Samuel was born in 1846 in Salem, Massachusetts, and he enlisted in the Army. He was a Corporal with Company M of the 6th US Cavalry when he deployed to Texas and it was his actions on the 5th of October 1870, that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Gallantry in pursuit of and fight with Indians.

Samuel received the Medal of Honor on the 19th of November of the same year and was discharged on the 19th of February 1871. No additional information could be found for Samuel Bowden, to include his death date and his final resting place.