Bowman was born on July 15, 1817, in Berwick, Pennsylvania, a son of Sarah (née Brittain) Bowman (1786–1852) and John Bowman (1786-1843)[3] and spent his boyhood days on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania.[4] His maternal grandfather, Samuel Brittain, fought in the American Revolutionary War as a private in Captain McCalla's Company from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[5]
While he was president of Indiana Asbury College, he also served as the chaplain of the United States Senate from May 1864 until March 1865 during the administration of his friend, Abraham Lincoln.[1] Just five days before Lincoln's assassination, Bowman warned Lincoln that he was in danger of being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth as he saw Booth "prowling about the Capitol buildings and White House, and became convinced that his presence there boded ill for Mr. Lincoln".[7] According to Bowman, Lincoln "laughingly made light of the warning."[7]
During his time at DePauw, Bowman presided over such significant events as the first admissions of women students and of the initial planning (and laying of the cornerstone) of East College. He also served on the university's board of trustees from 1887 to 1895, including a term as president of the board.[1]
Upon his election to the episcopacy, Bowman resigned the Asbury presidency. As a bishop he officially visited all M.E. conferences in the U.S., Europe, India, China, Japan and Mexico.[1]
Personal life
On July 13, 1841, Bowman was married to Matilda Hartman (1821-1879),[8] a daughter of Johannes Hartman and Mary Magdalene (née Crouse) Hartman.[9] Together, they were the parents of eleven children, including:[10][11]
John Durban Bowman (1842–1871), who fought in the U.S. Civil War but died unmarried at age 28.[8]
Theodore Granville Bowman (1845–1923), who married Virginia Florence Lee.[8]
Charles Gideon Bowman (1848–1924), who served as treasurer and manager of the Bowman Stamping Company; he married Florence H. Warren, after her death, he married Mattie Belle Overton.[12]
