Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/391

 BOWMAN.

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BOWMAN, George B., educator, was born in Berks count}', N. C, May 1, 1812. His early edu- cation was that which fell to the lot of the farm- er's sons of his generation. At an early age he immigrated to Missouri, and settled in a small town not far from St. Louis as a Metliodist preacher, and soon built up a flourishing chvircli. In 1841 he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and preached to the small and scat- tered congregations in the sparsely set- tled districts of Iowa, building new churches and form- ing new organiza- tions throughout the state. In 1851 lie built abrickcliurch, which was soon followed by a seminary building in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, which became the foimda tion of Cornell college. He not only induced others to render it financial support, but con- tributed freely of his own means, the largest gift being that made by him for the erection of Bow- man Hall, a home for young women. Long exposure to hardships of pioneer work in the rigorous climate of Iowa so impaired his health that it became necessary for him to relinquish regular work in the conference, and in 1864 Dr. Bowman removed to San Josd, Cal., where he continued to do active work in building churches throughout the state. He was a member of the board of trustees of the University of the Pacific, and liberally aided it in its early life. He died inSan Jos^, Cal., in 1888.

BOWMAN, Samuel, assistant bishop of Penn- sylvania and 64th in succession in the Amer- ican episcopate, was born at Wilkesbarre, Pa., May 21, 1800. He was educated by private instructors, and his theological coiu*se was made under the direction of Bisliop White. He was ordai led deacon in 1823, and priest, 1824. The first years of his ministry were spent in Lan- caster county. In 1825 he became rector of Trinity church, Easton, Pa., and in 1827 returned to Lancaster county as assistant to the Eev. Joseph Clarkson, upon whose decease, in 1830, he succeeded to the rectorate of St. James parish, Lancaster, remaining in this charge until his death. In 1843 he received his degree of doctor of divinity from Geneva college, and in 1847 he was elected by the general convention bishop of Indiana, but declined to serve ; shortly after de- clining the nomination of provincial bishop of Pennsylvania. He was chosen, in 1858, as as-

sistant to Bishop Alonzo Potter and consecrated bishop, Aug. 25, 1858, and while on a visitation in the western section of the diocese he died by the wayside near Butler, Pa., his body being found Aug. 3, 1861.

BOWMAN, Thomas, M. E. bishop, was boru near Berwick, Columbia county. Pa., July 15, 1817; son of Jolm and Sarah (Brittain) Bowman He was prepared for college at Wilbraham acad-. emy (Mass.) and Cazenovia semirary (N. Y.), and was graduated as valedictorian oi his class at Dickinson college. Pa., in 1837. After studying law for a year he prepared himself for the min- istry, and was admit- ted to the Baltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in the spring of 1839. Then from 1840 to 1843, he was teacher in the gram- mar school of Dickin- son college, and in 1848 was appointed f^

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principal of Dickin- son seminary at Wil-

liamsport. Pa. He organized and presided over this institution for ten years, leaving it with a liberal property and about four hundred students. In 1858 he was elected president of Indiana As- bury, afterwards De Pauw, university, at Green- castle, Ind. ■ Over this institution he presided fourteen years, leaving it much advanced in property, endowment fund, and students. Dur- ing 1864 and 1865 he served as chaplain to the U. S. senate, and in 1872 he was elected bishop of the Metliodist Episcopal church by the general con- ference, which met in Brooklyn, N. Y. As bishop he has presided over all the conferences in the United States, and over the conferences and mis- sions of his church in Europe, India, China, Japan, and Mexico. He has dedicated over one thousand churches, of which at least one has been located in each state and territory of the United States, and one in every foreign country which he has visited. His degree of D.D. was conferred in 1856 by the Ohio Wesleyan university, and that of LL.D. by Dickinson coUege. He was retired by the general conference which met at Cleve- land, Ohio, in May, 1896, and took up his resi- dence at St. Louis, Mo.

BOWNE, Borden Parker, educator, was born in Leonardville, N. J., Jan. 14, 1847; son of Joseph and Margaret (Parker) Bowne. He grad- uated from the University of the city of New York, 1871, with high honors. He taught for