Biography of Col. Stephen A. Bowman, pages 357/358/359/360/361.  History 
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.

Col. Stephen A. Bowman

	Great achievements always excite admiration. Men of deeds are the 
men whom the world delights to honor.  Ours is an age representing the 
most electrical progress in all lines of material activity, and the man of 
initiative is one of who forges to the front in the industrial world.  
Among the distinctive captains of industry in northeastern Indiana, a 
place of priority must be accorded Col. Stephen A. Bowman, of Waterloo, 
Indiana, for to him is due the upbuilding of an industry which is not only 
one of the most important in his county, but also one of the most extensive 
of its kind in this section of the country, while the comparatively short 
time within which these great results have been obtained further testify 
to his exceptional administrative power and executive ability.   He is, in 
the fullest sense of the term, a progressive, virile, self-made American, 
thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he 
lives, conducting all his business matters carefully and systemically, and 
in all his acts displaying an aptitude for successful management.  He has 
not permitted the accumulation of fortune to affect in any way his actions 
toward those less fortunate than he, being a most sympathetic and broad-
minded man, and has a host of warm and admiring friends.
 	Stephen A. Bowman was born in Keyser township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, one-half mile west of where the county farm is now located, on 
November 1, 1865, and is the son of Joseph and  Ida (Brand) Bowman.  
Joseph Bowman, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, was the 
grandson of Jacob Bowman, who came from Germany in 1772, settling near 
Gratz, Pennsylvania. The latter’s son, Samuel, came to Stark county, Ohio, 
in 1817, settling in Osnaburg township, where he became the father of a 
large family of children, one of whom was Joseph, the father of the subject 
of this sketch.  Joseph Bowman was born January 31, 1814, in Pennsylvania, 
and came with his parents to Stark county, Ohio.  In 1839 he came to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, entering eighty acres of government land at the place 
where the subject was born he also bought other land and sold some, so 
that at the time of his death he was the owner of one hundred and twenty 
acres. He was twice married, first to Eve Bortz, to which union ten 
children were born of whom only one is now living, Mrs. George O. Denison, 
of Auburn, this county.  Some time after the death of his first wife, Mr. 
Bowman married Mrs. Ida (Brand) Tongue, the widow of William Tongue.  She 
was a native of Ohio and a daughter of English parents. When she was but 
an infant her mother died and she was reared by a German family, who 
talked the language of the fatherland, so that she thoroughly learned the 
German language.  Years afterward she and her brothers were brought 
together, and as they talked only English, they could not understand each 
other.  She was born in 1829, and died in 1878, at the age of forty-nine 
years, and lies buried in the cemetery of Auburn beside her husband.   By 
her second union she became the mother of ten children, of whom four sons 
are living, namely: William, who lives on a farm five miles west of 
Waterloo, married Ella Chaney, and they have five children; Lydia, 
deceased, was the wife of George King, and the mother of four children, 
Eva, deceased, was the wife of John Palmer, and left one child; Stephen A., 
the immediate subject of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; Frank 
who lives on a farm two miles south of Waterloo and married Verna Kinney, 
to which union were born six children; George lives at Danville, Illinois, 
and has  been twice married. The other four children died in childhood or 
infancy.
	Stephen A. Bowman lived on the paternal farmstead until about 
fourteen years of age, and then for three years he resided with his brother-
in-law, George O. Denison. In the fall of 1883 he came to Waterloo and her 
completed his education in the high school. In 1884 he entered the employ 
of J. S. Slaybaugh in the handle factory, and on August 1, 1885, he started 
handle making on his own account.  At that time his cash capital amounted 
to five dollars, and much hard work and rigid economy were required in 
order to make both end meet in the beginning of his business experience.  
At that time all the work of making handles was by hand and Mr. Bowman’s 
first year’s output was about one hundred and fifty dozen handles, the 
major portion of these handles being made for edged tools.  Since that 
time the growth of the business has been nothing short of phenomenal, 
machinery having taken the place of handwork in every respect possible, 
and now the business has grown to a production of ten thousand dozen a 
year.  Mr. Bowman started his business career in a room twelve by sixteen 
feet in size, in an old sawmill, but in November, 1886, he was enabled to 
buy a little building northwest of the Lake Shore crossing. He has added 
to this from time to time and now has a substantial building about forty 
by one hundred feet in size,  wonderfully well equipped in every respect 
for the work to which it is devoted , and an inspection of the plant but 
those not acquainted with its workings would surprise and gratify the 
sightseer.  Many machines are found here which are almost human in their 
apparent intelligent action, some of  them being very intricate, and one 
of which took a year to plan.  Many of the machines, have been invented by 
Colonel Bowman and his son, and many others improved by them, so that 
practically all of the manufacturing done here is the product of machinery.  
It is worthy of note that so simple a thing as an ax handle is handled 
twenty-eight times from the time it comes into the shop with the bark on 
until it leaves the factory, a finished handle ready for shipment.  The 
shop is equipped with its own electric light plant, there is above every 
machine an electric fan for the comfort of the workmen, and the plant is 
steam heated in the winter by exhaust steam for the engine. Colonel Bowman 
has made it a point to use nothing but the best stock in his plant, and 
therefore his product has earned in the market of the world the highest 
reputation for its superior quality and workmanship.  The industry has 
been one of the principal enterprises of Waterloo, and to Colonel Bowman 
is due a large meed of credit for the stimulus he has given to local 
business life.
