John Bowman

            JOHN BOWMAN was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 3, 1810; was a son of John J. Bowman. His grandfather was Philip Bowman, the son of David Bowman, who emigrated from Wittenberg. Germany, A.D. 1753. The mother of John Bowman was Charlotte Bowman, who died June 15, 1847, in the sixtieth year of her age. She was the daughter of Rev. John and Elizabeth Stough. Elizabeth Stough was the daughter of Conrad Hogmire. John Bowman was reared on his father’s farm until he arrived at the age of seventeen years. He then served a three-years apprenticeship at the tanning business with one Abraham Croft, in Canton, Ohio.

    He then returned to Columbiana County and started a tannery four miles west of New Lisbon. November 13, 1831, he married Miss Mary Mason, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 29, 1812; she was the daughter of Charles Mason, son of Martin and Elizabeth (Watt) Mason. The mother of Mary H. Bowman was Mary, daughter of Christopher and Catharine (Mong) Horn. The grandmother of John Bowman on his father’s side was Catharine, daughter of Nicholas and Catharine (Turner) Fast. John Bowman continued in the tanning business until 1838, when he sold out and turned westward. He moved in wagons and arrived in Noble County March 1, 1838. He located on the land where he now lives, which he commenced clearing. His family suffered much from sickness during the first year. The following is their family record: Jonas, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 7, 1832; Lycurgus, in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 19, 1836; Mary Olive, in this county, January 23, 1841; Elizabeth, in this county September 13, 1846. All are now living and married. The father and mother, on the 13^th of  November, 1881, celebrated their golden wedding. The grandfather of Mrs. Bowman, Martin Mason, was many years a captive amongst the Indians. He was captured east of Fort Du Quesne about the time of Braddock’s defeat. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are of ancestry who are noted for their longevity, ranging on both sides into the nineties.

    They have long been members of the Church of God. They live on the old homestead three miles southwest of Albion in Section 27. Mr. Bowman has a grove of fine bearing chestnut trees, which proves that timber can be successfully cultivated in this soil. One tree that sprung from a seed that grew on a tree of his first planting is bearing bountifully.

Source: Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana. Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard, 1882, page 468.