1789 Samuel Bowman, son of Christian Bowman and Anna Huber, was born on December 1, 1789. [1] [2] [3]
1815 Samuel Bowman married "Elizabeth Bauman, a distant relatve, an estimable lady, and one who was possessed of considerable personal attractions." [4]
1815-1820 "From 1815 to 1820 he was, during the winter months, engaged in teaching school. During the rest of his time he followed surveying, scrivening, and sometimes ordinary labor." [5]
1820 "Samuel Bowman, who came from Bowman's Mill, in Berks County to Brecknock Township, in Lancaster County, in 1820, and built a stone residence and store." [6]
1850 Samuel Bowman (age 60, born in Pennsylvania), merchant, and Elizabeth Bowman (age 56) lived in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [7]
1857 Samuel Bowman, son of Christian Bowman, died on January 9, 1857, at age 67y 1m 18d. [8] [9] [10] [11]
1857 A memorial stone for Samuel Bauman at the Pine Grove Mennonite Cemetery, Bowmansville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania reports birthdate December 1, 1789 and death date January 19, 1857. [12] [13]
1860 Elizabeth Bowman (age 66, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in a household with John Bowman (31), Mary Bowman (32), Rebecca Bowman (8), Sarah Bowman (5), Henry Bowman (), William Bowman (2), and Jacob Wambaugh (17). [14]
1864 Elizabeth Bauman Bauman died on July 24 and was buried at Pine Grove Mennonite Cemetery, Bowmansville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Bauman Bauman was born on July 1, 1794. [15] [16]
A biosketch reported [17]:
Bowmansville is situated in the valley formed by two branches of Muddy Creek, issuing from the rocky hills along the Berks County line, which form the water-shed between the Delaware and the Susquehanna. The State road from Blue Ball to Reading here crosses the Reamstown and Plow Tavern road. The land on the south side of the latter road is part of the large tract surveyed in 1737 to Christian Good, embracing the mill a quarter of a mile to the south. On the other, on north side of the road, the soil is part of the Ulrich Burkholder tract. On each of these tracts one-story log farm-houses were erected at an early date, both near the site of the village, that on the Good tract really within its borders. About 1794 the Mennonites, forming the principal part of the surrounding population, built a sandstone meeting-house on the southwest corner of the crossroads, near the last-mentioned farm-house. At this time what few store goods the people needed were supplied either from Reading, twelve miles to the northeast, or from Adamstown, four miles northwest from this place. No nearer store was in existence then.
Samuel Bowman, Esq., after whom the place was named, was born Dec. 1, 1789. He was a lineal descendant of Wendell Bowman, who about 1707 immigrated to Germantown and thence to Lancaster County. One of his descendants, named Christian, settled in the Allegheny Valley, now Berks County, four miles east from Bowmansville, where in 1749 he built a log house which is still standing. Young Samuel by industry and perseverance acquired a respectable education. As a young man he had for several winters taught school in the Mennonite meeting-house and other places in the neighborhood. In 1820 he built the large two-story sandstone dwelling and store-house still standing on the southeast corner of the cross-roads, and commenced the business of country store-keeper, surveyor, and conveyancer. He prospered in business, and, being skillful as a surveyor and scrivener, was appointed a justice of the peace. He accepted his commission solely for the purpose of taking acknowledgments of the many deeds of conveyance and other instruments of writing he prepared. On the 1st of April, the general settlement day, his store was crowded. Deeds were executed and delivered, the purchase money counted and paid over, and the settlements of the surrounding neighborhood were made there.
About 1830 another dwelling-house with coopershop was erected in the village by Martin Bowman, on land for which he paid one hundred dollars an acre. This was then thought an enormous price. In 1832 a stone school-house was built in the village opposite the store, and after that the meeting-house was no longer used for school purposes. On the advent of the new administration following the Presidential election of 1840, a post-office with mail supply from Blue Ball was established in this infant village, which as yet had not received a name. But Samuel Bowman, Esq., having received the appointment of postmaster, the post-office and place were after him named Bowmansville.
On account of the two offices being incompatible, this appointment deprived him of his justice's commission. The neighborhood felt this vacancy as a serious inconvenience, which in the spring of 1847 was remedied by the election of his nephew, J. B. Good, Esq., as a justice of the peace, who during the same year built the dwelling and office on the northeast corner of the cross-roads, which place he occupied (being twice re-elected) as a justice of the peace, surveyor, and conveyancer until his removal to Lancaster in April, 1858.
