Biographical Sketches

DR. J. W. BOWMAN

Is one of the prominent residents of Kansas City who has gained a high reputation as a leading physician and a man of ability in his profession. His residence here covers a comparatively short period, little more than a decade, yet he has demonstrated his right to be numbered among the proficient representatives of medical science, and the public attests his trustworthiness by a liberal patronage.

Dr. Bowman was born near Toronto, Canada, September 5, 1846, and is a son of Samuel and Ann (Marr) Bowman, the former a native of Cheshire county, New Hampshire, while the latter was born in Milton, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish parentage. The father descended from old Puritan stock, and representatives of the family have been prominent in various walks of life. Two of the maternal uncles of the Doctor, Joseph and Phineas Marr, were noted Presbyterian ministers. The father of our subject ran away from home when a young man to learn the tanner's trade, and after serving an apprenticeship in Perry, New York, he crossed the boundary line into Canada at Niagara Falls. Fixing his residence near Toronto, he worked at his trade until he had accumulated a little capital, when he established a tannery of his own, which he operated for a number of years, very successfully. He left home with $.25 in his pocket, but he possessed a resolute courage and determination, and his energy and enterprise brought to him success. He accumulated considerable property, including a farm near Toronto, Canada, on which he made his home until his death in 1866. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and was at one time active in political affairs, but was never an office-seeker. While residing in Canada, Joseph Marr was sent as a Presbyterian missionary to that section of the country, and while thus engaged was visited by his sister, Ann Marr. It was in this manner that Mr. Bowman, father of the Doctor, met the lady whom he made his wife, going to Pennsylvania for that purpose. They had 8 children, four of whom are still living, namely: Samuel A., who resides on the old homestead in Canada; Dr. J. W.; Charles A.; and Mrs. N. A. Hughes, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bowman was reared in Canada, where he acquired his education, and at the University of Toronto was graduated with the class of 1867, completing the medical course. He was but 17 years of age when he began the study of medicine, and had therefore completed the full 4 year course in the year that witnessed his entrance into manhood. Immediately after his graduation he came to the United States, locating in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1875. During that time he was appointed and served as a local surgeon of the Pennsylvania & Erie Railroad.

In 1875 Dr. Bowman returned to Canada and located on the St. Clair river, opposite St. Clair, Michigan, about 60 miles above Detroit, where he engaged in practice until 1884. He served as a member of the local board of health and also associate coroner of the county within that time. In 1884 he came to Kansas City a perfect stranger, but believing it to be an advantageous field of labor, owing to its rapid development, he sold his property in Canada and here established an office, since which time he has been successfully engaged in practice in Jackson county. He now has a good business, which is well merited.

Before coming to the city Dr. Bowman was married, in 1883, to Miss Mary A. Van Valzah, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in whose family there were 25 physicians. She is also a relative of General Montgomery, who fell during the assault on Quebec. By their union have been born 3 daughters - Margaret V., having died in infancy. The others are Henrietta Marr and Catherine Van Valzah.

The Doctor and his wife are member of the Presbyterian church and Mrs. Bowman is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. The Doctor also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is connected with the Jackson County Medical Society. He is the professor of the principles and practices of medicine and medical examiner for life insurance in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Kansas City, Kansas, and is the medical examiner for the Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company, the Fidelity Mutual Life Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States Life Insurance Company of New York, the Bankers' Life Association of St. Paul, and several others of less importance. In June, 1895, he was elected a member of the city council of Kansas City, and is chairman of the sanitary, hospital and workhouse committees, also a member of the committees on finance, streets, alleys and grades, and of the water committee.

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This page was last updated August 2, 2006.