Samuel W. Bowman Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 975-976

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. SAMUEL W. BOWMAN belongs to that class of heroic pioneers who, as 
the advance guard of civilization, have led the way into the wild 
regions of the west and reclaimed them for the uses of man. He has been 
one of the most important factors in the development and upbuilding of 
South Dakota as a representative of its business, political and social 
interests. He is now secretary of the Spink County Farmers' Mutual 
Insurance Association, making his home in Ashton, where he is regarded 
as one of the most valued and esteemed citizens of the town. 

A native of West Virginia, he was born in what was then Randolph 
county, but is now Tucker county, September 20, 1830, the eldest in a 
family of six children whose parents were David and Delilah (McHenry) 
Bowman. The Bowman family is of German origin, the first American 
ancestors having resided on Bowman creek, in Pennsylvania. At the time 
of the Wyoming massacre in the Revolutionary war they were forced to 
flee from their home and sought refuge in West Virginia, where the 
grandfather of our subject resided for many years. He was married 
there, and some time afterward removed to Fairfield, Jefferson county, 
Iowa. In that locality Samuel Bowman was reared in the usual manner of 
farmer lads of the period, receiving such educational privileges as 
were afforded in an old log school house, where seated upon a split log 
bench, he mastered the rule of three, and at the age of fourteen was 
ready to battle with the problems of life. When eighteen years of age, 
both of his parents being dead, he went to Jackson county, Wisconsin, 
where he was employed in sawmills from 1850 until 1854, acting as head 
sawyer a part of the time. He afterward obtained some land and engaged 
in farming and lumbering until 1877, when he closed out his business 
interests in Wisconsin, and in 1878 came to Dakota, passing the summer 
at Gary, Deuel county. In the fall of that year Watertown was founded 
and Mr. Bowman purchased some of the first lots sold in the town. 
Having heard of the rich James River valley, in November, 1878, 
accompanied by his brother, John Carr and H. P. Packard, he drove to 
this district and selected as a claim a portion of section 30, Great 
Bend township. This was a very desirable tract on the river bank, 
including thirty acres of native timber and some rich prairie land. 

Mr. Bowman then returned to Wisconsin, but in February, 1879, again 
came to this state and erected some buildings on his lots in Watertown. 
He also went to Springfield and filed his claim to the James river 
property. In May, 1880, he brought his family to the valley home and 
has since been a permanent resident of Spink county and one of its most 
influential and leading citizens. In 1881 he established a hotel at 
Redfield, but in May, 1882, removed to Ashton and opened the Bowman 
House, which he successfully conducted until 1889. Prominent in 
business circles, he also became quite eminent in connection with the 
political interests of the state, and in 1890 was elected to the 
legislature, taking a most active and prominent part in the first and 
second sessions. He served as chairman of the ways and means committee 
and was the father of house bill No. 41; also introduced a bill 
limiting the power of corporations. From 1891 until 1893 he was deputy 
commissioner of school and public lands.. He was a delegate to the 
first Republican state convention of Wisconsin in 1856 and has since 
staunchly supported its men and measures. He also favors equal 
suffrage, and is an advocate of all progressive and reform measures 
looking to the general welfare of county, state or nation. Socially he 
is connected with the Masonic fraternity. 

In 1854, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hamilton, a 
native of Delaware, and to them have been born five children: Ella, 
wife of F. W. Cole, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Louis H., an 
attorney, who is probably in Alaska; May, wife of C. B. Billingshurst, 
of Ashton; Lida, deceased; and Ruth, wife of J. E. Hipple, whose 
husband, the well known ex-state auditor, is now connected with a 
publishing house in Pierre. The family is one of prominence in the 
community, the Bowman household being celebrated for its hospitality. 
Mr. Bowman is a citizen of sterling worth and a broad minded man, whose 
life stands in exemplification of the possibilities afforded in this 
country to those who have the mind to plan and the will to execute. His 
business reputation is unassailable, and over his political record 
there falls no shadow of wrong.