Oden Bowie was born in 1826 at Fairview, the
Prince George's County plantation of his father,
William Duckett Bowie. After a heroic record in
the Mexican War, he was elected to the Maryland
House of Delegates, and then served as state senator.
He was elected Governor of Maryland and served from
1869 to 1872.
After his term as governor, Bowie resided at Fairview,
devoting his time to agriculture and the breeding of
thoroughbred horses. He was one of the founders of
Pimlico Race Course. Bowie also was instrumental in
the establishment of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad through Prince George's County. The junction
of this line with the spur line into Washington still bears
his name. Governor Bowie died in 1894 and is buried at