A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans/Biography/David Bowie

The important and solid business enterprises of Topeka today are largely concerns that have been developed slowly and carefully, the integrity of character of their founders and the foresight and intelligent management of their officials resulting in expansion and prosperity. A well known concern of this kind, the Thomas Page Milling Company, of which David Bowie is vice president and treasurer, is a business carried on with abundant capital.

David Bowie was born in Stirling, Scotland, July 26, 1869, one of four children born to his parents, Thomas and Margaret (McLintock) Bowie. In 1875, when David Bowie was six years old his parents moved to Alloa, Scotland. His father there became a man of affairs and as a lawyer held commissions under the late Queen Victoria, to serve in certain offices. He was commissioner of the poor and filled other positions of responsibility until the time of his death in 1909.

David Bowie attended school in his native land until he qualified as a teacher, after which, for two years he taught school preparatory to entering upon an apprenticeship in the Clydesdale Bank of Scotland (Limited), where he continued for three years. In 1892, when Mr. Bowie came to Kansas it was in answer to the solicitations of his uncle, Thomas Page, who was in the milling business at Topeka. Mr. Bowie became a partner in the Thomas Page Milling Company here and as manager of the merchandise department and of the financial department, he has been largely instrumental in bringing about the great prosperity that attends this important enterprise. In 1915 the company was incorporated with a paid up capital of $100,000, with Thomas Page as president, David Bowie as vice president and treasurer and David G. Page as secretary. Additionally Mr. Bowie has large bank interests. He devoted a great deal of time and helped to make a success of the Shawnee State Bank, which was organized in 1902 with a capital of $60,000, with Thomas Page as president, D. J. Hathaway as vice president and David Bowie as secretary. He is a director of the Bank of Topeka, also of the Prudential Trust Company, is secretary and treasurer of the Mills Building Company, and treasurer of the Pelletier Stores Company, which he helped to organize.

Mr. Bowie has no political tastes nor ambitions but votes as an independent republican. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith and is a member and a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka. His name is found as a member of numerous charitable organizations and his practical generosity has been evidenced on many occasions since he has been an honored resident of Topeka. Although he has no immediate family circle, as he is unmarried, his sound conception of business principles, his conscientious acceptance of a capitalist's responsibilities, and his genial personality, make him a welcome guest at any fireside.