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Charles Wesley Bowman

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Charles Wesley Bowman

Birth	:	23 Feb 1840 Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA
Death	:	2 Feb 1921 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, USA
Burial	:	Pueblo Pioneer Cemetery, Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.2877998, -104.6200027
Description	:	CHAS. W. BOWMAN NOTED OFFICIAL AND NEWSPAPER MAN IS DEAD Charles W. Bowman, pioneer publisher, old soldier, Board of Trade officer, county school superintendent, census compiler, influential citizen, church leader, died at an early hour yesterday morning at a local hospital. In sixteen years of government servico in Washington City, Mr. Bowman had been longing to get back to Colorado. At last he did return to the country he had loved above all others, but could not stay here long, for death called him away. In an illness of several weeks he was in the care of hls devoted youngest... Read More	CHAS. W. BOWMAN NOTED OFFICIAL AND NEWSPAPER MAN IS DEAD Charles W. Bowman, pioneer publisher, old soldier, Board of Trade officer, county school superintendent, census compiler, influential citizen, church leader, died at an early hour yesterday morning at a local hospital. In sixteen years of government servico in Washington City, Mr. Bowman had been longing to get back to Colorado. At last he did return to the country he had loved above all others, but could not stay here long, for death called him away. In an illness of several weeks he was in the care of hls devoted youngest daughter, and the best medical skill was unavailing. The funeral service will probably be held Friday at 2 o'clock in care of the Masonic fraternity. The body is at the McCarthy parlors. Announcement will be made. Charles W. Bowman was born February 23, 1840 at Cape Girardeau, Mo., coming from a notable family line traced back 200 years In America. From the southeast corner of Missouri the Bowmans, a tribe of newspaper men, presently made their way to the northwest corner of the new state, where 53 years ago the father started and for years published the Holt County Sentinel, now one of the oldest papers in the Missouri Valley. When the war came on Charles enlisted early in the Union cause, in the Fourth Missouri cavalry. Here ensues a dim space in this biography, for the reason that like most of those old soldiers, he was reticent as to his fighting record. All we can know after a half century is that he was in the thick of various battles and campaigns in Missouri and Arkansas. Following the war he was married, and for several years worked as printer and newspaper man. Owing to his wife's delicate condition of health, in 1872 they sought the mile-high sunny west. The new Santa Fe railroad had made its way as far as Newton, where it stayed hitched for a year and a half before making the final jump to Santa Fe. This word "final" refers to the day's ambition of that period, for the road has never yet really found a finality in extensions. Heading for Colorado before the railroad did, Charles Bowman bought a small newspaper outfit including a Washington hand press, hired a team of mules, and hauled the type and press from the end of the road at Newton to the little cattlemen's village of Las Animas, Colorado. At that time Eliott Bowman, the only one of the brothers that did not get into the newspaper game, was at Dodge City, where life was a round of frontier adventure. He is now residing at Bradford and Fourth streets, Pueblo. There are few men in military life of war or peace who ever show more real bravery than was required in that period to publish a wild west newspaper. Here again Charles Bowman has been reticent and silent as to his adventures in a time that tried men's souls, but it is known that he was fearless and unflinching in writing and printing while surrounded by desperadoes. He started the Las Animas Leader and published it for many years as a real leader not only in news but in civilisation. The Leader is the second oldest newspaper in southern Colorado, being next after the Pueblo Chieftain. It would make a most interesting sketch could we look up the old files of the Leader and read of events and comments of the picturesque, turbulent and perilous period when Charles W. Bowman not only spoke his mind but printed it. The wildest scenes of today's cowboy screens in movies were then everyday incidents in that cowboy town, Las Animas. Gravitating toward the manifest center of population of a vast region, Mr. Bowman came to Pueblo about 1876, where he for years published the Stockgrowers' Review, representing the leading and most influential western industry. At or about that time, Nelson Bowman was publishing a paper he had started at La Junta, while Cyrus Bowman had gone to Walsenburg and was doing the same tiung, though he afterward went to California and is now publishing a paper at San Jose. George Bowman drifted out of the newspaper business when he reached Pueblo and operated a hothouse and garden. While still editing and printing the Stockgrowers' Review, whose office was located on Santa Fe avenue just below the present Palm theater, Charles Bowman became interested in local politics, or rather the educational feature of it. He became a candidate for superintendent of county schools, was elected, and filled the position with such success and efficiency, that he was again nominated and elected to a second term. In these two terms as head of county schools he inaugurated improvements and kept the schools up to the mark at a time when the number of pupils was rapidly increasing, making most perplexing tax upon all who were engaged in their management. About sixteen years ago Mr. Bowman failed in tho one ambition he sought to attain which might be classed as political. He wanted to be made consul to Egypt, and was so sure of getting the place that he made elaborate study of Egyptian affairs. Some one less worthy of recognition got it, and the Colorado candidate for the appointment was held off with the small gift of a clerkship in the census bureau at Washington. He accepted it, and has filled these years with laborious research work of unusual nature, which at times required weeks of investigation in far away states. It was a deep grief to him to read last month of the fire which destroyed piles of precious census records in Washington which he had helped to compile and had often consulted. Charles W. Bowman was for practically all his life an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church; was often a class leader, Sunday school superintendent, Bible teacher and mission worker. His membership at time of death was in old Wesley chapel, the pioneer Methodist church of Washington. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he attained the highest of all the degrees. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having been one of those returning soldiers in the grand gathering at Washington at the close of the war—a thrilling and historic, event. From the earliest attempts at local commercial organization Mr. Bowman was alternately secretary and president of the Board of Trade as it was then called. Its meeting place was in a hall over the old postoffice, where the Palm theater now is. It was that live bunch which finally built the Board of Trade building on Union avenue, now the Labor temple. He was twlce married. Two daughters, of whom the first Mrs. Bowman was the mother, now reside in Washington. A son, Reginald and daughter, Isabel, were the children of the second Mrs. Bowman in Pueblo, their home being on upper Greenwood street. Reginald is a chemical engineer with a big metal company at South Chicago and Miss Isabel is in the accounting offices of Crews-Beggs. The brother Nelson, widely known during his lifetime, when he was foreman in the Daily Chieftain office, leaves two sons, Leo and Edward, respectively a linotyper and an engineer. Although so much space has been here given for a too brief sketch of a career filled with far more stirring, more eventful and influential activities than could be imparted in partial description, it is felt to be a poor and inadequate biography, because it does not and can not convey any mention of the main thing—the man's character: no attempt to set forth his remarkable individuality, noble impulses, true loyalty to country and to friend, Christian innocence, rare vitality of mind and of soul. It was a mind of rare mental and moral traits, trained through four score years of ideal tutoring in intellectual and religious attainment, yet accompanied at every step by true success as citizen, teacher, father, leader. ~~~~~M. G. ---Colorado Daily Chieftain, February 3, 1921 EDITOR AND PIONEER IS LAID AT REST The funeral of Charles W. Bowman, who died at St. Mary's hospital Wednesday morning, was held yesterday afternoon, services being conducted at the chapel of T. G. McCarthy on Main street. R. G. Bowman, only son of the deceased, had arrived from Chicago and was present with his sister, Isabel, also one brother, two nephews and their families and many friends. Al the seats on one side of the chapel were occupied by Knights Templar in uniform and Masons of Lodge No. 17 in regalia. The address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Fred H. Zimmerman. Hymns were sung by Mrs. W. J. Kidd. Burial was made in the Masonic portion of the North Side cemetery, with the impressive service of the fraternity. ---Colorado Daily Chieftain, February 5, 1921 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Contributor: BookTrain #47210014

