JOHN BOWMAN, merchant and post-master at Tocsin, was born near Massillon Stark County, Ohio, and came with his parents, Richard S. and Mary (Shaffer) Bowman, to Wells County in October, 1857. The family then consisted of the parents, our subject and his brother Byron. The family located on a farm near Bluffton, where the parents still reside. One daughter, Jennie, was born in this county, now the wife of Ross Cherry, and resides at the homestead. Byron married Maggie Ulmer, and is a merchant at Bluffton. Our subject was reared upon a farm, where he acquired a practical education which was completed at the Bluffton High Schools. He engaged in the mercantile trade in that city in January, 1886, and November 5 of that year he became a resident of the new village of Tocsin, purchasing the stock of goods formerly owned by Samuel Kunkle. His goods in Bluffton were sold prior to his removal, to Albert Shepherd, and Mr. Bowman now devotes his time and attention to the mercantile trade in Tocsin. His is the only store in the village, and he carries a large stock and does an extensive business. He was married December 27, 1876, to Elizabeth E. Williams, daughter of James S. Williams, a resident of this county, who has lived within her boundaries forty-two years. Four children have been born to this union— Harry O., Louis E., Albert and Jesse W. The latter is deceased. Mrs. Bowman died December 18, 1885, and March 17, 1887, Mr. Bowman married Eliza J. Archibold, who was born near Tocsin, Wells County. Mr. Bowman was appointed postmaster of Tocsin January 31, 1886, vice Samuel Kunkle, resigned in 1886.

Submitted by: Carrie L. Scheuerman
Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 804-805.

