digital
image - Texas State Library
Residence of R. S. Bowen, taken about 1890
Group of men posed standing on the porch of the newly
constructed house,
designed by Oscar Ruffini of San Angelo, Texas.
south and east sides
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| "On November 25, 1872, Richard Sherod Bowen “bought a compass, got
on his horse, and started west to grow up with the country,” according
to the diary of his mother, Millie Maria Holley Bowen. The family
lived on a farm eight miles east of Plano. He went to Col. Bishop’s
School and became a surveyor. He stayed in Brown County only briefly
before coming to Coleman. He proceeded to survey much of Coleman
County. At some time, he visited Austin (probably in regard to land
titles and boundaries) and was greatly impressed by the way the Capitol
City was laid out, so he returned to Coleman and gave the young town its
wide main street, Commercial Avenue (like Congress Avenue in Austin), named
the east-west streets for trees and the north-south streets for Texas rivers,
as they were in Austin!
"Dick Bowen built a fine house for his wife, Jennie Miles and their
family, at the southwest corner of Liveoak and Fifth Avenue. The
lumber was hauled by wagon from the railroad at Baird. Among the
advanced features were: the first bathtub in Coleman and embossed simulated
leather wall covering in the spacious central hall and dining room.
The house was set well back from Fifth Avenue, which it faced, giving relative
privacy for enjoying the front porch. Large pear and bois d’arc trees
graced the fenced yard. In it’s last years it was occupied by Misses
Florence and Mariana Dibrell, sisters of Mr. Walter Dibrell.
"Two sons were born to Dick and Jennie, surviving less than a year.
Another son, Mayo, moved to Ft. Worth, where he was active in the Ft. Worth
National Bank, serving as president, then chairman of the board, passing
away in 1953. There were also six daughters born to Dick and Jennie.
Dick moved to Aspermont in 1894, where he died in 1896, and was buried
at Coleman."
(A
History of Coleman County and Its People, "R. S. Bowen," by June Bowen,
1985.)
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"In 1929, Minnie L. Dibrell,
widow of C. J. Dibrell, was residing at 104 Fifth Avenue. Also living
at this address was James A. Dibrell; Miss Mariana Dibrell, a stenographer
at R. E. L. Zimmerman; Zack Dibrell, a bill poster at Howell
Theatre." (Coleman City Directory,
1929 - Hudspeth.)
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south
side - 1930 map
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