BIOS: John J. BOWMAN, Quemahoning, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, ppg 208-210.

  John J. Bowman, a representative farmer of Quemahoning, Somerset County, and 
one if its most prosperous and progressive citizens, was born in this township, 
July 1, 1847, a son of John and Mary (Lohr) Bowman.  His father's paternal 
grandfather, Stephen Bowman, was born and educated in Germany.  Coming to 
America when a young man, he settled in the western part of Virginia, where he 
was occupied as a tiller of the soil until his death, at the age of seventy-
three years.  No further account of Stephen Bowman's life can be found in family 
records, not even the name of his wife or the number of his children.
  Their son Peter was born in Virginia, February 27, 1783.  In his early manhood 
he came to Somerset County, and, having purchased land in Quemahoning, cleared 
and improved a good farm, on which he spent his remaining days, his death 
occurring in 1862.  On August 7, 1805, Peter Bowman married Mary Horner, who was 
born in Jennerstown, Pa., October 27, 1784, the daughter of Solomon Horner.  Of 
their family seven sons and four daughters, three children are now living; 
namely, Benjamin, Peter and William.
  John Bowman, the third child and second son of his parents, Peter and Mary 
(Horner) Bowman was born January 23, 1809, in Quemahoning township, and until 
his death, January 17, 1892, was here engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He was 
an active member and for many years an Elder in the Lutheran church, to which 
his wife also belonged.  He was for years one of the leading Republicans of this 
vicinity.  He held many town offices, including those of Tax Collector and judge 
of elections.  His wife, Mary Lohr, a daughter of George and Barbara (Miller) 
Lohr, was born in Quemahoning, on the homestead now owned and occupied by her 
son, John J., August 9, 1811, and died in this town, October 4, 1889.
  Of their ten children eight are now living-Susan, Henry, Benjamin, Elmira, 
Eliza, Mary Jane, Barbara, and John J.  Susan, born June 13, 1833, married 
Jeremiah Maurer, of whom a brief life history may be found elsewhere in this 
work.  Henry, born July 31, 1835, married Mary Baltzer, and they have six 
children-Luther, Emma, Ella, Martha, John, and William.  Luther married Julia 
Shaffer and has four children-Nellie, Mary, Charles, and Edna.  Emma is the wife 
of Clayton Raffenberger, and has one child, Harvey.  Martha is the wife of Frank 
Horner, and John married Annie Bowers and has one child.
  Benjamin, born January 2, 1839, married Susan Naugle, by whom he has four 
children, namely: Ross, who married Martha Lister; George, who married Lydia 
Koontz, and has three children-Mildred, Luther, and an infant; Melissa; and 
Harry.  Elmira, born August 21, 1840, is the wife of Joseph Kocher, and has six 
children-Clara, Jeremiah, John, George, Charles, and Ellen.  Clara Kocher is the 
wife of James Ringler, and has three children-June, Gussie, and Ralph.  Jeremiah 
Kocher married Joanna Zimmerman, and they have two children-Clara and an infant.  
John married Tena Straub, and they have one child.
  Eliza Bowman, born February 5, 1842, is the widow of Samuel S. Swank, and has 
three children-Ida, Elmer, and Mollie.  Elmer Swank married Carrie Hummel, and 
has two children, one a son named Paul.  Mollie is the wife of Milton Lentz, and 
has one child, Berta.  Mary Jane, born February 4, 1844, is the wife of J. E. 
Giffin.  They have one child living, Foster B.  Barbara Bowman, born August 25, 
1845, married Charles W. Weigle, of Hooversville, Pa., and has three children 
living, as follows: Flora, who married Spencer Fulton, of Westmoreland County, 
and has three children; Eliza, who married Ephriam Slagle, of Hooversville, Pa., 
and has one child, Louise, who is single and resides at home.  One son, Noah 
Bowman, who was born in 1838, died January 9, 1894.  He was three times married.  
His first wife, Lydia Horner, died without issue, as did his second wife, Mary 
Baush.  By his third wife, Jane Hite, he had one child, Josiah H., who married 
Mattie Brubaker.
  John J. Bowman since a lad of four years has lived on the old Lohr homestead, 
on which his mother was born and reared.  He was educated in the public schools 
of Quemahoning.  Mr. Bowman owns one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, on 
which he has made such excellent improvements as to make his estate one of the 
most valuable and attractive in the community.  Energetic and skilful, he has 
been exceedingly prosperous in his undertakings, and is recognized as one of the 
most thorough and able farmers of this part of the county.  Active in local 
affairs, he has been School Director for thirteen years, and is now serving as 
Assessor, an office to which he was elected on the Republican ticket.  Both he 
and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is an Elder.
  On December 28, 1871, Mr. Bowman married Catherine E. Berkey, who was born 
June 7, 1851, daughter of William and Caroline (Maurer) Berkey.  Six children 
have blessed their union, namely: Nora I., born September 20, 1874; Annie G., 
born September 3, 1876; Mollie J., born April 3, 1880; Carrie E., born August 
24, 1882; Olive P., born July 5, 1888; and Royal C., born June 11, 1891.