence in Berlin were Henry Joseph Fletcher Jackson and Dr. David S. Bowlby. Land was purchased on April 5, 1861 on the southeast corner of Water St. N. and Short (now Duke) Streets, and the first church, of red brick with white brick trim, was built in 1861. The church was demolished in April 1894 to make room for the present church which was built on the same site and dedicated on October 7, 1894. A Parish Hall was built in 1927 and the church was enlarged in 1955. Early rectors who followed the missionary, Thomas S. Campbell, were the first rector Rev. E.R. Stimson (1859-1864), Rev. Dr. John Schulte (1864-1867), Rev. Henry Jessop (1868) and Rev. Alexander Sydney Falls (1869-1876). Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose _______________________________________________________ DAVID SOVEREIGN BOWLBY, M.D The Bowlbys are a well known U. E. Loyalist family in Norfolk, Brant and Waterloo Counties. Their ancestor, Richard Bowlby, a native of Nottinghamshire, England, left landed possessions in New Jersey in 1783, at the close of the Revolutionary War, and settled in Annapolis County, N.S. With him came his son, Richard Bowlby, Jr., born in New Jersey, who married a niece of Josiah Wedgwood, celebrated in English industrial history as a pioneer in fine pottery. Adam Bowlby, son of Richard Bowlby, Jr., was born in 1792. In the war of 1812 he was in charge of a company of coast guards, in Nova Scotia, and thus be came a veteran of this war and pensioner for life. At the close of the war, and with renewed tide of settlement to Upper Canada, he joined his uncle, Thomas Bowlby, in Norfolk County. He married Elizabeth Sovereign, in time became a large landholder and farmer, and had a family of five sons, Alfred, William, David S., Ward H., and John W. and one daughter who married Col. Walker Powell, later adjutant general at Ottawa. Adam Bowlby lived in his later years with his son Dr. D. S. Bowlby at whose house he died in 1883. David Sovereign Bowlby, the third son of Adam Bowlby, was born in the Township of Townsend, Norfolk County, September 5th., 1826 and died on Christmas morning, in Rome, Italy, in 1903. He was educated at Upper Canada College, and at Toronto University, later, in his chosen profession, at the Toronto School of Medicine and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, where he attained his second degree of M.D., in 1853. He began practice and was for a few months in Paris. In October, 1853, he came to Berlin, now Kitchener, at first to fill the place, temporarily, of a cousin, Dr. J. W. Sovereign, but soon deciding to remain. His skill and care rapidly won for him a large practice, extending in cases to driving distances of fifteen to twenty miles, and he may well be said to have been for many years the leading physician and surgeon of the County. He was the ideal old time family doctor, skilled, sympathetic and forceful, effecting immediate improvement in his patient by the simple act of his appearance, a type which, one sometimes thinks, is passing in the present day of hurry and bald matter of fact. He was County jail surgeon, as also coroner, for many years. Dr. Bowlby took active interest in public life; as member of the village council of Berlin for five years, 1857 and 1859 to 1862 inclusive, as member for many years, and chairman for twenty five years, of the Board of Trustees of the Berlin High School, and in other capacities. The prosperity of the High School was largely due to his wise counsel and foresight. He was for many years chairman of the Reform Association of North Waterloo, and in the Dominion election of 1882 contested the riding against Hugo Kranz, the previous Member, who defeated him by a small majority. He was first president of the old Berlin Club, now the Lancaster Club. 'At the time of his death Dr. Bowlby was the oldest member of St. John's church, of which he was for many years warden, and delegate to the synod. He was president of the local branch of the Upper Canada Bible Society. 'He married, in 1856, Martha Esther Murphy, of Montreal, a sister of Mrs. H. F. J. Jackson. Mrs. Bowlby survives, as do also two daughters and one son; Mrs. E. P. Clement, D. Shaiinan Bowlby, B.A., LL.B., County Crown Attorney and Mrs. J. P. Fennell, all living in Kitchener. The older son, Major G. H. Bowlby, M.D.,* is on the Waterloo County Roll of Honor, as is also a grandson, Aviation Gunner David Ward Clement. Two grandsons are in the British army; Lieut. G. M. Boyd in France and Gunner Edwin O. Clement, still in Canada. In his later years Dr. Bowlby had been more or less subject to bronchitis, spending the winter in the south, various years. An attack coming on at the beginning of winter he decided to spend some months in Sicily. Mrs. Bowlby accompanied him. He died a few days after landing in Italy, the first to break the circle of brothers and sister. *See Biography, 1916 Report; W.H.S. The Fifth Annual Volume of the Waterloo Historical Society, 1917 __________________ Dr. D.S. Bowlby, physician and surgeon, practiced in Berlin from 1853 to 1903, often driving fifteen to twenty miles by horses and buggy to treat a patient, was a perfect example of the old-time family doctor. It was said that his very appearance at a bedside often brought immediate improvement. Because of his skillfulness and sympathetic attitude, he developed a very large practice. Dr. Bowlby was the son of a pioneer, Adam Bowlby, and was born in the Township of Townsend, Norfolk County. He was educated at Upper Canada College, the University of Toronto, the Toronto School of Medicine and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Bowlby was a member of the Berlin Village Council, chairman of the board of trustees of the Berlin High School for twenty-five years, and chairman of the Reform Association of North Waterloo. Waterloo Region Hall of Fame _________________ Bowlby, D. S., physician and surgeon ; also jail surgeon and coroner. Dr. Bowlby is a native of Norfolk Co., Ont., and has lived here since 1854. Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsel & Co., Toronto - 1881 ___________________ BOWLBY, DAVID SOVEREIGN was born in Norfolk County, the third son of a U. E. Loyalist family, on September 5, 1826. A biographical sketch giving an outline of his family history appears in the W. H. S. annual report for 1917. He was educated at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto. Having graduated from the Toronto School of Medicine, the Canada Gazette of July 24, 1852 announced that he had been granted his licence to practice He took a further degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in 1853. He first practised in Paris, but on the death pf Dr. J. W. Sovereign on September 21, 1854, he moved to Berlin to take over that practice, his first card appearing in Der Deutsche Canadier on October 12 of that year. He quickly became a moving force in the community, both in professional matters and in public affairs. He was elected as a member of the village Council as early as 1857, and continued in the political field. Among other interests he was President of the Reform Association for many years, served as chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Berlin High School for twenty five years, acted as coroner, and as jail surgeon. Despite his activities in these community affairs, he was able to quickly build up an extensive practice, under the rigorous conditions of that time. His skill and devotion in professional matters produced material rewards at a court action in 1859, Dr. Pipe testified "Dr. Bowlby's practice must bring him an income of $4, 000 or $5, 000 a year, he owns several farms and is reported to be wealthy. He is well thought of by the people in that part of the country. " He wrote a lengthy letter to the Daily News concerning his treatment of two accident cases, with certificates from other physicians supporting his position. The Berliner Journal of January 8, 1890 drew attention to the card stating that his son Dr. G. H. Bowlby was joining him in practice. It also pointed out: It pleases us that his health is better than ever, and that notwithstanding the rumor, he is always in the position to take the opportunity to visit his numerous patients in town and in the country." Presumably the reference was to the fact that he suffered from bronchitis, which at times required him to spend winters in the south. In December 1903, for this reason he left for Sicily, but became ill and died in Rome on December 26, at 77 years of age. He was survived by his widow, the former Martha Murphy, two daughters, and two sons. Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 by Alexander D. Campbell ____________ FUNERAL OF THE LATE D. S. BOWLBY. The funeral of the late Dr. David Sovereign Bowlby was held on Saturday afternoon from the Church of St. John the Evanelist to Mount Hope cemetery. Rev. J. W. J. Andrew preached a brief and exceedingly appropriate sermon at the church. The remains were carried to their last resting place by two sons, two sons-in-law and two nephews, viz., Dr. S. Herbert and D. Shannon Bowlby: E. P. Clement, K. C., and J. P. Fennell; Chas. B. Clement and Mossom Boyd, of Bobcaygeon. Among the relatives present from a distance were Mrs. Geo. H. Perley, of Ottawa; Mr. Wm. Boyd, Bobcaygeon, and Henry M. Baird, of Toronto. Messrs. Dr. Alfred Bowlby, of Waterford; William Bowlby, of Simcoe and J. W. Bowiby, K. C., of Brantford, could not reach Berlin, being caught in a snow blockade The News Record Mon, Feb 08, 1904 Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library, #14 pg 166. child Bowlby d 12 Dec 1860 no age, child of Dr. Bowlby of Berlin [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 012022-94. George Herbert Bowlby, 28, occ. Physician, b. Canada, res. Berlin, son of David S. and Martha married Blanche Alexandrine Seagram, 22, b. Canada, res. Waterloo, daughter of Joseph E. and Stephanie, Witn D.S. Bowlby of Berlin and Beatrice Osler of Toronto, 18 April 1894 in Waterloo. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, div 3 pg 23. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-11 Page 12. [S107] Book - The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 35. [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 64. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 3 Page 23. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 1 Page 24. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 09 Jul 1856. 01 Jul 1856 In Montreal, on Tuesday, July 1st, by the Rev'd. John McLoud, at the residence of the bride's father, Martha Esther, youngest daughter of Alexander Murphy, Esq., Merchant of Montreal, to David S. Bowlby, M.D. of the town of Berlin, County of Waterloo, C.W. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 15 Sep 1828 - Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., Ontario Occupation - doctor - 1856 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 1 Jul 1856 - Montreal, Ile de Montreal, Quebec Elected Office - councillor - Kitchener - 1857 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - physician - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 26 Dec 1903 - Rome, , Lazio, Italy Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - - 25 Joseph St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth