Polk-Jasper County IA Archives Biographies.....Bowman, Martin Thomas V. 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 12, 2007, 1:45 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) COLONEL MARTIN THOMAS V. BOWMAN, one of the well known citizens of Des Moines, and manager of the Washington Life Insurance Company, for Iowa, was born in Waterville, Maine, July 6, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Cottle) Bowman. On his father's side he is of English origin, the first American ancestor having emigrated from England and settled at Martha's Vineyard in the early days of the American colonies. The maternal ancestors of the Colonel came from Scotland long prior to the Revolution and also settled at Martha's Vineyard. For several generations the Bowman family were seafaring people, but finally abandoned that mode of life, settled in Kennebec county, Maine, and devoted their attention to other pursuits. Thomas Bowman, father of our subject, was a wheelwright by trade, but owned a large farm, which was operated by hired help while he pursued his trade. He removed with his family during the infancy of our subject to Sidney, Maine, but he died a few years later, leaving the mother with eight children, five sons and three daughters. Soon after the death of her husband Mrs. Bowman returned with her family to Waterville, Maine. She kept her children together until they were able to provide for themselves and afforded them excellent educational advantages. Several have become eminent in professional life and do honor to their parents. The eldest son, Dr. Jeremiah Bowman, was a physician of much ability. He practiced for a number of years in Ohio and Virginia and finally settled in Flora, Illinois, where he died a number of years ago. Rev. Agustus Bowman was a Baptist clergyman and spent his entire life in Maine, dying in Hartland some years ago. Rev. C. C, the next younger, is a Freewill Baptist clergyman, residing in Manchester, Maine. Joseph J., a farmer by occupation, resides in Hallowell, Maine, and the Colonel is the youngest of the brothers. The oldest daughter, Julia Ann, is now the widow of Nelson Bowman and resides at Waterville, Maine. Ada Ann, twin sister of Julia, died at the age of eighteen years. Mrs. Christiana Marshall, now a widow, is residing at Marlborough, Massachusetts. Colonel Bowman received his education in the Waterville and Hallowell Academies, and in his seventeenth year left his home and native State, going to Sistersville, Virginia, where his eldest brother was then engaged in the practice of medicine. Having taught two terms of school he was called to Sardis, Ohio, where he pursued the same profession until he decided to further extend his knowledge by entering Granville College, now Dennison University, where he remained for a year. At the expiration of that time he returned to Maine and continued his studies in the Maine State Seminary for a short period. Having received a favorable proposition from his former field of labor in Virginia, he decided to return, and in 1859, accompanied by his mother and sisters, who desired to visit friends in that State, he again located in the Old Dominion and resumed the profession of teaching, his school being of a private academic character and attended by the sons and daughters of Virginia planters. But the war of the Rebellion was at hand and the mutterings that presaged the coming storm could already be heard. The celebrated raid of John Brown at Harper's Ferry, which occurred soon after Mr. Bowman had returned to Virginia, served to intensify the feelings of hatred toward the North, and he decided to again seek a home in his native State; and when the war broke out he was engaged in teaching the grammar school at Hallowell, Maine. Mr. Bowman promptly offered his services in the defense of the Government, and entered the army as a Corporal in the First Maine Cavalry, but was soon detached as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, and on the first of May, 1862, was appointed Regimental Commissary Sergeant. In December, 1863, he re-enlisted and was commissioned first as Lieutenant and Regimental Commissary, on the 9th of February, 1864; was mustered into the United States service on the 22d of same month. He was detailed as Commissary of the Third Brigade, Second Division, of General Sheridan's Cavalry Corps, October 9, 1864, and on March 26, 1865, was ordered to take charge of the reserve supply train, which position he occupied until General Lee's surrender to General Grant at Appomattox. By order of Brevet-General C. H. Smith he took charge of the Commissary department of the sub-district of the Appomattox, relieving Captain M. A. Richardson, C. S., June 15, 1865. He remained in that capacity issuing rations to the soldiers and destitute citizens, until he was mustered out, on the 1st of August, 1865, in Petersburg, Virginia. Colonel Bowman was engaged in active duty during the entire time that he was enrolled in the