Family Tree Page for
Benjamin Bowman
 
Mother
Mary Ford
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
 
Father
James Gaff
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
Mother
Unknown
Birth -
Death -
 
Father
Unknown
Birth -
Death -
 
Wife
Barbara Gaff
Birth - Abt. 1799
Death - Mar 12, 1862
 
Husband
Benjamin Bowman
Birth - Abt. 1798
Death - 1850
 

James Jackson Bowman
Birth - Aug 01, 1823
Death - Nov 23, 1914
Sarah Ann Bowman
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
John M Bowman
Birth - Abt. 1827
Death - Unknown
Nancy J Bowman
Birth - Jan 09, 1829
Death - May 05, 1884
George W Bowman
Birth - Abt. 1832
Death - Jun 28, 1902
Samuel M Bowman
Birth - Abt. 1836
Death - Jan 07, 1918
Jacob G Bowman
Birth - Abt. 1837
Death - Unknown
Mary Elizabeth Bowman
Birth - Sep 02, 1840
Death - Feb 13, 1923
Susan Catherine Bowman
Birth - Jul 18, 1833
Death - Aug 01, 1919

 

 

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 177-8 


GEORGE W. BOWMAN, an industrious farmer of Reade township, this county, is a son of Benjamin and Barbara (Gaff) Bowman, and was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1831.

     The Bowman family is of German descent. Benjamin (father) was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, coming to Mifflin county when a young man, where he met and married Miss Barbara Gaff, daughter of James and Mary (Ford) Gaff. He moved to Cambria county in 1848, locating in White township, now Reade township, when he purchased one hundred acres of farm land, partially improved, where he resided until 1850, when he was killed by a runaway horse, at the age of fifty- two years. By trade he was a plasterer. For several years previous to moving to Cambria county he followed boating, having charge of a section boat running from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a democrat. Their marriage resulted in the birth of nine children: James J., a blacksmith in Allemansville, Clearfield county; Sarah Ann, who died in childhood; John M., a printer of Everett, Pennsylvania, editor of the Everett Republican; Nancy J., deceased, who was the wife of Rev. Thomas Van Scoyoc, of Mountaindale, this county; George W.; Susan Catherine, the wife of John Van Scoyoc, of Reade township; Samuel M., a farmer at Mountaindale; Jacob G., also a farmer of Mountaindale; and Mary E., wife of Benjamin F. Byers of Coalport, Clearfield county.

     George W. Bowman was educated in the common schools of Mifflin county. After his father's death he purchased the one-half interest in the farm from his brother James, and took charge of it, and has since remained on this farm. It contains about one hundred acres, and is underlaid with coal. In March, 1864, he gave up the life of a farmer for the trials of a soldier, and enlisted in company D, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and served until the close of the war. He took part in the following battles: Prospect Hill, Cold Harbor, where he was wounded in the left hip by a mortar shell; two engagements at Deepbottom, on the James River, and Reams' Station, on the Weldon railroad, where he was detailed, and drove a medical supply team until the close of the war. On receiving his discharge from the service he returned to his home, and has since followed pursuits of agriculture. He is a member of David Troxell Post, No. 421, of Glasgow, this county; also a member of Allemansville Lodge, No. 900, I. O. O. F. In religious belief he is a consistent member of the Baptist church, and in political faith is identified with the Republican party, and has always taken a prominent part in local politics. He has served as school director for over thirty-five years, and was the second president of the directors' association of the county; was postmaster of Roseland, this county, for seven years previous to the war; has served as assessor in his township seven terms, and in 1890 was census enumerator of Reade township.

     On Jun 23, 1839, he married Miss Mary Byers, a daughter of Benjamin Byers, a farmer, of Reade township, and second postmaster of Roseland, and the first post office in the northern end of Cambria county. This marital union has resulted in the birth of nine children: Sarah B., wife of Lemuel Troxell, a progressive and well-to-do farmer of Reade township; Benjamin F., weighmaster of coal at Mountaindale, Ella N., the wife of Benjamin N. McCulley, carpenter, of Altoona; Rebecca M., at home; Catherine S., wife of Gilbert Miller, boss sawyer in company mills at Belsano, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania; John M. C. was killed while acting as brakeman on a branch of the Pennsylvania railroad near Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, leaving his wife Allie, and little daughter, Marion; Warren G., at home; Laura A., a successful school teacher in Cambria county, and Carrie M., at home.