Descendants of Adam Bowman

1 Adam Bowman b: December 14, 1794 d: February 13, 1870 in Ohio .. +Elizabeth Spicer b: September 03, 1800 d: February 12, 1882 in Ohio Father: Richard Spicer
............. 2 Margaret Bowman b: October 03, 1834 d: January 21, 1919
................. +George Stoffer b: July 25, 1820 in Knox Township, Columbiana County, Ohio d: April 21, 1899 in Knox Township, Columbiana County, Ohio m: August 29, 1877 in Stark County, Ohio Father: Jacob Stoffer Mother: Christina Keister
............. 2 Mary Ann Bowman b: 1819
................. +David Sell m: April 16, 1846
............. 2 Richard S. Bowman b: June 14, 1821 in Pennsylvania d: April 24, 1900
................. +Mary Ann Sheafer b: December 23, 1822 in Ohio d: November 19, 1900 m: June 08, 1854 Father: John Sheafer Mother: Eva Wagoner
............................ 3 John Adam Bowman b: April 19, 1850 in Massillon Stark Co., OH d: March 21, 1944
................................ +Elizabeth Emeline Williams b: 1856 in Indiana d: December 18, 1885 m: December 28, 1876 in Wells County, IN Father: James S. Williams Mother: Harriet Bolenger
........................................... 4 Harry Oliver Bowman b: October 08, 1877 d: May 22, 1959
............................................... +Kathryn Streich
........................................... *2nd Wife of Harry Oliver Bowman:
............................................... +Marletta
........................................... 4 Lewis Claude Edward Bowman b: November 29, 1878 d: November 16, 1947 in Cook County, IL (at Marie's house)
............................................... +Hilma Andrea Weir b: April 11, 1881 in Saxvar Sweden d: July 09, 1941 in Oconto Hospital, Oconto, WI m: 1904 in Chicago, IL Father: Michael Johnston Weir Mother: Marie Nashergen
.......................................................... 5 Claude Edward Albert Bowman b: May 24, 1905 in Forest Park, IL d: November 18, 1983 in Oconto Falls, WI
.............................................................. +Eileen Myrtle Hartman b: April 15, 1916 in Soperton, WI d: June 25, 2001 in Suring, WI m: November 16, 1935 in Wabeno, WI (Forest County) Father: William Henry Hartman Mother: Pearl Priscilla Peebles
........................................... 4 Bonnie Albert Bowman b: December 27, 1880
............................................... +Laura Krueger d: May 25, 1950
.......................................................... 5 Clifford Bowman
.......................................................... 5 Roland Bowman
........................................... 4 Jesse W. Bowman b: June 22, 1882 d: November 04, 1884
............................ *2nd Wife of John Adam Bowman:
................................ +Eliza Jane Archibold b: November 25, 1868 in Wells County, IN d: April 22, 1925 in Wells County, IN m: March 17, 1887 in Wells County, IN
........................................... 4 Howard Bowman
........................................... 4 Lavergne Bowman
........................................... 4 Dorothy Bowman
........................................... 4 Virgil Bowman
........................................... 4 Mary Bowman
........................................... 4 Herman Bowman
........................................... 4 George Bowman
........................................... 4 Robert Bowman
........................................... 4 Eva Bowman
........................................... 4 Nellie Bowman
............................ 3 Byron Washington Bowman b: December 12, 1852 d: September 27, 1913
................................ +Maggie Ulmer b: Abt. 1862 d: November 16, 1934 m: 1880
........................................... 4 Luster G. Bowman b: Abt. 1882 d: March 21, 1964
............................................... +Anna W. Johnson d: December 27, 1976
.......................................................... 5 Catherine Bowman b: Abt. 1911 d: October 16, 1923
............................ 3 Violette Jennie Bowman b: Abt. 1862
................................ +Ross Cherry d: 1890
........................................... 4 Ethel Cherry
............................................... +Alex Hunt
........................................... 4 Richard Cherry
........................................... 4 Unnamed Cherry
............................ *2nd Husband of Violette Jennie Bowman:
................................ +Andrew Jackson Byrd b: 1865 d: 1933 Father: George Washington Byrd Mother: Elizabeth Cartwright
........................................... 4 Clement Byrd b: April 21, 1899 d: November 1973
............................................... +Vanetta William m: November 24, 1931
........................................... 4 Homer Byrd
........................................... 4 Lawrence Shaffer Byrd b: 1902 d: 1951
............................................... +Ruth Opal Williams b: 1906
.......................................................... 5 Jack Edward Byrd
.......................................................... 5 Thomas Neil Byrd b: November 20, 1927
.......................................................... 5 Richard Wayne Byrd b: October 20, 1929
........................................... 4 Nora Byrd
........................................... 4 Florence Byrd
........................................... 4 Ruth Byrd
............. 2 Adam Bowman b: September 03, 1825 in Stark County, Ohio d: September 25, 1916
................. +Charlotte Jane Schick b: February 03, 1833 d: February 12, 1914 m: September 27, 1855 in Canton, OH
............................ 3 William Edward Bowman b: November 22, 1859 d: September 21, 1910
................................ +Rachael May Funk b: March 27, 1865 in Wayne County, Ohio d: January 04, 1946 in Lawton Nursing Home, Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana m: March 22, 1888 in Wells Co., Indiana Father: Absalom Funk Mother: Anna Margaret Bowers
........................................... 4 Carrie Belle Bowman b: July 31, 1888 in Wells County, IN d: August 07, 1971 in Ft. Wayne, IN
............................................... +Jay Westman Eastman b: June 09, 1885 in Olean, Cattaraugus, New York d: December 03, 1944 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana m: January 02, 1908 in Wells Co., Indiana Father: Benjamin Eastman Mother: Jennie Anna Johnson
.......................................................... 5 Howard Eston Eastman b: October 19, 1908 in Wells County, IN d: August 24, 1981 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, MI
