Robert C Bowling
REV. ROBERT C. BOWLING, pastor of the Reformed Church of Kittaning, Armstrong county, was born Dec. 4, 1851, near Gettysburg, Pa., son of William and Susan (Fisher) Bowling. He attended public school in his native county, and subsequently taught school at Irwin, Pa., for four years. He then took an academic course of study at the Irwin Academy, after which he taught in that institution four of five years. In 1872 he entered Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., was graduated in 1876, and the same year entered the Lancaster Theological College, at Lancaster, from which he was graduated in 1879. He then accepted a call as Supply to the Mission in Allegheny City, Pa., where he was stationed for three months, his next work being as pastor at Emlenton, Pa., where he remained six years. This was a mission when he became a pastor, but the work so prospered under his charge that during that time two churches were built from this humble start. He became pastor at Kittaning in 1885 and had been there ever since (now 1912), over twenty-six years. His church when he arrived here consisted of about 160 members, and now numbers over 350 regular communicants. There is also a flourishing Sunday school. Dr. Bowling has been a sincere worker in his efforts to assist young people in their educational ambitions, and many young men have received their academic training preparatory for college under his instructions. In 1908 he was made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa by Franklin and Marshall College. The degree of Doctor of Divinity has been conferred on him by two different colleges.
For twenty years Dr. Bowling served as president of Clarion Collegiate Institute, and for sixteen years as member of the board of officials of St. Paul�s Orphan�s Home at Greenville, Pa. He has served as president of the board of home missions of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church. He is a man well informed thoroughly equipped for his great work, endowed with many talents which he uses in behalf of the church and community, and is much beloved in the church and in the wide circle of his acquaintance.
In 1881 Dr. Bowling married Kate Heeter, of Monroe, Clarion Co., Pa. They have one son Fredrick F. Dr. Bowling is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 244, F. & A. M., and Orient Chapter, No. 241, R. A. M., of Kittaning.
Source: Pages 894-895, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Nanci Michalkiewicz for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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