An American Family History

The Bowman Family of Washington County, Tennessee

Jacob Bowman was born about 1745 in Pennsylvania. He married Susannah Millhouse. They moved to Rockingham County, Virginia.

Jacob and Susannah's children included:

Jacob Bowman (1769),
Catherine Bowman Miller (1770, married John Miller),
John Jacob Bowman (1773),
Mary Elizabeth Bowman (1775)
David Bowman (1777),
Daniel Bowman (1781), and
Joseph Bowman (1784, married Mary Hoss and Christiana Beahm).

Jacob bought a tract of land in Eastern Tennessee about 1783. This land was on Boones Creek, Washington County, near Floursville.

Jacob was died in 1789 when he was returning to Virginia from a trip to Tennessee.

In 1795, Susannah married Isaac Hammer. Isaac was a minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Some of Jacob's children moved to Washington County, Tennessee.

John Jacob Bowman (1773) married Eve Elizabeth Steele. Elizabeth was the daughter of Catherine Wine and Christopher Steele.

Jacob and Catherine's children included:
Catherine Bowman (1796, married Jacob Klepper),
Joseph Bowman (1805, married Mahala Carr daughter of Richard Carr),
Jacob Bowman (1806),
Isaac Bowman (1806, married Agnes Young),
Rebecca Bowman (1808, married William Meed or Nead),
Daniel Bowman (1810, married Elizabeth Miller),
John Bowman (1812, Eliza Miller),
Jacob Bowman (1814, married Sallie Campbell),
Benjamin Bowman (1815, married Eliza Gates),
Samuel Bowman (1818, married Margaret Hale)
Madison M.Bowman (1820, married Isabell Campbell)
Susan Bowman (married John Klepper)
MaryBowman (married Jacob Hysinger)

from Genealogy of a Bowman Family by Byron Whitener Bowman, 1956

Joseph Bowman, Sr., was born 26 Sep 1784, and died 12 Aug 1850. His first marriage was to a Miss (Mary) Hoss, to whom were born four children. His second marriage was to Christiana Beahm, to whom six children were born.

Joseph was known as "Deacon Joe" and was a prominent member of the Church of the Brethren. He was a man of prominence and influence. He was a carpenter, contractor, and builder. He built the brick house on Knob Creek in 1818...

To this house Deacon Joe brought his second bride. This was the farm house for his 600-acre farm which he had bought principally from the Fain heirs of John Clark. The Fain heirs secured it in 1783 by grant from the State of North Carolina before the State of Tennessee was organized.

He also built a large brick house on the W. R. Reeves farm, now owned by heirs of John Clark. He maintained a shop in which he employed a number of men, 20 to 30 it is said. He made beds, chests, clock cases, etc. Much of the old furniture on Knob Creek and Boone's Creek came from his shop. The Brethren on Knob Creek used this home as a place of worship for 30 years. In all probability, the old Knob Creek Congregation was organized in his home...

Joseph and his second wife are buried in the cemetery at the Knob Creek Church. The graves are well marked by stones placed by his son, Joseph, Jr. It is supposed that his first wife was buried in an old private cemetery on the farm which he owned. It is located in what is called the "Graveyard Field." All graves are without markers except plain limestone rock, and they have mostly disappeared.

Washington County Marriages

BOWMAN, Benjamin marr. SLIGER, Ann on 08-APR-1838
BOWMAN, Catharine marr. CLIPPER, Jacob on 23-DEC-1817
BOWMAN, Catherine marr. KEESLER, Samuel on 28-NOV-1816
BOWMAN, Daniel marr. ELLIS, Alsey M on 19-OCT-1830
BOWMAN, David marr. MILLER, Emiline on 02-SEP-1836
BOWMAN, David marr. SMITH, Sally on 11-MAY-1815
BOWMAN, E marr. HARTMAN, J on 30-APR-1840
BOWMAN, Elizabeth marr. BASHOR, Henry on 19-FEB-1831
BOWMAN, Elizabeth Minerva marr. PHILLIPS, Britton on 11-APR-1836
BOWMAN, Isaac marr. YOUNG, Agnes on 29 January 1825
BOWMAN, Jacob marr. CAMPBELL, Sarah on 23-FEB-1837
BOWMAN, John marr. DUNCAN, Polly on 31-JUL-1820
BOWMAN, John A marr. WORTHINGTON, Mariah on 26-JUL-1830
BOWMAN, John H marr. BROYLES, Salina J on 04-JUL-1837
BOWMAN, Joseph marr. CARR, Aley on 31-MAY-1828
BOWMAN, Othneal marr. WATSON, Elizabeth on 11-FEB-1829
BOWMAN, Samuel marr. CROUCH, Anne on 11 August 1829
BOWMAN, Samuel marr. HAIL, M on 10-NOV-1840
BOWMAN, Sarah marr. ZIMMERMAN, Jacob on 21-MAR-1825
BOWMAN, Susan marr. CROWN, Solomon on 24 August 1820
BOWMAN, Susannah marr. CLIPPER, John on 03-FEB-1819
BOWMAN, Susannah marr. CROUCH, James on 26-MAY-1825