.............................................................. +Beatrice Bowman b: June 09, 1907 in Allen Co., Indiana d: August 27, 1968 in Sturgis, St. Joseph, Michigan m: July 28, 1928 in Allen Co., Indiana Father: Oran Murray Bowman Mother: Mertie Armendeau Baker
.......................................................... 5 Benjamin William Eastman b: May 30, 1910 in Allen Co., Indiana d: February 28, 1961 in Allen Co., Indiana
.............................................................. +Etelka Cashdollar b: July 07, 1914 d: 2002 m: September 09, 1933 in Allen County, IN Father: Harry John Cashdollar Mother: Verna Theresa Noll
.......................................................... 5 Jay Eugene Eastman b: September 12, 1919 in Allen Co., Indiana d: June 27, 2001 in Ft. Wayne, Allen County, IN
.............................................................. +Catharine Christena Stults b: April 15, 1923 in Wolf Lake, Noble, Indiana d: May 07, 1990 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana m: September 05, 1942 in Ft. Wayne, Allen County, IN Father: Charles Lewellyn Stults Mother: Estella Martha Busch
........................................... 4 Cora Bowman
........................................... 4 Hugh Bowman
........................................... 4 Bert Bowman
........................................... 4 Oren Bowman
............................ 3 Anna Teresa Bowman b: April 30, 1861 d: May 23, 1946
................................ +Philip Andrew Householder b: November 02, 1857 in Fairfield Co. Ohio d: October 25, 1939 in Bluffton In m: October 02, 1879 Father: John Andrew Householder Mother: Martha Catherine Jones
........................................... 4 Margaret Ann Householder b: February 28, 1887 in Huntington County In
............................................... +Irvin Roy Dailey b: March 22, 1886 in Wells County In d: May 12, 1967 in Wells County In m: February 07, 1912 in Wells Co, IN
.......................................................... 5 Homer Leroy Dailey b: December 18, 1912 in Tocsin, IN d: August 29, 1978 in Bluffton, IN
.............................................................. +Wilda Mae Wolf b: 1920
.......................................................... 5 Ralph Edward Dailey b: March 23, 1914
.............................................................. +Beulah Mae Grim b: 1920 d: August 17, 1995 m: November 03, 1940
.......................................................... 5 Robert Manford Dailey b: January 21, 1916 in Bluffton, IN
.............................................................. +Harriet Belle Porter b: October 14, 1918 m: February 24, 1940
........................................... 4 Mary Householder
............................................... +Jacob Souers Father: John Souers Mother: Anna Strohm
............................ 3 Adam Bruce Bowman b: April 22, 1863
................................ +Aldea I Krause
............................ 3 Ida Elizabeth Bowman b: June 15, 1864 d: October 25, 1934
................................ +James Cherry b: January 1859 in Indiana m: July 12, 1890
........................................... 4 Ruth Cherry b: August 1891
........................................... 4 Helen Cherry b: May 1893
........................................... 4 Desdelora Cherry b: 1907
............................ 3 David Franklin Bowman b: October 28, 1864
............................ 3 Henry Bowman b: April 18, 1867
............................ 3 John Bowman b: July 13, 1872
............................ 3 Edwin Bowman b: July 22, 1875 d: May 23, 1947 in Six Mile Cemetery, Bluffton, IN
............................ 3 Charles Melton Bowman b: October 08, 1856
............................ 3 Mary Bowman b: Unknown
............................ 3 Samuel Richard Bowman b: March 18, 1858
............. 2 Samuel Spicer Bowman b: March 11, 1828 in Bedford County, PA
................. +Margaret Ann Kibler b: October 19, 1835 in Hancock County m: June 01, 1854 in Stark Co., OH
............................ 3 Newton K. Bowman b: October 07, 1856 in Tuscarawas township, Stark Co., OH
................................ +Catherine Lawrence b: March 1864 d: Bet. 1900 - 1910 m: February 02, 1882 in North Lawrence Father: Peter Lawrence Mother: Elina Gesaman
........................................... 4 Charles L. Bowman b: August 1883
........................................... 4 Una C. Bowman b: October 1885
........................................... 4 Mabel R. Bowman b: December 1886
........................................... 4 Leroy D. Bowman b: November 1889
........................................... 4 Edna M. Bowman b: June 1891
........................................... 4 Florence E. Bowman b: December 1897
........................................... 4 Pearl M. Bowman b: February 1899
........................................... 4 Daisy S. Bowman b: April 1900
............................ 3 Emma Bowman b: 1865
............................ 3 Harvey Marion Bowman b: 1866 d: December 24, 1928 in Mt.View, Ca
................................ +Annie Bourdet m: December 27, 1902
........................................... 4 Walter C. Bowman
........................................... 4 Henry J. Bowman
........................................... 4 Helen Bowman b: August 31, 1914 d: February 16, 1995
.......................................................... 5 Jeff
.......................................................... 5 Madeline
.......................................................... 5 Myrna
............................ 3 Samuel Bowman b: 1868
............................ 3 Della Bowman b: 1870
............................ 3 Edie Bowman b: 1872
............................ 3 Daisy Myrtle Bowman b: May 06, 1876 in Tuscarwas, Stark Co. OH d: April 28, 1968
................................ +Henry Pider Shanabrook b: March 18, 1872 d: December 18, 1941
........................................... 4 Harold Eugene Shanabrook b: October 25, 1900 in Massillon, Stark Co. OH d: June 17, 1984
............................................... +Living Paroz
.......................................................... 5 Living Shanabrook
........................................... 4 Bernice Shanabrook
........................................... 4 Glenn Shanabrook
........................................... 4 Kent Shanabrook
............................ 3 F. Walter Bowman b: 1878
............................ 3 Mary Bowman b: Abt. 1858 d: Unknown
............................ 3 Mabel Bowman b: Abt. 1859

Submitted by: Carrie L. Scheuerman

Deb Murray