Thomas Bowman (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bowman was a local official, newspaper publisher, and one-term Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
. Benefiting from an electoral backlash in 1890 against Republicans for their support of the McKinley Tariff
, Bowman's election was a rare nineteenth century Democratic win in traditionally Republican southwestern Iowa.
Born in Wiscasset, Maine, Bowman moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa
, in 1868. A bachelor, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1875, 1877 and 1879 he was elected treasurer of Pottawattamie County
. He served as mayor of Council Bluffs in 1882.
In 1883, he purchased a controlling ownership of the Council Bluffs Globe newspaper. Under his ownership, the Globe identified itself as a Democratic newspaper. While publishing and editing the Globe, he was appointed postmaster of Council Bluffs in 1885, serving until his resignation in 1889.
In 1890 two Democrats other than Bowman ran for their party's nomination for the U.S. House seat then held by Republican Joseph Rea Reed
. However, at the 9th district's convention, Bowman was drafted and nominated instead. After defeating Reed in the general election as part the Democratic Party's first nationwide congressional landslide against the Republican Party (and first majority in Iowa's House delegation), Bowman served in the Fifty-second
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892, explaining that "my private business demands my undivided attention and I can only continue in public office at a great personal sacrifice." In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
After returning to Council Bluffs and the Globe, he was again the postmaster of Council Bluffs from 1904 to 1908. He also engaged in railroad contracting.
Bowman died in Council Bluffs, on December 1, 1917. He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery in Dresden Mills, Maine.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
. Benefiting from an electoral backlash in 1890 against Republicans for their support of the McKinley Tariff
McKinley Tariff
The Tariff Act of 1890, commonly called the McKinley Tariff, was an act framed by Representative William McKinley that became law on October 1, 1890. The tariff raised the average duty on imports to almost fifty percent, an act designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition...
, Bowman's election was a rare nineteenth century Democratic win in traditionally Republican southwestern Iowa.
Born in Wiscasset, Maine, Bowman moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, in 1868. A bachelor, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1875, 1877 and 1879 he was elected treasurer of Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,158 in the 2010 census, an increase from 87,704 in the 2000 census and is the second largest county by area in Iowa. The Pottawattamie county seat is located at Council Bluffs. It is one of three Iowa...
. He served as mayor of Council Bluffs in 1882.
In 1883, he purchased a controlling ownership of the Council Bluffs Globe newspaper. Under his ownership, the Globe identified itself as a Democratic newspaper. While publishing and editing the Globe, he was appointed postmaster of Council Bluffs in 1885, serving until his resignation in 1889.
In 1890 two Democrats other than Bowman ran for their party's nomination for the U.S. House seat then held by Republican Joseph Rea Reed
Joseph Rea Reed
Joseph Rea Reed was an Iowa Supreme Court justice, one-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district in southwestern Iowa, and chief justice of a specialized federal court....
. However, at the 9th district's convention, Bowman was drafted and nominated instead. After defeating Reed in the general election as part the Democratic Party's first nationwide congressional landslide against the Republican Party (and first majority in Iowa's House delegation), Bowman served in the Fifty-second
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892, explaining that "my private business demands my undivided attention and I can only continue in public office at a great personal sacrifice." In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
After returning to Council Bluffs and the Globe, he was again the postmaster of Council Bluffs from 1904 to 1908. He also engaged in railroad contracting.
Bowman died in Council Bluffs, on December 1, 1917. He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery in Dresden Mills, Maine.