BIO:  John J. BOWMAN, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical Annals of Lebanon County Pennsylvania.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1904
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Page 38 - 39

JOHN J. BOWMAN, one of the progressive and leading business men of Myerstown, 
Pa., who was born and reared in that town, is the only son of Moses L. and Mary 
(Muth) Bowman, the former of whom is deceased, his wife surviving and making her 
home in Myerstown.

Moses L. Bowman was born July 12, 1825, anad [sic] died at his home in 
Myerstown, September 27, 1901, having been one of the most successful merchants 
of Myerstown, where he had been in business for half a century.  He was a son of 
Jacob Bowman, a farmer of Lebanon county, located near Palmyra, Pa., and was a 
member of one of the old and prominent families of that locality, his 
forefathers having emigrated from Switzerland and settled in Lebanon county in 
its early days.  Jacob Bowman was the father of the following children:  Jacob 
C., Moses L., John M., Sallie (deceased), Fannie and Carolina.  Moses L. Bowman 
left the farm when a boy of fourteen years, and commenced clerking in the store 
of David Bowman, of Lebanon, which stood on the present site of the Ross Drug 
Company, of that city.  He later went into business for himself, and was very 
successful.  On May 20, 1852, he married Miss Mary Muth, of Myerstown, a 
daughter of John and Mary (Zimmerman) Muth, of that place, and John J. Bowman 
was the only child of this marriage.  Starting out in life a poor boy, by his 
industry and thrift Moses L. Bowman became one of Myerstown's wealthiest and 
most influential men.  For more than half a century he owned and operated one of 
the largest mercantile firms, and at the time of his death he owned a fine farm, 
beautiful residence, excellent and large stock of goods, and a good storehouse.  
In politics, he was a stanch Republican, and was active in local affairs, but 
never sought or desired office.  In the Reformed Church he was long one of its 
most liberal supporters and earnest members, and held various official positions 
in the same.  In his untimely taking away, Myerstown lost one of its best 
citizens, and he has bequeathed to his descendants an untarnished name and the 
influence of a true, upright life.  This influence reaches beyond the term of 
his own existence, and is such as to stimulate others to high and noble deeds.  
His wife was a member of a large family of children, all of whom grew to 
maturity:  William, Jefferson, Cyrus, Franklin, Edward, Amanda, Mary, Amelia, 
Harriet and Katherine.  The Muth family is an old and well known one of Lebanon 
county.

John J. Bowman was educated in the public schools of Myerstown, the Palatinate 
College of Myerstown and the Franklin and Marshall College of Lancaster, Pa.  
After leaving college he went into his father's store and is now conducting this 
large establishment, which is prospering greatly under his able management.  The 
old, reliable and strictly honorable methods which gained it such repute with 
the trade in the past, are continued, and Mr. Bowman is decidedly one of the 
leading merchants of Lebanon county.

On January 19, 1893, Mr. Bowman married Lizzie A. Loose, of Bethlehem, Pa., 
daughter of Rev. Isaac and Catherine Loose, the former a minister of the 
Reformed Church of that place.  Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have had three children:  
The eldest, a son, was still born; those living are Clafflin L. and Mary 
Katherine.  Mr. Bowman is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, 
while both he and Mrs. Bowman are earnest and active workers in the Reformed 
Church.  They are both very highly esteemed and take an important part in the 
social life of Myerstown, where both are so well and favorable known, and none 
more richly deserve the success which has attended their efforts.