Bio of BOWMAN, Samuel H. Sr. (b.1853), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 58-64
SAMUEL H. BOWMAN, SR.
The labors of Samuel H. Bowman were a valuable asset in the upbuilding and
progress of every community into which he directed his activities. He was
prominent in all branches of the lumber trade and his operations covered
probably a wider field than those of any other lumberman not only of Minneapolis
but of the state and the entire west. He recognized and utilized opportunities
which others passed heedlessly by. Fortunate in possessing character and ability
that inspired the con­fidence and won the cooperation of others, the simple
weight of his character and ability carried him into most important business
relations.
Mr. Bowman was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1853, and spent his early
life in Ohio, but when twenty-seven years of age established his home west of
the Mississippi by becoming a resident of Odebolt, Iowa, where in partnership
with his brothers, B. C. and W. C. Bowman, he organized the S. H. Bowman Lumber
Company and established a retail lumberyard at that place. This was the nucleus
of a business which constantly grew and expanded until the firm was operating a
large number of profitable yards in Iowa towns.
In the meantime Mr. Bowman was closely studying the business fields and the
opportunities of the lumber trade and believed that better results could be
secured by maintaining headquarters nearer the source of supply. At that time
the com­pany's yards were largely handling the products of northern mills and it
was this which led to the removal of the headquarters to Minneapolis. Rapid yet
substantial and certain expansion followed the successful pioneer operations of
the S. H. Bow­man Company and they extended their activities far beyond the
retailing field. They entered upon the manufacture of lumber by organizing the
Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company of Kansas City, a manufacturing concern having
sawmills in Louisiana. From time to time the company acquired still other
manufacturing interests and for a number of years S. H. Bowman was also
identified with timber and sawmill plants in western Canada. He became
prominently known as the head of the Bowman Lumber Company, Limited, of the
Revelstoke Sawmill Company, Limited, of Revel-stoke and the Yale Columbia Lumber
Company, Limited, of Nelson, British Columbia, operating several sawmills. A few
years prior to the death of Samuel H. Bowman the manufacturing interests of the
company in Canada were sold, but the Revelstoke Sawmill Company continued its
existence in the ownership and control of retail yards, together with the Atlas
Lumber Company, Limited, the Globe Lumber Company, Limited, and the Alberta
Lumber Company, Limited, all having headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. In fact,
the Canadian interests include about one hundred yards in the prairie provinces
owned and operated by these companies associated with the S. H. Bowman Company.
A notable feature in the career of the company is the fact that the three
brothers always remained in close association in the development and expansion
of their interests, being separated only on the death of Samuel H. Bowman.
Moreover, each brother had a son whom he trained to the business and who will
undoubtedly eventu­ally succeed the father in controlling the important
interests which have been developed by the older generation. So steady and
continuous was the growth of the business that in time the volume of trade had
reached such proportions that it seemed advisable to operate under a number of
heads and at this time there was given strong additional proof of the
administrative and executive ability of Samuel H. Bowman. Throughout his
business career he never failed to divide opportunity as well as responsibility
with the men whom he had chosen as his business asso­ciates and with the
reorganization of the business he gave to many of his older representatives and
employes a share in the stock of the new companies organized. This found its
manifestation in the names of these new organizations, including the Bowman
Kranz Lumber Company, operating yards in Nebraska, with head­quarters at Omaha
and under the direct management of H. G. Kranz; the W. C. Bowman Lumber Company,
under the management of the brother, W. C. Bowman, with headquarters at Kansas
City and retail yards in Texas; and the H. A. Quinn Lumber Company, with
headquarters at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and yards at various points in that state
under the management of H. A. Quinn. The yards of the parent concern, the S. H.
Bowman Lumber Company, are located in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and
Wisconsin. The Canadian yards are under the direct controJ of F. W. Hess and F.
E. Sine, while B. C. Bowman and his son, Frank W. Bowman, have direct
supervision of the business of the S. H. Bowman Lumber Company. Thus those who
have been active in the upbuilding and development of a great commercial
enterprise have been made to share in the profitable fruition of their labors,
while the name of the founder and promoter of the business, Samuel H. Bowman,
has become known in lumber trade circles from coast to coast both in the United
States and in Canada.