service, and though connected with the commissary department his duties were both arduous and dangerous, and his position a most responsible one. His first important service was at the battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862. This was followed by an engagement at Cedar Mountain; the second battle of Bull Run on August 29 and 30, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 12, 1862; Rappahannock Station, April 14, 1863; Brandy Station, June 9; Aldie, June 17; Middleburg, June 19; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3; Shepherdstown, July 16, 1863, and in the fortifications before Richmond, March 1, 1864. On the 7th and 8th of May, 1864, an engagement occurred at Todd's Tavern, which was followed by the battle of Cold Harbor on the 2d of June; Reams'Station, August 23, 1864; Farmers' Cross Roads, April 5, 1865, and many others, down to Appomattox Court House and the surrender of General Lee on the 9th of April, 1865. With his command Colonel Bowman was then ordered to re-enforce Sherman and went to North Carolina with that object in view, but Johnston had surrendered to General Sherman and the war was over. As stated, Colonel Bowman's service was an important and hazardous one. He was frequently appointed by the General in command to take part in scouting enterprises, and never. shrank from duty however responsible or perilous. It would be impossible in a biographical sketch of this character to enter fully into all the details of his army experience, but the following account from the published history of the First Maine Cavalry illustrates his gallantry and coolness in the hour of danger. This is but one of the many thrilling experiences that he underwent during his army life, and is recorded in General Polk's campaign in 1862: "On the night of August 22, 1862, Sergeant Bowman, then Commissary Sergeant and subsequently Lieutenant and Commissary, was at Catlett's station, where he was in consultation with the brigade commissary and quartermaster, with reference to taking rations to the front on the following morning when suddenly, to the surprise of every one—for there was no apprehension of danger—the train was attacked by General Stuart's cavalry, which had swung round the Union army and was making a rapid raid at this point, a raid well remembered by General Polk's forces. The attack was so furious and so well followed up that there was no time to harness the teams, and barely time for these officers and a third one to secure their horses and mount, which they did though surrounded and amid a shower of bullets. They escaped capture by plunging into the woods with the bullets whistling around them in a lively manner. Then came a wild ride through the woods in the darkness, dodging among the branches of trees and going they knew not whither. Finally, thinking it best to know what had taken place before they went farther, Sergeant Bowman consented to return and ascertain, the other officers to wait for him four hours. He had but started when a terrific thunder storm began, but this proved to be to his advantage as the flashes of lightning helped him on his way. Riding until he heard the sound of the enemy he left his horse and advanced on foot until he could see the foe busily breaking open boxes, for whatever they could find. Soon he heard a movement in his rear and the same instant was ordered to halt; but, not choosing to obey, a bullet was sent after him to enforce the order. He eluded his foe, found his horse and was up and away, hastily pursued by the enemy. He reached his waiting friends, but the enemy was close behind. He and his friends were forced to flee, and finally escaped unharmed, remaining concealed until daylight, and then finding their way to the Union forces." The Colonel was a gallant soldier and served his country faithfully and well until the end of the struggle. At the close of the war Colonel Bowman returned with his regiment to Maine, and was mustered out in Augusta, going thence to Boston, Massachusetts, where he conducted a market until the spring of 1866, when he came to Iowa, locating in Newton, Jasper county. For a time he engaged in the hardware business, and in the spring of 1867 was appointed a special agent for the Washington Life Insurance Company, which position he held until the spring of 1870, when he resigned and accepted the general agency of the Brooklyn Life Insurance Company of New York, for Iowa. After working for that company eleven months, and sending them a large amount of new business, he accepted the general agency of his former company and removed to Des Moines, in June, 1870, opening an office, and has held that position for the State of Iowa continuously since. After his arrival in Iowa, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of Governors Gear and Sherman. On the 1st of January, 1864, Colonel Bowman was married in Charlestown (now part of Boston), Massachusetts, to Miss Josephine Webber, a very estimable young woman, a