George Bowman 1889.jpg (258028 bytes) George Bowman 1891.jpg (239790 bytes)
George Bowman neighbor.jpg (304411 bytes) George Bowman sheriff sale.jpg (397355 bytes)
George Bowman letter.jpg (196391 bytes)
 

OUR FATHER AND MOTHER
SACRED
To the Memory of
BENJAMIN BOWMAN
Who died July 28, 1850
aged 52 years,
AND
BARBARA GAFF
HIS WIFE
Who died March 17, 1862
aged 65 years

 
CENSUS YEAR: 1830
STATE: PA
COUNTY:  Mifflin
DISTRICT: Wayne Township
ROLL: 147; Page: 415.
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD
MALES
FEMALES
MALE
SLAVES
FEMALE
SLAVES
FREE
BLACK MALES
FREE
BLACK FEMALES
TOTAL WHITE
PERSONS
Aliens not Natur SLAVES & BLACKS Remarks
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for House Hold Deaf & Dumb Blind Deaf & Dumb Blind
to 14 14-25 25 up to 14 14-25 25 up
415 24 Bowman Benjamin 1 1       1               1         1                                                                                    
HTML Publishers Notes-
In 1830, Benjamin Bowman would be about 32 years old.
Barbara Bowman would be about 31 years old.
James Jackson Bowman would be 7 years old
John M Bowman would be 3 years old
Nancy J Bowman would be 1 year old
Sarah Ann Bowman is not in the Census which could indicate that she died soon after birth.
 
CENSUS YEAR: 1840
STATE: PA
STATE: PA
COUNTY:  Mifflin
DISTRICT: Wayne Township
ROLL: 475; Page: 10.
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD
FREE WHITE MALES
FREE WHITE FEMALES
FREE
BLACK MALES
FREE
BLACK FEMALES
MALE
SLAVES
FEMALE
SLAVES
OCCUPATIONS PENSIONERS
WHITE PERSONS in the foregoing
BLACKS PERSONS in the foregoing SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES WHITE >20yr ILLIT-ERATE Remarks
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MIN-ING ARG COM MFG NAV OCEAN NAV CANAL PROF ENG Rev or Military Service Age Deaf & Dumb Blind & INSANE Deaf & Dumb Blind & INSANE
to 14 14-25 25 up Blind INSANE PUBLIC INSANE PRIV to 14 14-25 25 up Blind INSANE PUBLIC INSANE PRIV UNIV or COLL #of STU ACAD GRAM #of STU PRIM COM #of STU STU PUB CHG
10 24 Bowman Benjamin 1 1 1 1   1               3           1                                                                                                                        
HTML Publishers Notes-
In 1840, Benjamin Bowman would be about 42 years old. (but here is is shown as 30-40)
Barbara Bowman would be about 41 years old.
James Jackson Bowman would be 17 years old
John M Bowman would be 13 years old
Nancy J Bowman would be 11 year old
Sarah Ann Bowman died young
George W Bowman would be 8 years old
Samuel M Bowman would be 4 years old
Jacob G Bowman would be 3 years old
Susan Catherine Bowman would be 7 years old
Mary Elizabeth Bowman would be under 1 year old
 
CENSUS YR: 1850
STATE or TERRITORY: PA
COUNTY: Cambria
DIVISION: White Township
REEL NO: 761 PAGE NO: 4-A
REFERENCE: Enumerated on 23 day of July, by Henry Cook
LN HN FN LAST NAME FIRST NAME AGE SEX RACE OCCUP VAL BIRTHPLACE MRD SCH R/W DDB
2 43 46 Bowman James 27 M   Farmer   Pa.        
3 43 46 Bowman Barbara 51 F       Pa.        
4 43 46 Bowman George 18 M   Laborer   Pa.        
5 43 46 Bowman Susan 17 F       Pa.        
6 43 46 Bowman Samuel 14 M       Pa.   X    
7 43 46 Bowman Jacob 13 M       Pa.   X    
8 43 46 Bowman Mary E. 12 F       Pa.   X    
HTML Publishers Notes-
Benjamin Bowman died in 1850 so he is not on the 1850 Census
Barbara Bowman would be about 51 years old.
James Jackson Bowman would be 27 years old
John M Bowman would be 23 years old (not in this list)
Nancy J Bowman would be 21 year old (not in this list)
Sarah Ann Bowman died young
George W Bowman would be 18 years old
Samuel M Bowman would be 14 years old
Jacob G Bowman would be 13 years old
Susan Catherine Bowman would be 17 years old
Mary Elizabeth Bowman would be under 11 or 12 years old
 
Birthdates of living people have been withheld to protect identities.

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