Samuel Bowman
Encyclopedia
Samuel Bowman was a suffragan
Episcopal
Bishop of Pennsylvania
, United States
.
, the son of Samuel Bowman, a captain in the Continental Army
, and his wife, Eleanor Ledlie. He was educated at the Academy of Wilkes-Barre and, while he was initially inclined toward the practice of law, Bowman soon changed his studies toward the church. His theological instruction was conducted by Bishop William White
. White ordained Bowman deacon in 1823, and he was ordained priest the following year, also by White. After his ordination to the priesthood, Bowman took charge of two parishes in Lancaster County
. In 1825, he became rector of Trinity Church in Easton, Pennsylvania
. He returned to Lancaster in 1827 to serve at St. James Church in that town, assisting the rector there until his death in 1830, at which time Bowman became rector. While there, Bowman earned a doctorate in divinity from his Geneva College (now Hobart and William Smith Colleges
).
Bowman married twice. He was first married to Susan Sitgreaves of Easton, with whom he had three children, one of whom died young. His son, Samuel Sitgreaves Bowman, graduated from Yale University
in 1845 and studied law in Philadelphia, but died unmarried, predeceasing his father in 1848. Bowman's daughter, Ellen Ledlie Bowman, survived her father and died in 1894 in Topeka, Kansas
, having married Thomas H. Vail, the Episcopal Bishop of Kansas
, in 1867. After Susan died in 1831, Bowman remarried to Harriet Clarkson, the daughter of the previous rector of St. James, Lancaster. Bowman's brother, Alexander Hamilton Bowman
, was Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
during the American Civil War
.
, but when the laity refused to concur, Bowman acquiesced in the nomination of Alonzo Potter
, who was eventually chosen. In 1847, Bowman was elected Bishop of Indiana
, but he declined the appointment, preferring to remain in Lancaster. Bowman was consecrated a suffragan Bishop of Pennsylvania in 1858, and this appointment he accepted. He was the 64th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated in Christ Church
, Philadelphia, by Bishops Jackson Kemper
, William Heathcote DeLancey
, and Alfred Lee
. Bowman threw himself immediately into his work, but his episcopate was brief. While visiting the western part of Pennsylvania in 1861 on the Allegheny Valley Railroad
, a landslide wrecked a railroad bridge, causing the passengers, including Bowman, to walk several miles. Bowman lingered behind, and was later found dead along the tracks, either of apoplexy
or a heart attack. He was buried in St. James churchyard in Lancaster.
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Bishop of Pennsylvania
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life and family
Bowman was born in Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, the son of Samuel Bowman, a captain in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, and his wife, Eleanor Ledlie. He was educated at the Academy of Wilkes-Barre and, while he was initially inclined toward the practice of law, Bowman soon changed his studies toward the church. His theological instruction was conducted by Bishop William White
William White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)
The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
. White ordained Bowman deacon in 1823, and he was ordained priest the following year, also by White. After his ordination to the priesthood, Bowman took charge of two parishes in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
. In 1825, he became rector of Trinity Church in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. He returned to Lancaster in 1827 to serve at St. James Church in that town, assisting the rector there until his death in 1830, at which time Bowman became rector. While there, Bowman earned a doctorate in divinity from his Geneva College (now Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
).
Bowman married twice. He was first married to Susan Sitgreaves of Easton, with whom he had three children, one of whom died young. His son, Samuel Sitgreaves Bowman, graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1845 and studied law in Philadelphia, but died unmarried, predeceasing his father in 1848. Bowman's daughter, Ellen Ledlie Bowman, survived her father and died in 1894 in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, having married Thomas H. Vail, the Episcopal Bishop of Kansas
Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, created in 1859, is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over eastern Kansas. It is in Province 7 and its cathedral, Grace Cathedral, is in Topeka, as are the diocesan offices....
, in 1867. After Susan died in 1831, Bowman remarried to Harriet Clarkson, the daughter of the previous rector of St. James, Lancaster. Bowman's brother, Alexander Hamilton Bowman
Alexander Hamilton Bowman
Alexander Hamilton Bowman was an engineer, military educator, and career officer in the United States Army. Bowman supervised the erection of Charleston Harbor defenses, including Fort Sumter, and served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York during the...
, was Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Coadjutor bishop
In 1845, the clergy elected him Bishop of PennsylvaniaEpiscopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania....
, but when the laity refused to concur, Bowman acquiesced in the nomination of Alonzo Potter
Alonzo Potter
The Right Reverend Alonzo Potter was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States who served as the third Bishop of Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
, who was eventually chosen. In 1847, Bowman was elected Bishop of Indiana
Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana, is a diocese in Province V of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state of Indiana. Its see is in Indianapolis, Indiana at Christ Church...
, but he declined the appointment, preferring to remain in Lancaster. Bowman was consecrated a suffragan Bishop of Pennsylvania in 1858, and this appointment he accepted. He was the 64th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated in Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
, Philadelphia, by Bishops Jackson Kemper
Jackson Kemper
Bishop Jackson Kemper was the first missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.Baptized David Jackson Kemper by Dr...
, William Heathcote DeLancey
William Heathcote DeLancey
The Right Reverend William Heathcote DeLancey was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the sixth Provost of the University of Pennsylvania...
, and Alfred Lee
Alfred Lee (bishop)
Alfred Lee was an American Episcopal bishop. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard in 1827, and after three years practicing law in New London, Connecticut, he studied for the ministry, graduating from the General Theological Seminary, New York, in 1837...
. Bowman threw himself immediately into his work, but his episcopate was brief. While visiting the western part of Pennsylvania in 1861 on the Allegheny Valley Railroad
Allegheny Valley Railroad
The Allegheny Valley Railroad is a class III railroad that operates in Western Pennsylvania, and is owned by Carload Express, Inc.AVR acts as a feeder line connecting its many and varied customers to Class I railroads such as CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway , and regional lines...
, a landslide wrecked a railroad bridge, causing the passengers, including Bowman, to walk several miles. Bowman lingered behind, and was later found dead along the tracks, either of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
or a heart attack. He was buried in St. James churchyard in Lancaster.