BOWMAN, Elliott N. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Our people were startled Monday evening and Tuesday morning by the sad intelligence that Elliot BOWMAN had been found dead in his bed about 8 o'clock Monday evening. He had apparently been in his usual health up to the hour of retiring and was found dead within a half hour aftewards. He was the present proprietor of the Colonial Hotel and has been proinent for many years. From friends and from his own personal memoirs we obtain the following; Elliott Newman Bowman son of John and Rebecca Bowman born in Green Co Tenn Oct 11, 1826. Found dead in his bed at the hotel about 8:00 p.m. Monday heart failure being the cause. Aged 73 year 7 months 10 days. From his own personal memoirs we are permitted to take the following comprehensive complete sketch: Elliott Newman Bowman was born in Green Co Tenn Oct 11, 1826. His father was John Bowman who married Rebecca Newman daugher of Squire Newman of East Tenn. John Bowman moved to Indiana in 1827 and settled in Jackson Twp, Fountain County before the township was organized and named the township Jackson in honor of Andrew Jackson the hero of New Orlenas whom the Tennesseans worshiped and almost adored. The subject of this sketch, Elliott N. Bowman spent his boyhood days until 14 on the farm. In 1840 he moved with his father to Covington. He attended the country schools of that day. In 1844 he entered Asbury Univ at Greencastle Ind and was a companion and shcoolmate of the late Senator Daniel W. Voorhees with whom he grad in 1849. In the fall of the same yaer Voohees and Elliott Bowman entered the law office of Love & Wilson at Crawfordsville. In 1850 they both located in Covington INd and in 1851 hung out their shingles as full fledged attorneys at law. EN Bowman became discouraged with the practice of his profession. It was not congenial to his nature and in the spring of 1852, inspired by the reports, of the beautifes and glorious climate of the Pacific coast departed overland with 3 other companions for far off Oregon. He found the Eldorado of his dreams and fancies and pleased with the country remained 13 years.. Having gone with the intention of returning he like the prodigal son came back home in 1865. For a few years after his return to Indiana he was engaged in the mercantile business and in the spring of 1866 married Harriet Jarvis, widow of John Morris Jarvis, and the d/.o William T. and Eva Spinning, to which union was born two daughters, Umatilla and Minnie. In the year 1870 he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Fountain County and was reelected to the same position in 1874 serving 8 years. In 1891 he was elected a member of the lower house of the legislature of Indiana from Ft. Co.. In 1893 he was appointed by Pres Cleveland deputy auditor of the navy and served 4 years. In 1897 he returned to his home in Covington where he now resides and established and fitted out the Colonial hotel of which ie is the owner & proprietor. He was reared in the democratic faith and still adheres to the fundamental princples of that party. He is now in the 75th year of his age, hale and hearty.

The funeral services of Elliott N. BOWMAN conducted by Rev WH Baker were held from the family residence on Washington Street at 2:30 Sunday afternoon the body having been kept since Monday awaiting the arrival of his daughter, Mrs. Goerge Meitzler, from Salmon City Idaho who arrived Sundaymorning. following the services the remains were laid to rest in Prescott Grove Cem, a large gathering of citizens and friends attending.

At 8:30 p.m. Monday EN Bowman died at Covington from heart failure in his 74th year. No illness preceded his death and it came as a great shock to the family friends and the people of the county. Mr. Bowman was well known in the county where he had been a resident many yers had served two terms as Clerk of the county, one as rep in the state leg and during Cleveland's second term 6th auditor of the treasury. He was a grad of Asbury College now dePauw. He leave a wife and 3 married daughters, Mrs. Duke Weldon of Terre Haute, Mrs. George Metizler of Samlon City, Idaho and Mrs. CD Case of Attica, the latter the latter of whom was visiting at his home at the time of his death.