In 1851, Peter B. Good erected the present hotel on the northwest corner of the cross-roads, on ground costing two hundred dollars an acre, which was still thought a very high price. He succeeded in obtaining license, although there was a remonstrance filed against it at the instigation of the landlord at the Dry Tavern, two miles south west from Bowmansville. In the summer of 1854 the meeting-house at the cemetery, half-way between the store and the mill, was erected. About this time the first brick dwellings were built in the village, and a new school-house in the northern part of the place was erected, and the old school-house changed and enlarged into a dwelling and shoe-store.
Soon after the election of James Buchanan to the Presidency, in 1856, the post-office was removed, or rather discontinued, and a new one established at the Dry Tavern. But this mistake was promptly remedied. The post-office at Bowmansville was not only re-established, but measures were now taken which resulted in a signal improvement. Instead of being supplied once a week on horseback from Blue Ball, the office at Bowmansville is now served by a stagecoach running daily between Fairville and the city of Reading.
On Jan. 19, 1857, Samuel Bowman, Esq., founder of the village, died, and his remains are buried in the cemetery at that place.
The schoolhouse in town was the focal point of a substantial disagreement about the role of education. A riot by several townspeople was directed against a schoolteacher named Mr. Sensenig, and others were targeted including Samuel Bowman, Esq., the original founder of the village, who was then postmaster and engaged in the mercantile business at that place, and Rev. Daniel Hertz, the father of the young school-teacher who had been mobbed and expelled on the day of the famous riot." [18]
A biosketch reports that his mother had noticed that he was different from other children and was worried about him before he started school. Samuel was a skilled surveyor and geometer. As an adult, Samuel had collected and read the classic books written in the English language, even though his family spoke German. The article I found told several stories. One was of a large number of people in Bowmansville (founded by Samuel) who rallied to support the Confederacy. John B Good, a brother of another of my ancestors then invited President Lincoln to come and talk in the town. "The speech-making took place from the porch of John B Good's house opposite the hotel. The New Holland band was present and caused an unusual crowd to assemble.". The town ended up supporting the Union cause. [19]
Samuel Bowman, son of Christian, was born 12-1-1789 at the Bowmanhill homestead of his parents; d. 1-19-1857 at his home in Bowmansville, Lanc. Co. Pa.; was married to Elizabeth Bauman, who d. in 1854. [20]
A biosketch reports [25] [26]:
Our subject was born at Bowman's Mills, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the first day of December, 1789. His father, Christian Bauman, (as the name originally was written in German), was a Swiss Mennonite, whose ancestors had emigrated to America on account of the religious persecutions that followed the revocation of the edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. His mother was Nancy Huber, of whose relatives a number are still living in this county.
Of his early years little is known except that his mother, in his childhood, perceived that he was different from the rest of her children, and, as it is said, in view of the approach of her death, which occurred when he was still quite young, was much concerned for him, not knowing whether his peculiarities indicated mental vigor or imbecility.
As soon as he was sent to school, however, it became evident that he had a natural fondness for letters, and he soon made such progress that he far outstripped all his schoolmates.
Here he studied surveying, which he afterwards so extensively and successfully practiced for many years, and in which he attained, perhaps, to as much skill and habitual accuracy as any other surveyor in the State or elsewhere.
His clear head and logical mind were eminently fitted for practical geometry. His love of justice and equity, and his high character for honesty and uprightness of purpose, all combined to make him afterwards the most successful practical surveyor in the whole neighborhood for many miles around. About this time his taste for general literature commenced to develop itself. From the time he had learned to read he continued to manifest a remarkable love for books and a taste for the beautiful. It is in regard to this feature of his character that we have the greatest reason to admire this, in many respects, extraordinary man. Surrounded by those who had no literary taste at all; the ignorant, the illiterate and the bigoted, he not only acquired a just taste for elegant literature, so that he enjoyed the best productions of art, and the creations of the beautiful, especially in poetry, but he also occasionally composed himself. His style was very nervous and clear; his points made with much clearness, force and precision.
In his library were found some of the best classical authors in the English language, and he never bought books for playthings or for show, but he used and studied them till their contents became almost a part of himself.
