Woman of the Century/Mrs. D. P. Bowers

BOWERS, Mrs. D. P., actor, born in Stamford, Conn., 12th March, 1830. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Crocker McCollom. Her father was an Episcopal clergyman, who died while she was an infant She was from early childhood fond of dramatic presentations. In 1846 she made her debut in the Park Theater, in New York City, in the role of Amanthis. On 4th March, 1847, when only seventeen years old, she was married to David P. Bowers, an actor in the same company. They Went to Philadelphia in the same month, and in the Walnut Street Theater she appeared as Donna Victoria in "A Hold Stroke for a Husband." She was successful from the beginning. She next filled a successful engagement in the Arch Street Theater, in Philadelphia, where she remained until the death of her husband, in June, 1857. In December, 1857, the leased the Walnut Street Theater, which she ELIZABETH McCOLLOM BOWERS. managed successfully until 1859. She then leased the Philadelphia Academy of Music for a season. In 1860 she was married to Dr. Brown, of Baltimore, Md., who died in 1867. Mrs. Bowers retained the name under which she had won her reputation. In 1861 she went to London, England, where she played Julia in "The Hunchback," in Sadler's Wells Theater. She was successful with the London public and played an engagement in the Lyceum Theater, appearing as Geraldine d'Arcy in "Woman." In 1863 she returned to the United States and played an engagement in the Winter Garden, in New York. She soon afterwards retired from the stage and lived quietly in a suburb of Philadelphia, until October, 1886, when she organized a strong company and made a successful tour of the United States. Her roles cover the field of high comedy and tragedy.