	Aside from his business interests, Colonel Bowman has been deeply 
interested in the development and progress of his community, and for 
eleven years he served as clerk of Waterloo and is now and efficient and 
active member of the library board.
	In May, 1882, Colonel Bowman entered the Indiana National Guard as a 
private in Company I of the Third Regiment and served in the ranks until 
1887, when he was appointed second lieutenant of Company I. In 1889 he 
received his commission as captain, In 1892 was promoted to major and in 
1896 to lieutenant-colonel, and in 1900, and in 1908 again, he was 
appointed colonel by Governor Marshall.  In December, 1908, he was in 
command of the First Regiment, Indiana National Guard, and on February 1, 
1913, he retired from the service, having completed a continuous service 
of nearly thirty-two years, at the time of his retirement being the oldest 
in point of continuous service in the National Guard, with the exception 
of Adjutant-General McKee. Colonel Bowman was called out to prevent prize 
fighting at Roby in 1893, and in 1894, because of railroad strikes, he was 
located twenty-two days at Hammond, and was shot at by strikers.  He served 
a number of times as president of courts martial and on courts of inquiry, 
and was president of the examining board sixteen years.  At the join 
maneuvers held at West Point, Kentucky, by the National Guard of several 
states, Colonel Bowman was highly complimented by Colonel Wagner, of the 
United Sates army, a high military authority, and in reference of the 
incident the following quotation is made from the Waterloo Press of that 
date.
	“During the joint maneuvers of the United States army and the 
organized militias of the various states held at West Point, Kentucky, in 
September, 1903, Col. Arthur L. Wagner, of the United States army, chief 
umpires, maneuvering division, in his report of maneuvers of the Third  
Infantry, says: “The Third Regiment, commanded in the absence of Colonel 
Studebaker by Colonel S. A. Bowman, for quickness of movement, intelligence 
in executing orders, rapidity in comprehending wholly unexpected difficulties, 
good training in taking advantage of cover, the regiment was especially 
commended.’ The tribute is especially pleasing to Colonel Bowman and his 
friends because of the somewhat difficult position of commanding the 
regiment in the absence of the senior office. Had censure been his portion, 
no matter how mild, it would have been felt keenly.  Since praise is his 
share, his pleasure is all the more heightened.,”
	On September 16, 1887, Colonel Bowman was united in marriage with 
Cora Fisher, daughter of Solomon and Harriett (Rhodabaugh) Fisher, the 
former a retired merchant of Waterloo.  Mrs. Bowman was born at Waterloo 
on January 3, 1865. To the Colonel and his wife have been born eight 
children, six sons and two daughters, namely: Harry Fisher, born April 9, 
1899, is an electrical engineer for the Hunt Helm Ferris Company, of 
Harvard, Illinois, with whom he has been employed continuously since 1907.  
He married Leora Thompson, of Harvard, Illinois, and they have a daughter, 
Lelah; Paul A., born May 23, 1891, and who is unmarried, is assisting his 
father in the handle business; Fred Rhodabaugh, born November 12, 1893, is 
a commercial traveler for the hat and cap house of G.H. Gates Company, of 
Detroit, Michigan, and , though not yet twenty years old, is a very 
successful salesman. These three sons have been especially educated in 
their particular lines; Joseph Solomon, born March 20, 1886, is attending 
high school and at the same time taking a special course in electrical 
engineering; Wilbur E. and Walter M., twins, born January 15, 1900, are 
now in their first year in high school, and are enthusiastic boy scouts; 
Harriet Ida , born March 19l 1906, is attending school, and the youngest 
in the family is Daisy May, born April 4, 1911.
	Colonel Bowman is an ardent lover of outdoor sports, being an 
enthusiastic hunter and frequently going to the woods of Maine and 
Wisconsin in pursuit of wild game.  He had been very successful, being a 
splendid rifle shot, and possesses many interesting relics of his trips, 
and is able to recite many entertaining reminiscences. Personally he is a 
man of genial and kindly impulses, a splendid conversationalist and 
entertaining companion and enjoys a wide circle of warm and loyal friends.  
He and the members of the family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal 
church at Waterloo, and Mrs. Bowman is a devoted member and active worker 
of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.  Colonel Bowman deserves a 
large measure of credit for the success, which he has attained, for in 
early boyhood he was compelled to work hard and had very little opportunity 
for a school education.  In view of his own experiences he vowed he would 
give his children better chances for education and for a right start in 
life than he enjoyed, and he is, to the extent of his ability, fulfilling 
his vow.  Tall, well built, and with a distinct military carriage, he is a 
man of pleasing address and is welcome member of all circles in which he 
moves.  He has been an important factor in the commercial and industrial 
prosperity of Waterloo and holds an enviable position in the esteem of the 
community, which is honored by his citizenship.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com