William S. Bowman (December 17, 1822 – June 17, 1901) was an American politician and engineer from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing

Harford County Harford County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 260,924. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ...

from 1888 to 1890.

Early life

William S. Bowman was born on December 17, 1822, in Hopewell Cross Roads,

Harford County, Maryland Harford County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 260,924. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is al ...

, to Priscilla (née Keen) and Henry Bowman. His father was a farmer and owned a cooper shop in Hopewell Cross Roads. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of 23, Bowman left his parents' farm and moved to a new farm purchased by his father. The farm was .

Career

Bowman operated a cooper and cabinet shop until 1853. In 1853, Bowman started work as a civil engineer with the

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of ...

. He remained there until 1856. He then returned to his farm. In 1860, Bowman was elected county supervisor of

. He served in that role for ten years. Bowman was a Democrat. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Harford County from 1888 to 1890.

Personal life

Bowman married Mary Bailey on June 27, 1846. They had seven children, Mary Emma, John H., George W., James L., William S., Charles C. and Rebecca. His wife died in 1894. Bowman died on June 17, 1901, at his home near Level, Maryland. He was buried at Rock Run Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowman, William S. 1822 births 1901 deaths Politicians from Harford County, Maryland Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates American railway civil engineers Baltimore and Ohio Railroad people 19th-century American engineers 19th-century American farmers 19th-century American legislators 19th-century Maryland politicians