Adam Keller Bowman

ADAM KELLER BOWMAN, one of the leading business men of Westmoreland county and a man prominently and actively identified with community affairs, was born in Bell township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1854, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hine) Bowman. Joseph Bowman was born in Bell township in 1825. He was reared on the home farm, and on reaching manhood acquired a portion of the old homestead, where he resided up to 1868, when he removed to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Here he was connected for a number of years with the mercantile business, which in 1894 was sold to the Greer Brothers, and since that time led a retired life. Mr. Bowman is a Democrat, and for several years held the office of councilman of Greensburg. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and was for many years an officer of that church. He married Elizabeth Hine, and their children are: Simon, of Greensburg; Elizabeth, wife of Lucien Clawson, ex-sheriff and banker of Greensburg; and Adam Keller, of whom later.

Adam Keller Bowman was reared at home, acquiring his education in the Greensburg public schools. In 1870 he entered his father's store, and some two or three years later was made a member of the firm, the firm name being changed from J. Bowman to J. Bowman & Sons, Simon Bowman also being made a member at the firm. From this time the management of the business was gradually assumed by Adam and his brother. Under their management the business prospered and grew to large proportions, becoming one of the leading dry goods and carpet establishments in Greensburg. In 1898 Adam K. Bowman retired from the firm, and engaged in the manufacture of garment hangers. One year later he perfected and patented a self-adjusting- skirt hanger, the sales of which extend all over this and foreign countries. In 1902 the business had grown to such proportions that more commodious quarters were necessary, and Mr. Bowman accordingly erected a three-story factory building on Penn street, in Ludwick borough, where the business is now conducted on a large and paying scale. Mr. Bowman's life is an example that may well be followed by the rising generation; an illustration of what those success bringing qualities, industry, perseverance and strong will, can do in the way of attaining for a man a high place in the ranks of successful and prosperous people. Mr. Bowman affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served one term as a member of the borough council. He is a member of the Lutheran church and takes a lasting interest in the welfare of that organization. In 1889 Mr. Bowman married Martha Elizabeth Berlin, of Greensburg, and of their seven children five are living: Romayne, Josephine, Margery, Joseph and Edward.

Source: Page(s) 89, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed February 2006 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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