native of Maine, who died in November, 1884. She was lovely in her life, and her death left a great sorrow to husband and family. Of the eight children born of their marriage, three died in infancy. Those still living are Leona, DeForrest, Harold M., Herman T., and Josephine Beatrice. The Colonel was the second time married in Chicago, January 13, 1886, his second union being with Miss Hattie L. Stanard, and on their fourth wedding anniversary he was again bereft by death of a beloved wife. Two children were born of this marriage,—Dean Cottle and Hattie Corinne. From a biographical sketch published soon after the death of the wife and mother, the following facts were taken: "Mrs. Hattie L. Bowman, wife of Colonel M. T. V. Bowman, was born in Clarion, Bureau county, Illinois, April 24, 1852. She received most excellent moral and religious training from her parents and united with the Baptist Church at the age of twelve years. When fourteen years of age she entered the State School at Normal, Illinois, where for two years she was preparing for the work of teaching, and at the age of sixteen years began her labors in that direction in Charleston, Illinois. During her second year at Charleston, she was tendered and accepted a situation in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she remained nearly three years, when she came to Des Moines, where she taught for one year. The greater part of her work as a teacher, however, was in Omaha, Nebraska, where she taught for ten years, and during the last seven years of that time was principal of the South Side schools. The summer of 1873 she spent in traveling in Europe, going abroad as a representative of the School Journal. She visited England and Scotland and also spent some time on the continent. She possessed fine executive ability, was enthusiastic and conscientious and consequently was most successful in her work. Severe labor tending to impair her health she resigned her position in Omaha, and in company with her brother, H. A. Stanard, spent about two years on a farm which she had previously bought, near Madison, Nebraska. She brought to the home of her husband the graces of a cultured mind, refined tastes and a devoted Christian character. Her death was an irreparable loss to her husband and family and to all who knew her a source of sincere sorrow." Colonel Bowman was married to his present wife at Columbus, Ohio, July 9, 1891. She was the widow of Colonel J. W. Halliday, of Steubenville, Ohio, whom she married there in 1865, and who died in 1881. She is the daughter of David B. and Elizabeth Patton, of Sardis, Ohio, her grandfather being one of the first settlers of Wheeling, Virginia. She received her education at Blairsville Ladies' Seminary, Pennsylvania, graduating at that institution in 1861. Mrs. Bowman is an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps, having been elected president of the E. M. Stanton W. R. C. in 1884, and the same year was elected to the Vice Presidency, of the department of Ohio, and was afterward appointed Assistant National Inspector for Western Virginia on the staff of Mrs. Charity Rusk Craig. Colonel Bowman has been very successful as a business man, having been connected with numerous important business enterprises of Des Moines. During 1881 and 1882, he held the first Vice-Presidency of the Iowa Baptist State Convention, and during 1883 and 1884 was the President of that organization, was re-elected in 1885, but resigned, when J. W. Burdette, of Burlington, Iowa, was chosen in his stead. He has been a director of the Iowa National Bank since its organization, and for eleven years was a member of the committee on loans and discounts. He is the first-vice-president of the Des Moines Ice Company, treasurer of the Iowa Coal-Land Company, also director of the first electric railroad of Des Moines, and has been prominently connected with other business enterprises. He is a charter member of Crocker Post, served as its second Commander, and is a member of the Iowa Commandery of the Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He has been a member of the order of Masonry for many years and is a prominent Knight Templar. In educational matters the Colonel has always taken a lively interest, having been a member of the Executive Board of Des Moines University (now Des Moines College) for eleven years, and was President of the general board one year when he resigned. Colonel Bowman has made his way in life unaided, and has won the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is esteemed for integrity and uprightness of character. Politically he is a Republican, and religiously is a member of the First Baptist Church of Des Moines. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."'—MACAULAY. "Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant, of all things."—CARLYLE "History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/polk/bios/bowman137gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 15.4 Kb