Alpheus Michael Bowman (January 11, 1847 – August 2, 1913) was a 19th-century American politician and businessman. He was a prominent figure in the ranching and livestock industry, either belonging to or serving in important positions, on various business associations. His involvement in these organizations included promoting improved livestock breeding and preserving records of

pedigree Pedigree may refer to: Breeding * Pedigree chart, a document to record ancestry, used by genealogists in study of human family lines, and in selective breeding of other animals ** Pedigree, a human genealogy (ancestry chart) ** Pedigree (animal ...

s. He also had a successful political career as one of the top consultants in the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

, serving on the executive and financial committees up until the turn of the 20th century. He was a grandson of Kentucky frontiersman

Isaac Bowman Isaac Bowman (April 24, 1757 – September 9, 1826) was an 18th-century American soldier and militia officer who took part in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War. His capture and eventual escape from hostile Chickasaw led ...

, as well as direct descendant of early Virginia pioneers Jost Hite and George Bowman, Sr.

Biography

Alpheus Michael Bowman was born in Rockingham County, Virginia to George Bowman and Sarah V. Zeigler. His father was a successful farmer and stock-breeder in addition to being the county magistrate. He was raised in the country and attended local schools, as well as the New Market Academy, however most of his time was spent tending to the livestock with his father. At age 16, Bowman enlisted as a private in the Virginia Cavalry and served for two years until his capture in March 1865. He was held as a

prisoner-of-war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...

in Fort Delaware until June 1, 1865. During Reconstruction in Virginia, he became a successful farmer and stock raiser in

Augusta County Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county ...

and later

Saltville Saltville is a town in Smyth and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 2,077 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport– Bristol (TN)– Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a compon ...

. He moved, this time to

Roanoke County Roanoke County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Cave ...

, where he was the personal manager of the Bowman family stockyard and president of the Diamond Orchard Company, one of the largest businesses east of the Allegheny Mountains and north of Georgia. He would serve in a number of high level positions including 11 years as a member of the executive committee of the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association, vice president of the American Berkshire Association and first president of the American Saddle Horse Association. He was also a life member of the American Jersey Cattle Club. He himself was one of the largest exporters of cattle in the region and as far away as Europe and South America. He entered politics during the early 1870s attending every state Democratic Convention held since 1873, with the exception of one. Bowman became a member of the

executive committee in 1883 and later assisted in the successful election of

John S. Barbour John Strode Barbour Sr. (August 8, 1790 – January 12, 1855) was a nineteenth-century slave owner, politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the father of John Strode Barbour Jr. and the first cousin of James Barbour and Philip P. Barbo ...

over William Mahone in 1883. He later served as a member of the Democratic state committee for 12 years, chairman of the 9th congressional district committee for six years and chairman of the Roanoke County Democratic committee for a number of years. He was also a delegate to the

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St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

in 1888. In 1901, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Roanoke County. Appointed a member of the finance committee, he successfully secured $50,000 to be used to represent Virginia in the

St. Louis World's Fair The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from April 30 to December 1, 1904. Local, state, and federal funds totaling $15 milli ...

and was later tasked by then Governor

Andrew Jackson Montague Andrew Jackson Montague (October 3, 1862January 24, 1937; nickname "Jack") was a Virginia lawyer and American politician. He served as the 44th Governor of Virginia, from 1902 to 1906, and a Congressman from 1912 until his death in 1937. A Democ ...

as a senior member of the commission. Reelected in 1903, and again in 1905, he continued on the finance committee serving as its chairman during his third and final term. He used the large surplus which had accumulated in the state treasury to reduce the state debt, double funding for schools, provided money to the Jamestown exposition (later serving on the state commission) and increased annuities to state colleges. He was one of the commissioners assigned to the remodeling the state capitol building at

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. Following the death of Peter Otey, he became the favorite to succeed him as state representative. Despite strong public support, he lost the election. He was a member of the board of trustees of Roanoke College and secretary of its finance committee as well as vice president on the board of trustees at the Southern Lutheran Orphan home. He served on the board of visitors of Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1911 to 1914. He also served four years on the board of directors of the Southwestern Hospital for the Insane in Marion and the Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia. A member of the Southern Lutheran Church, he was an elder in the College Church in

Salem, Virginia Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combin ...

. He died at his home in

after a long illness on August 2, 1913.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowman, Alpheus Michael 1847 births 1913 deaths Members of the Virginia House of Delegates American cattlemen People of Virginia in the American Civil War Alpheus Michael Roanoke College people 19th-century American legislators People from Rockingham County, Virginia People from Salem, Virginia 19th-century Virginia politicians