My name is Paul Buck, I am a retired professor of anthropology and archaeology. I moved to Minneapolis about 2 years ago and became interested in one of the lesser known architects of the Twin Cities name of Septimus Bowler. Bowler, an immigrant from England came without formal training or education, designed about 100 buildings 1892-1928. Modestly successful, he struggled financially and personally in later life, a sad story, and was committed to Rochester State Hospital for the Insane in 1938 and dying 2 years later. He is buried in a marked grave in the former hospital cemetery (link to web page about Bowler).

I started this fundraiser to raise money for a grave marker for his youngest daughter, Ethel Bowler (1894-1902). She died at her home in Minneapolis not quite 8 years old near Lake of the Isles on Feb 11 1902. She died from diphtheria, having contracted the disease two days before her death (Minneapolis Tribune February 14, 1902). She is buried in Lakewood Cemetery, section PG 12, Row 121, grave 128. At the time, Septimus and wife Cora could not afford a marker for her. The Lakewood Cemetery staff dug around at the location but could find no stone, and their records indicate no gravestone was installed in 1902 when she was buried.

The funds are entirely to pay Lakewood Cemetery to create and install a small stone grave marker. The smallest stone marker including lettering and installation is $2000. It will be installed by the Cemetery at the actual spot she is buried.

I visited her burial location at the Lakewood cemetery with my wife and we just felt sad for this little girl, who, like thousands of others in the early 20th century, died from the outbreak of diphtheria or influenza. She has no descendants or family any longer; her two sisters and one brother outlived her but never had children. Septimus himself is in a marked grave but a long way away in Rochester, MN. Perhaps if there was small marker with her name on it she could be remembered, and the times she lived in. She is all alone.