It was thus that he acquired an almost inexhaustible fund of illustrative anecdotes; and there was no one who knew how to apply them in conversation more opportunely and with finer effect than himself.
Among other authors he used to read and admire, was Pope's translation of the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer. Boswell's life of Dr. Johnson he also enjoyed very much, on account of the sterling character of the great moralist, though he heartily despised the sycophantic biographer. Among the German poets, he especially loved the witty and sarcastic Langbein, whose lively verses he enjoyed with exquisite delight. But he had a clear perception of the excellent and beautiful, and he admired and prized it wherever he found it in his extensive reading.
In 1815 he was married to Elizabeth Bauman, a distant relative, an estimable lady, and one who was possessed of considerable personal attractions. Of this marriage were born several children, only one of whom (a daughter, married to Mr. Isaac Sensenig), is living at this time. His wife survived him a few years.
From 1815 to 1820 he was, during the winter months, engaged in teaching school. During the rest of his time he followed surveying, scrivening, and sometimes ordinary labor. He never considered it beneath his dignity to perform, when necessary, any kind of honorable labor.
In teaching school he exercised a remarkable influence over his pupils. He acquired a wonderful reputation among his neighbors, on account of his great knowledge; for they gazed,
“And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.”But he was especially famous for his success in keeping good order and governing his school well. To this day there are some of his pupils living, who, when talking about the degeneracy of modern school government, will say: “It was not thus in Sam Bowman's school.”
In 1820 he built the first house in the place, which was afterwards named after him, “Bowmansville” This place is situated in the valley of the Muddy Creek, in Brecknock township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about four miles from Bowman's mill, the place of his birth.
The house he built was arranged for keeping a country store. Here he commenced the mercantile business immediately after the building was finished. His means were small, and he had, to a great extent, to begin his career upon borrowed capital. But such were his industry, economy and business qualifications, that he soon became a lender instead of a borrower. His well-known character for honesty and fair dealing, as well as his pleasing social qualities, attracted crowds of customers. His store was resorted to far and near ; and it is very remarkable that this man, so different in his views, tastes and habits of thought from those by whom he was surrounded, should yet have maintained their friendship, confidence and esteem in an unusual degree. This fact alone proves the high moral qualities of the man, and his unex ceptionable deportment towards all those with whom he came in contact.
In the meantime he also followed the business of a surveyor and conveyancer. He was soon appointed and commissioned a justice of the peace, in which office, however, he did not act, except to take acknowledgments of deeds and other legal instruments of writing, of which he prepared great numbers.
On the first day of April, which is the general moving and settlement day in Lancaster county, his store was the place where the business of the whole neighborhood was trans acted. He had to perform not only the duties of a country merchant, but also those of a scrivener, banker and legal adviser. Indeed, his neighbors reposed so much confidence in him, that he was frequently consulted on general matters of private business, and his advice was considered so valuable that it was almost invariably followed.
In 1840 a post-office was established at his store, and was after him named “ Bowmansville, " and he was appointed post master, which position he held for a number of years, and performed its duties to the general satisfaction of his neighbors.
He never held any other office except the two mentioned, justice of the peace and postmaster; and yet his influence was greater than those of many men who have held prominent positions in the gift of the people. He never could condescend to wallow in the mire of political scheming and corruption. His nature was honest and straightforward, and incapable of the mean actions and petty tricks of professional politicians.
From what has been said above, it is evident that his life was one of constant and unremitted labor, both of mind and body. Being rather corpulent, as he advanced in life his aversion to active out-door exercise increased, and the consequence was that his physical constitution suffered, and he was attacked with paralysis. His mental vigor also gradually declined, until he was forced to retire from active business. The transition from constant activity to the confinement of his room affected him unfavorably. His health continued to grow worse, until after a short confinement to his bed he died, January 19th, 1857, at his home in Bowmansville, surrounded by his family, and mourned by a large number of friends and acquaintances.