With the development of his interests S. H. Bowman became familiar with every
phase of the business from the point of estimating and purchasing until the
finished product was placed in the hands of the purchaser, and his splendid
powers oi organization and the careful execution of his plans are tangibly
manifest in the notable prosperity that has attended his efforts.
Into still other fields beyond the manufacture and sale of lumber Mr. Bowman
extended his efforts, becoming identified with a group of strong financiers,
including George F. Piper, Dr. F. H. Wellcome, F. E. Kenaston and E. C. Warner.
He was always a close student of economics and a firm believer in the soundness
of business enterprise in the Northwest. By reason of this he acquired banking
and other finan­cial interests and at the time of his demise his name was on the
directorate roll of the Union Investment Company, the Scandinavian American
National Bank of Minneapolis and the United States National Bank of Superior,
Wisconsin. He wa* also at different times a director of the Flour City National
Bank, the National Bank of Commerce, the Commercial National and the National
City banks of Minneapolis, each of which were absorbed into larger banks, Mr.
Bowman being an active factor , in bringing about these important changes.
In 1884 Samuel H. Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Anne Louise Stevens, a
daughter of George Dana Boardman and Mary Wiley (Van de Grift) Stevens. Her
paternal ancestors settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1628, and the family was
afterward represented in Cleveland, Ohio. The Van de Grift family was founded on
the American continent at the period when New York was known as New Amster­dam,
settlement being made in what became the American metropolis. To Mr. and Mrs.
Bowman was born a son, Samuel H., Jr., who is his father's successor in
busi­ness, being chosen to the presidency of the S. H. Bowman Lumber Company. He
bids fair to prove a most worthy and capable successor of his honored sire,
displaying the same splendid qualities of business organization and enterprise,
and already his name is a prominent one in business circles of the country.
Mr. Bowman was always appreciative of the social amenities of life and had
membership in the Minikahda, the Lafayette and the Minneapolis clubs. He was
likewise a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and he attended
the Westminster Presbyterian church.
Samuel H. Bowman was a splendid representative of the highest type of Ameri­can
manhood and citizenship. It was characteristic of him that he always considered
every vital question from a broad standpoint. He was ever ready to listen to the
opinions and gain the viewpoint of others, while his sound judgment readily
recognized the worth of another's position. He was constantly alert to
opportunity and while he had no special advantages in his youth, his environment
being that of the average American lad, yet in early life he gave indication of
that individual industry and persistency of purpose that carried him far on the
road to success as he passed along the journey of life. He became connected with
the lumber industry during the pioneer epoch of its development west of the
Mississippi but his clear insight into conditions recognized that there was a
splendid future for the lumber trade as the country was tast becoming settled.
He not only kept abreast with the times but in advance of them. He was ready for
any emergency and any oppor­tunity and his career indicates the fact that the
door of opportunity opens wide to any who are willing to cross its threshold.
Each step in his career was an advance one, bringing him a wider outlook and
broader scope for his activities. Moreover, he builded his fortunes upon a broad
and substantial base-the foundation stones of energy, integrity, progressiveness
and unabating industry-qualities which all may cultivate and which never fail of
bringing their reward. One of his biographers said of him: "Personally he was a
companionable and kindly man, an ideal husband and father, and a favorite among
the social acquaintances who knew him best. During recent years he acquired a
beautiful location near Lake Minnetonka, where he erected a country home, taking
pride in producing the best of whatever he turned his hand to do and dispensing
hospitality with characteristic generosity. His benevo­lences were many and
covered a wide field of philanthropy, because he believed in sharing his
prosperity with those who had been less fortunate, but his beneficence was
without show, done quietly and justly as best becomes an American gentleman."
Samuel H. Bowman was a son of William H. and Mary (Hyder) Bowman, of Scotch and
English descent, respectively, the Bowman family coming from Perth, Scotland.