Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 348-350.

WILLIAM E. BOWMAN.

The average yearly accumulation of the American working man, in dollars and cents, is not large. The great majority find it impossible to make any saving whatever. There are, however, a few who manage to lay aside a little and by its assistance, after years of privation, self-denial and the fortunate investment of their hoardings, manage to secure a competency. Few are able to accomplish what William E. Bowman, the subject of this sketch, did in seven years. With his own labor and that of a team of horses on a rented farm, he managed to pay expenses and save, in a period of seven years, the sum of three thousand eight hundred dollars, an average saving of about five hundred and forty-three dollars a year. William E. Bowman was born November 22, 1861, in Stark county, Ohio. He is the son of Adam and Charlotte (Shick) Bowman, natives of Ohio, where they resided on a farm up to the time they moved to Elkhart county, Indiana. Later they moved into Harrison township, Wells county, where they have resided ever since. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are living, viz: Charles, a resident of Elkhart; Samuel, a resident of Elkhart; William E., the subject of this sketch; Anna, wife of Philip Househoulder, resides in Harrison township; John, a resident of Bluffton; Henry, a resident of Bluffton; Frank, a resident of Elkhart; Adam, a resident of Cass county, Michigan; Ida, wife of James Cherry, of Bluffton; Edward, a resident of Bluffton.

When William E. Bowman was old enough to attend school he was more fortunate than many who preceded him, in having good schools, comfortable school buildings, model text books and efficient teachers. He attended school in Harrison township each winter until he was eighteen years of age and profited by the instruction he received. He then began working for wages, making his home, however, with his parents. Up to the time of his marriage he worked by the day, week, month or job as he was able to secure employment. He was prudent and provident. He knew how he got his money and very little of it escaped from him without bringing him some returns. On the day of his marriage he was the owner of a good team of horses, a wagon and one hundred and ninety dollars in money.

On the 22nd day of March, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachael Funk, a daughter of Absalom and Margaret A. (Bower) Funk, well-to-do residents of Wells county. Immediately after marriage the young people took up their residence on the Funk farm, where they resided for six years. He worked with his team and at such jobs as he could procure, doing only enough farming to procure feed for his team. After trying this for six years he discovered that there was little in it more than a bare living. This determined him to change his policy. He rented the Sol DeLong farm in Harrison township and devoted himself assiduously to the management of that farm for seven years. At the end of that time he had saved enough money to justify him in purchasing an eighty-acre tract of land of his own. He selected a nice piece of land and bought it, paying three thousand eight hundred dollars cash for it, every dollar of which he accumulated during the seven years he had been living on rented farm. March 1, 1901, he took up his residence on his new purchase and began improving the land. Since then he has ditched, fenced and cleared this land, making it a most valuable farm. He carries on general farming, raising grain, hay, vegetables and stock of all kinds. He gives his preference to shorthorn cattle, but considers the cross between the Poland China and Berkshire the most desirable in hogs. The greater part of his farm is now under cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman four children have been born, Carrie, Cora, Hugh and Bert. Mrs. Bowman is a member of the German Reformed church, a regular attendant upon its services and a liberal contributor to its support. Mr. Bowman is a member of Washington Council No. 5, Order of United American Mechanics, of Bluffton, is an active member and much interested in the work. In politics he is a Republican, sufficiently liberal to accord to others the privilege he takes to himself, that of voting for whom he pleases. He and his brother-in-law, John Funk, have just returned from an extensive trip through the principal large cities of the east. where they saw much that was entertaining, instructive and amusing. They visited Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Jersey City, New York City, Brooklyn, Baltimore and Washington City, taking in all places of interest in each, returning by way of Cincinnati. The industry, prudence and thrift of Mr. Bowman is most commendable, all the more so because neither selfish nor parsimonious, but he wants to see proper, legitimate return for every dollar he expects. If all good citizens were equally careful in money matters, the latter days of many good men and women would not be, as they frequently are, embittered by poverty.