It is very seldom that the death of a mere private citizen occasions so great a void in the community as did that of
the subject of this sketch. His character was altogether pure and his morals irreproachable. His word was never doubted. His advice was doubly valuable, because it came from one whose wisdom, honesty and integrity of purpose were undoubted, quite above suspicion. To his unlettered neighbors his knowledge and general intelligence were matters of wonder. He stood so much head and shoulders above them all, that his attainments were by them supposed to be almost infinite, and his judgment infallible. But he was admired by others than his illiterate neighbors. Intelli gent strangers were often surprised to find a man of his superior qualities in a locality where they had not supposed that they should meet with any save the plain and simple.In his business habits, he was very careful and methodical. The deeds of conveyance and other instruments of writing he prepared, and the drafts of the numerous surveys he made, all attest the anxious care as well as consummate skill with which he performed his work. He had a laudable ambition to be esteemed a correct and competent business man; and all who knew him and had business transactions with him can bear testimony to the ability and honesty with which his affairs were conducted.
In his intercourse with his neighbors he was remarkably genial and social. He seemed to forget his superiority when he came in social contact with those around him, and in every respect identified himself with them.
As regards his religious views and opinions, it is difficult to faithfully portray them. The peculiar circumstances which surrounded him in his early youth, had undoubtedly much to do with his religious impressions. The religion of his parents and relatives was clothed in anything but an attractive garb. Dry dogmas, narrow, bigoted views, and unenlightened sectarian zeal, were elements as unattractive to his mind as could be well conceived. The natural con sequence was, that every thing bearing the name and resemblance of religion, became odious to him. The active energies of his mind soon raised doubts as to the truth of a system whose aspect was so uninviting and whose spirit was so uncongenial to his more refined nature. And, when parental love and solicitude for his spiritual welfare brought the strongest arguments they could command to bear upon him, they were so absurdly conceived or so awkwardly handled, that his clear head and subtle discrimination could not help but perceive their weakness and absurdity. The inevitable consequence unfortunately was, that he took for granted that these were the strongest arguments that could be advanced in support of the truth of the Christian system, and he became — a skeptic. In these doubts he became more confirmed by reading various authors, such as Volney and others ; but such was his modesty and conscientious fear of injuriously affecting others, that he never openly gave utterance to his opinions.
These doubts cost him many sleepless nights, and they followed him more or less from his youth through middle life ; and it was only after his sun had crossed the meridian and the lengthening shadows of the evening of life closed around him, that his mind rested in peace upon the truths of the gospel as revealed in the Bible, and died in full faith and expectation of a glorious resurrection.
Research Notes:
Mennonite Card file: [27]
[1] Jacob Huber (c 1700-1759), his personal copy, Martyr's Mirror, with notes about 3 generations of descendants (Ephrata, PA: Muddy Creek Farm Library, 1757, photographs by Mark Weitzel), [Photocopy], [Transcription], [CoverPage].
[2] Jerold A Stahly, "The Family of Jacob Oberholtzer (1704-1755) of Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (April, 1989), 13-26, at 23, person O134.
[3] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 64-70, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[4] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 66, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[5] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 66-67, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[6] Barr Ferree, ed., Yearbook of the Pennsylvania Society, 1921 (New York: The Pennsylvania Society, 1921), 112, [HathiTrust].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] Jacob Huber (c 1700-1759), his personal copy, Martyr's Mirror, with notes about 3 generations of descendants (Ephrata, PA: Muddy Creek Farm Library, 1757, photographs by Mark Weitzel), [Photocopy], [Transcription], [CoverPage].
[9] Jerold A Stahly, "The Family of Jacob Oberholtzer (1704-1755) of Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (April, 1989), 13-26, at 23, person O134.
[10] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 68, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[11] Morton Luther Montgomery, Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 (Chicago: Beers, 1909), 1284, reports date 10 January, [HathiTrust].
[12] Find A Grave Memorial 86896829, [FindAGrave].
[13] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[14] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[15] Find A Grave Memorial 86893613, [FindAGrave].
[16] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[17] Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches (1883), 685, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[18] Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches (1883), 683, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[19] A. G. Seyfert, "Samuel Bowman, Founder of Bowmansville," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 1 (1896), 133-141, at 133, [HathiTrust].
[20] Edward Bowman Espenshade, My American Ancestors and Their Descendants (Jay Letter Service, 1949), 251, see biosketch on 255, [GoogleBooks].
[21] Morton Luther Montgomery, Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 (Chicago: Beers, 1909), 1284, [HathiTrust].
[22] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[23] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[24] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[25] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 006620-64, [AncestryImage].
[26] Alexander Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (1879), 64, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[27] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].