Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 894.

	GEORGE JACOB BOWMAN.  The city of Baker was organized in 1874 and George J.
Bowman became one of its first councilman, in which position he continued for
four consecutive terms and was made president of the council.  He thus did much
in shaping the policy and molding the destiny of the city and he has ever been
an advocate of all that pertains to its upbuilding and substantial improvement.
He was born in Wilgartswiesen, Germany, January 1, 1829, and is therefore
eighty-three years of age ˆ one of the venerable and honored residents of Baker
county.  His parents, Michael and Elizabeth (Braun) Bowman were natives of
Germany.  The father, born in 1787 died in 1838 when his son George was nine
years of age, having been accidentally killed by a heavy timber falling upon
him.  His wife, who was born in 1788, died in 1862.  In their family were five
children, Phillip, Elizabeth, David, Margaret and George J., but the last is the
only one now living.
	As passenger on a westward bound sailing vessel, the New Brunswick, George
J. Bowman came to the United States, landing at New Orleans on the 7th of
December, 1848.  He worked through the succeeding winter at the wagon and
carriage-making trade and then proceeded northward to Louisville, Kentucky,
where he again engaged in a similar business.  He afterward located to Woodford
county, Kentucky, where he continued until 1852 when he went to Missouri, living
in that state until 1873.  About that time he heard and heeded the call of the
west and came to the present site of Baker, although the city was not
incorporated until the following year.  Here he purchased the property where the
Grand Hotel now stands and there engaged in the wagon-making business which he
followed until 1878.  He was thus associated with industrial interests from an
early day in the city‚s history and has made for himself a creditable position
in business circles and has also gained a gratifying return for his labor.
	It has not been in business lines alone, however, that Mr. Bowman has left
his impress for good upon the welfare of the city.  His service as city
councilman for four consecutive terms beginning in 1874, has been an element of
value in establishing the city upon a foundation that has ever promoted its
stability.  He favored many movements for the general good and instituted plans
and projects which have been beneficial elements as the years have gone by.  He
was one of the first school directors and organized the school of that day into
three departments.
	On the 9th of November, 1854, Mr. Bowman was married to Miss Elizabeth
Tweedie, a daughter of David and Rachel (Bennett) Tweedie, who were natives of
Scotland and England respectively.  The mother was brought to America when she
was two years of age.  Her father introduced the first glass manufacturing into
this country.  Mrs. Tweedie was born February 6, 1817 and died February 11,
1894.  Mr. Tweedie was born January 11, 1809, and passed away in Missouri
January 15, 1894.  In their family were eleven children of who six are yet
living:  Mrs. Bowman; John, of Missouri; Esther, who is the widow of Joseph H.
Wilson and lives in Missouri; Ella, the wife of John Long of the same state;
Thomas of Missouri; and Lee, the wife of Oliver Long, also living in that state.
The five who have passed away are William, Margaret, David Gordon, Jane and
Mary.  Mrs. Bowman was born August 13, 1835, and by her marriage has become the
mother of nine children.  Kate May, born November 28, 1855, was married in 1876
to Frank Palmer of Baker, and they have two children, Eula, the wife of John
Warren of Baker and the mother of one son, Leland; and George, who married Miss
Jean Scott and has two children, George and Chester Scott Palmer.  George Joel
Bowman, the second of the family, died in Missouri when but four months old.
Mary E., born July 25, 1860, is the wife of J. P. Halley of Richland, Oregon,
and they have three children, Maude; Eleanor, who married Sol Mason and has
three children, Edna, Floyd and one still in infancy; and Earl, who married Miss
Nova Lloyd.  James Wiles Bowman, born February 28, 1863, died in Boise, Idaho.
Frank Bowman of Baker, who was born January 17, 1866, married Miss Alice Shelton
of Baker and has three children, Lloyd who married Miss Anna Westlake; Ross and
Eva.  John T. Bowman, born October 3, 1868, married Mollie Poe, who died leaving
two children, Lester and Ethel, of Wallowa county.  He chose for a second wife
Miss Ella Bloom.  Robert B. Bowman, born April 24, 1872, married Miss Belle
Willett, Beulah Bowman, born April 12, 1876, is the wife of W. H. Stocker of
Portland.  Myrtle Bowman, born May 7, 1880, is the wife of J. W. Campbell of
Richland, Oregon, and their three children are Dorothy, Elizabeth and George.
	Mr. Bowman has long been a democrat in his political views, and the offices
which he has held have found in him a faithful and worthy incumbent.  Both he
and his wife are devoted and loyal members of the Presbyterian church in which
he has served as an elder for fifty-eight years.  His life has indeed been an
upright and honorable one, actuated by lofty principles, and now in the evening
of his days he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the
future without fear.  He has not only done his duty but has extended a helping
hand wherever aid was needed, being always ready to assist a fellow traveler
upon life‚s journey.

Transcriber's note: Genealogy for above individual is located at:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bakerco&id=I3762

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2008 by Dale Givens, odg -at-
hiwaay dot net.