Mattie Bowen (c.1850-1934) was born in Ohio and died in California. She became interested in Christian Science in 1885 and in May of that year, visited Boston, hoping to study with Mary Baker Eddy. She was not accepted as a student at that time but later on, Bowen took Primary class instruction with Eddy in November 1885, joining the Christian Scientist Association shortly after. After studying with Eddy, she returned home to Hillsdale, Michigan, where she maintained a Christian Science healing practice, although she was never listed in The Christian Science Journal. She joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 1894 and was a member until her passing. Bowen was also the wife of Eli Bowen, a showman billed as "The Legless Acrobat," who she sued for divorce on grounds of desertion in 1904.

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