National Guard General. As a boy he became a drummer for a militia unit, the Byberry Guards. At age 15 he joined the 44th Pennsylvania Militia and took part in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. He was discharged later in 1863, and in July 1864 he joined the 197th Pennsylvania Infantry, serving until November. He promptly joined an Iowa regiment, and served until being discharged for ill health. He was unable to walk without crutches until 1874. He studied law, attained admission to the bar and practiced in Philadelphia. In 1877 Bowman joined the 20th Pennsylvania Regiment, which was organized to respond to labor unrest during the Railroad Strike of 1877. In 1878 he received a commission as a captain in command of Company H, 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard. He advanced through the ranks and became regimental commander with the rank of Colonel in 1887. In 1907 Bowman became commander of Pennsylvania's 1st Brigade as a Brigadier General. In 1909 he became commander of the organization later known as the 28th Infantry Division and was promoted to Major General. He retired in 1910. Bowman was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and was as a campaign speech maker for Pennsylvania's Republican Party.
National Guard General. As a boy he became a drummer for a militia unit, the Byberry Guards. At age 15 he joined the 44th Pennsylvania Militia and took part in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. He was discharged later in 1863, and in July 1864 he joined the 197th Pennsylvania Infantry, serving until November. He promptly joined an Iowa regiment, and served until being discharged for ill health. He was unable to walk without crutches until 1874. He studied law, attained admission to the bar and practiced in Philadelphia. In 1877 Bowman joined the 20th Pennsylvania Regiment, which was organized to respond to labor unrest during the Railroad Strike of 1877. In 1878 he received a commission as a captain in command of Company H, 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard. He advanced through the ranks and became regimental commander with the rank of Colonel in 1887. In 1907 Bowman became commander of Pennsylvania's 1st Brigade as a Brigadier General. In 1909 he became commander of the organization later known as the 28th Infantry Division and was promoted to Major General. He retired in 1910. Bowman was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and was as a campaign speech maker for Pennsylvania's Republican Party.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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Pennsylvania, U.S., Oliver H. Bair Funeral Records Indexes, 1920-1980
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Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916
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Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013
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