BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Webster Bodine LOWMAN, 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. 19-21
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DR. WEBSTER BODINE LOWMAN, who ranks as a physician and surgeon second to none 
in the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a son of Dr. John and Margaret Ann 
(Bodine) Lowman.
     Dr. John Lowman was himself a physician of note in his day.  He was a son 
of Andrew Lowman, and was born February 13, 1817, in Greencastle, Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania.  The family of the paternal side enjoyed the distinction 
of being Hollanders, the great-grandfather of Dr. John Lowman having emigrated, 
first of the family, from that thrifty little country to this.
     Dr. John Lowman was educated in the common schools. His parents removed 
from Franklin county to Indiana county about 1834, where his father died. The 
latter was a tanner by trade, but followed the milling and distillery business 
in Indiana county.
     Dr. John Lowman was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, but becoming 
dissatisfied with it because of a desire for a professional career, entered 
Indiana academy at Indiana, Pennsylvania. He read medicine later with Dr. 
Stewart, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and entered Jefferson Medical college in 
1844, graduating from that institution in 1847. He located in Johnstown, where 
he practiced his profession with deserved distinction until his death, June 16, 
1894. He was a member of the American Medical association, the Pennsylvania 
State Medical association, and the Cambria County Medical society, of which body 
he was the first president.
     He was the first surgeon ever appointed by the Pennsylvania railroad, and 
held the position until his death. He made a specialty of surgery, being for a 
number of years the only surgeon in the valley. From 1864 to 1872 he was pension 
examiner of the city.
     He did not confine his labors wholly to his professional duties, but like a 
good citizen aided in the promotion of private enterprises that were beneficial 
to his neighbors. So we find him one of the originators of the Johnstown Water 
company, and also of the Johnstown Gas company, being at the time of his death 
president of the latter and a director of the former. He was also one of the 
promoters and charter members of the Johnstown Savings bank, of which he was 
vice-president at the time of his death.
     Politically he was first a whig, then a republican, but never sought nor 
held office.
     He was a member of the Episcopal Church of Johnstown, and of the Masonic 
fraternity.
     He was married to Margaret Ann Bodine, of New Jersey, whose ancestors were 
French Huguenots, and they had but one child, Dr. Webster B. Lowman, our 
subject.
     He was born March 25, 1841 at Indiana, Pennsylvania. After preparatory 
studies at Burlington college, New Jersey, he commenced the study of medicine in 
1865 at Johnstown with his father. He attended two courses of lectures at the 
Jefferson Medical college, from which school he graduated in 1867. He began, 
after graduating, the practice of medicine in Johnstown, where, except the time 
he was engaged in the Civil War, he has practiced ever since. In April, 1861, he 
enlisted as a private in company K, Third regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, but 
was promoted to the office of hospital surgeon. In June, 1861, he was discharged 
on account of disability, but re-enlisted in 1862 as first sergeant of company 
K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. December, 
1862, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and afterwards, captain 
of this company. At the expiration of the time of enlistment he was mustered out 
of the service, but re-entered September 10, 1864, as captain of Battery "D," 
Fifth Pennsylvania artillery, and remained to the close of the war. He is now a 
member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, United States. Dr. Lowman, as 
a medical man of high standing, holds various responsible positions and 
memberships. Since 1867 he has been surgeon of the Cambria Iron company, and of 
the Pennsylvania railroad company; surgeon in charge of the Cambria hospital 
since 1884.
     He is surgeon of the Johnson Steel company; between 1873 and 1893 was 
United States pension examining surgeon, and since 1891 has been senior surgeon 
on the staff of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital.  He is a member of the 
American Medical association and of the Medical Society of the State of 
Pennsylvania, being vice-president of the latter in 1886, and of the Cambria 
County Medical society, of which he was president in 1893.
     To his military and professional career Dr. Lowman adds a private career 
full of good works, being a director of the Citizens' National bank, trustee of 
the Johnstown Savings bank since 1886, director of the Johnstown Water company 
and of the Johnstown Gas company since 1893; director of the Johnstown telephone 
company, trustee of the Grand View cemetery, and since 1891 trustee of the 
Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital.  It will thus be seen what a hard worker Dr. 
Lowman has been.  His unusual powers, too, have ever been directed to the 
promotion of the useful and good, the alleviation of suffering, and the course 
of freedom and right.
     Dr. Lowman in 1870 married Miss Susan Morrell Stackhouse, of Edgemont, 
Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and has one son, Dr. John B. Lowman, who 
graduated from Jefferson Medical college in the class of 1895.  Since graduating 
he has practiced with his father in Johnstown.  A high rank among physicians may 
be prophesied for a young man who has the inspiration of such highly creditable 
examples as are afforded by the father and grandfather of Dr. John Lowman, Jr.