BIOGRAPHY: George W. BOWMAN, Cambria County, PA 

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