Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

WILLIAM H. BOWMAN The final causes which shape the fortunes of individual men
and the destinies of states are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure; their
influence wholly unexpected until declared by results. When they inspire men to the
exercise of courage, self-denial, enterprise, industry, and call into play the higher moral
elements; lead men to risk all upon conviction, faith--such causes lead to the planting of
great states, great nations, great peoples. That state or county is the greatest which
produces the most useful, most manly men, and the intrinsic safety depends not so much
upon methods and measures as upon that true manhood from whose deep sources all that
is precious and permanent in life must at last proceed. Such a result may not be
consciously contemplated by the individuals instrumental in the production of a country;
pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they work out his as a logical result;
they have wrought on the lines of the greatest good. When the life of one such individual
ends, we look back over the pathway he had trod and note its usefulness--its points worthy
of emulation and perpetuation. What the late William H. Bowman, one of the most
progressive and highly honored citizens of Boone county of a past generation, did for his
fellow men and the community in general might, in a manner, be told in words, but in its
far-reaching influence, cannot be measured. He tried to keep in close touch with the
forward movement of the people, and from a sincere and deepfelt interest in the general
welfare, labored for all that would prove of public benefit until the busy and useful life was
ended, and he was called to the reward of the just.

Mr. Bowman was born May 15, 1835, and he was called to his eternal rest on January 30,
1903, on the home place north of Advance, in Jefferson township, Boone county. He is a
son of Henry and Catherine (Airhart) Bowman. The father came from Virginia in a very
early day, bringing his family overland, which consisted of his wife and five children,
Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah, John C. and Pollie R., all of whom were born in the Old
Dominion. The family located in section 6, Jefferson township, Boone county, buying
eighty acres, all timbered land. On this the elder Bowman erected a log cabin, cleared and
improved his land and became a successful farmer, and here he reared his family. His log
cabin gave way to a pretentious frame residence in due course of time, and, as he
prospered he added to his original purchase until at the time of his death he owned about
three hundred and forty acres. Two of his children were born in this county, William H.,
of this sketch; and Rebecca, the youngest of the family, who married Daniel Brown, one of
the early settlers of Boone county.

William H. Bowman was reared on the home farm, and, like all children of pioneers, he
worked hard assisting to clear and develop the homestead, and he received the usual
educational advantages of those early times, which were by no means liberal. However, in
later life he became a well-informed man by extensive home reading. He remained at
home until he was twenty-one years of age, then hired out at farm work for several years,
then married Nancy Jane Farlow, who was born January 9, 1837, in Jackson township,
Boone county. She is a daughter of George and Mary (Martin) Farlow, both natives of
Indiana, where they grew up and were married and were early settlers in Boone county,
where Mr. Farlow purchased forty acres north of Advance, where he reared his family, of
which Mrs. Bowman was the oldest, there being thirteen children in all, of whom only
three besides Mrs. Bowman are now living--Mrs. Jacob Harlan, of Boone county; A.
Farlow, of Indianapolis; and George Farlow, who lives in the state of Oregon. Mrs.
Bowman was reared and educated in her native community and she remained at home until
her father's second marriage, which took place late in life, and she went out to support
herself, which she did successfully until her marriage to Mr. Bowman, of this memoir.
After his marriage Mr. Bowman rented land for about three years, then bought eighty acres
of his father in section 6, Jefferson township, and went to farming in earnest. Eleven acres
were cleared, and he cleared the balance, and he added to his original holdings, and bought
and sold, as he prospered through the exercise of sound judgment and good management
until at the time of his death he owned over two hundred acres of valuable land, forty acres
of which was in Montgomery county. This land included the old Bowman homestead,
which our subject bought back from others after having been sold with his father's estate.
Our subject was a good farmer in every sense of the word and then kept live stock,
provided a pleasant home for himself and wife and was one of the leading men of his
community. The union of our subject and wife was without issue. He was a worthy
member of the Christian church.

Politically, Mr. Bowman was a Democrat all his life. However, he was not active in
political affairs, being a great home man. After his death Mrs. Bowman remained on the
home place about a year and a half when she moved to Advance and purchased a
commodious home, which is tastily furnished and well-kept and in this she is spending her
declining years in comfort and surrounded by plenty. She is enjoying excellent health, is
well-preserved and appears much younger than her age would indicate. She has been a
consistent member of the Christian church at Old Providence since she was eighteen years
old. However, she recently transferred her membership to the church of this denomination
at Advance. Mr. Bowman was a deacon in the old Providence church for many years up
to the time of his death, and, like his good life companion, was very active in church work.
Mrs. Bowman rents her fine farm of two hundred acres, and she attends to all her business
affairs and lives alone. She is a strong-minded and well-read lady of splendid Christian
character, and she and her lamented husband have done an incalculable amount of good in
their community.

AIRHART BOWMAN BROWN FARLOW HARLAN MARTIN

Submitted by Amy K. Davis