David Bowman
In examining into the life records of most of the citizens of Wayne county, Ohio, the biographer finds that over two-thirds of the families living here today are descendants of Pennsylvania stock and, without invidious comparison, it may be added that no more progressive and honorable citizenship has ever been produced by any section of this great union of states. In this number David Bowman must be included, for his birth occurred in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1841, but most of his life has been spent in Wayne county, Ohio. He is the son of David and Mary (Gelbricks) Bowman, both natives of the Keystone state, where they lived and died, David Bowman having devoted his life to blacksmithing. He was a member of the Reformed church and his wife was a Lutheran, while politically, Mr. Bowman was a Republican. They were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom are living at this writing.
David Bowman was educated in the common schools and reared on the farm, where he learned those lessons of fortitude and self-reliance that have stood him so well in hand during his later life. In 1866 he came to Wayne county, Ohio, and located at Lattasburg, working here and at West Salem and getting a good start. In about 1879 he bought a farm of about sixty acres near Lattasburg, which he still owns and on which he has erected attractive and substantial buildings and in many ways improved the place. He has been very successful in his farming operations, and at present he lives practically retired, enjoying the fruits of his former years of labor.
Mr. Bowman was married in May, 1867, to Elizabeth Martin, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and the daughter of Christopher and Nancy (Worst) Martin, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wayne county, Ohio. Mr. Martin came here when eighteen years of age. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. David Bowman were Henry and Barbara Worst, natives of the state of Pennsylvania and very early settlers in Wayne county, Ohio, The paternal grandparents of the subject's wife were Daniel and Elizabeth (Brakefiedl) Martin, also very early settlers here. To Mr. and Mrs.. Bowman six children have been born, namely: Ida H., Edwin D., Ellen C., Alice L., Carrie and James C., the last named being deceased. Mr.s Bowman's death occurred on March 6, 1910.
An interesting and important chapter in the life of Mr. Bowman is that bearing on his military career, for when the dark clouds of rebellion hovered over the land he left all and offered his services in behalf of his country, enlisting in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he made a valiant soldier in many campaigns, taking part in many of the important and bloodiest battles of the war, including the Wilderness, Atlanta, Chickamauga, Richmond and Petersburg.
In politics My. Bowman is a Republican and he belongs to the Dunkard church.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910