In 1830, he moved to Delhi, New York, to study law with Charles Hathaway.
Charles had married Bowne's sister, Maria Augusta in 1828, but worked for the Delaware Republican".
This paper was not successful, and Bowne returned to New York City, where he published the Protestant Vindicator.
In 1839, he returned to Delhi, New York, and from January 1839 until his death, he published the Delaware Express.
In 1876, he ran for presidential elector on the Republican Rutherford B. Hayes ticket, but New York was won by Samuel J. Tilden.