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Charles Wesley Bowman's memorial?
Charles Wesley Bowman's memorial is located at: Pueblo Pioneer Cemetery, Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA.
When did Charles Wesley Bowman death?
Charles Wesley Bowman death on 2 Feb 1921 in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Charles Wesley Bowman's memorial?
Latitude: 38.2877998
Longitude: -104.6200027

Family Members:

Parent

Rev Joshua Bowman

(1813 - 1892)

Elizabeth M Spencer Bowman

(1817 - 1891)

Spouse

Zelia Bell “Zelie” Grisard Porter

(1856 - 1924)

Siblings

Cyrus Benton Bowman

(1842 - 1922)

Nelson Henry Bowman

(1850 - 1903)

Children

Isabelle Dumont Bowman

(1883 - 1967)

Reginald Grisard Bowman

(1885 - 1969)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pueblo Pioneer Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2877998, -104.6200027

2. BNai Jacob Cemetery
Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2892000, -104.6214000

3. Ascension Episcopal Church Columbarium
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2834000, -104.6121000

4. Mountain View Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2430992, -104.6389008

5. Roselawn Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2416992, -104.5749969

6. Roselawn Pet Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2415040, -104.5732250

7. Saint Peter The Apostle Church Columbarium
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2254000, -104.6616000

8. King of Kings Lutheran Church Columbarium
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2245000, -104.6604000

9. Imperial Memorial Gardens
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2207985, -104.6832962

10. Green Acres Pet Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2178640, -104.6832220

11. Wiggins Saint Charles Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2050000, -104.5500000

12. Baca Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1885000, -104.5619000

13. Ecumenical Church Columbarium
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3268000, -104.7708000

14. Chico Cemetery
Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2782000, -104.4006000

15. Swallows Cemetery
Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3050537, -104.8557892

16. Verde Cemetery
Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0708008, -104.6457977

17. Marnel Cemetery
Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0707640, -104.6464400

18. Saint Vrain Cemetery
Avondale, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2098000, -104.2878000

19. San Jose Church Cemetery
Avondale, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1909300, -104.2949720

20. Lower Beaver Creek Cemetery
Fremont County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3692703, -104.9532700

21. Doyle Cemetery
Avondale, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0602989, -104.4167023

22. Plaza Cemetery
Pueblo, Pueblo County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0566170, -104.4118500

23. Wilson Cemetery
El Paso County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5853004, -104.6397018

24. Middle Beaver Creek Cemetery
Penrose, Fremont County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4303500, -104.9601700