Isaac Erb Bowman, MP

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18366325
• Name: I E. Bowman
• Name: Isaac Erb Bauman
• Eby ID Number: 00002-576
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Occupation: 1857, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; teacher
• Residence: 1861, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer & Tanner
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Isaac E. Baumann, "was born August 17th, 1832. He is the eldest son of a family of ten children. His father was among the early settlers of the township of Woolwich and resided on the north bank of the Conestogo River, at St. Jacobs, where Mr. Baumann was born. At the age of twenty he commenced life as a public school teacher. He found sufficient time during his life as a teacher to keep himself posted on all questions pertaining to the political problems of the day. He has always taken an active part during the various political campaigns in our county. In 1864 he was nominated and elected as member for the last parliament for old Canada, by the Reform party, defeating the Honorable Michael Hamilton Foley by a handsome majority. In 1867, when the Confederation was formed, he was re-elected by acclamation, and again in 1871, and in 1874, but during the campaign of 1878 he was defeated, September 17th, by the Conservative candidate. In 1891 the Reform Convention again brought out Mr. Baumann as the standard bearer of their party. At the close of the polls it was found that Mr. Baumann had gained quite a majority of votes over his opponent, the Conservative candidate. Since then he has held the seat in the House of Commons, discharging its duties with a degree of ability complimentary to himself and highly satisfactory to his constituents. He is president of the Ontario Fire & Life Insurance Companies and also of the Mercantile Insurance Co. At present he resides in the town of Waterloo. He is married to Lydia, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Bowers) Bowman. They have a family of two sons"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].


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Isaac Erb Bowman, of Waterloo, the subject of this sketch, was born in the township of Woolwich, in the County of Waterloo, Ontario, 1832. Here he was brought up, and here he attended school, subsequently entering the Rockwood Academy till he was prepared to begin and make his way in the world. Our subject is the son of John B. Bowman, a gentleman well known for high character; and his mother was Lydia, nee Erb. When Isaac reached his eighteenth year he had not made up his mind with respect to an avocation ; but he had a good education, and an opportunity presenting, he entered a school as master. He liked the profession of teaching, took pride in his work, and was very successful. As a teacher he remained employed till 1860, when certain allurements lay beyond the teaching profession. But in the meantime Mr. Bowman had not confined himself exclusively to the duties of the class room. In 1857 he became clerk of the township of Woolwich, and held the position till 1873. In 1858 he was appointed treasurer for the same municipality, and he holds this position at the present time. Those who had watched his career for some years, (included that he had excellent qualifications for parliament, so the electors of North Waterloo, in 1864, elected him as their representative in the Legislative Assembly of Canada ; and again in 1867 to represent them in the House of Commons, and this seat he held until 1878. Mr. Bowman was always what was known as a "solid" representative, and his judgment could always be relied upon. Mr. Bowman is president of the Ontario Mutual Life Insurance Company, and this position he has held since the organization of the company in 1870. He is likewise president of the Mercantile Fire Insurance Company, and a director of the Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1860 ; and has always taken a deep interest in the progress of moral movements. He is a prominent member of the Methodist communion. In 1857 he married Nancy Kaufman, daughter of Andrew Kaufman, late of Preston. She died in 1858. He married again, in 1861, Lydia Bowman, daughter of .1. W. Bowman.

He adopted the tanning business in 1857, which he has pursued with uniform success ever since ; and is at present a partner of the tanning firm of Bowman A: Zinkan, of Southampton, and is carrying on a kip tannery at St. Jacob on his own account.

A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography Being Chiefly Men of the Time. 1886

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ISAAK E. BAUMANN

It is our sad duty to bring to our readers the news of the death of the widely-known and highly respected Mr. Isaak E. Baumann who died at 4a.m. Friday morning at his residence in Waterloo of abdominal hemorrhaging. He was the son of John B. Baumann and Lydia, nee Erb, and was born August 17, 1832 in Woolwich. He attained the age of 65 years and 17 days.

After attending public school, he prepared himself at the Rockwood Academy for the teaching profession which he began at the age of 18 years and continued until 1860. In 1857 he became clerk and, in 1858, treasurer of the township of Woolwich, which offices he continued until 1885.

In 1864 he was elected representative of North Waterloo in the Legislative Assembly of Canada, and after confederation had been achieved in 1867, as a member in the Dominion Parliament which seat he held until 1878, and then again, from 1887 - 1896, at which time he refused the nomination for re-election.

He enjoyed in this capacity the full trust of the Liberals, for whom he did more in North Waterloo than any other man. He worked tirelessly for the organization of the party and at election-time, took part with the greatest enthusiasm, whether or not he was a candidate. At these times, his excellent talents as a speaker stood him in good stead. Despite the fact that he had not had any German education of note, he was well versed in the German language and knew how to express himself just as fluently as in English. With firm decisiveness in political matters, he combined proper treatment of his opponents in elections, along with modest simple, friendly behaviour in personal relations, and was, consequently, loved and respected by all classes. He will be sorely missed not only in this county, but also in wider circles. Among parliamentarians without regard to party affiliations, he was regarded as an active and useful representative whose opinion in all matters was respected.

Since the founding of the Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1863, he was the manager of the same, and since 1875, president of the Mercantile Fire Insurance Company in Waterloo, which was amalgamated with the London & Lancashire Insurance Co. in 1896. In addition, he was president of the Ontario Life Insurance Society, which position he held from 1871 to 1897 without interruption. In every way, his advice was found reliable and his judgment definitive.

In respect to business, he was the owner of tanneries in St. Jacobs, Port Elgin and Southampton, which he ran with financial success. In 1857, he married Nancy Kaufmann of Preston, who however, died the following year. Since 1861 he has been married to Lydia Baumann, daughter of Jakob W. Baumann. He is survived by 2 sons: Charles & Frederick, who run the tannery in Southampton.

At the burial on Tuesday, a great many mourners from near and far were present. After a short service in the Methodist church, the body was accompanied by a large number of mourners to St. Jacobs, the birthplace and former residence of the deceased and buried in the cemetery there.

Berliner Journal 9 Sep 1897 Translated by: Patricia J. Kauk for the Kitchener Public Library

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Isaac Erb Bowman was one of the most prominent and competent politicians and businessmen in Waterloo County's history. Born on a St. Jacobs's farm, he was educated at the local public school and Rockwood Academy and taught school for ten years. He lived in St. Jacobs for most of his life. In his early years he was a municipal clerk, treasurer of Woolwich Township and St. Jacobs postmaster.

In 1864 he was elected as a Liberal to the last parliament of old Canada, and represented with distinction the north riding of Waterloo from 1864 to1878 and from 1887 to1896.

Bowman was senior member of the firm of Bowman and Zinkan that operated tanneries in St. Jacobs, Port Elgin and Southampton. He was one of the founders of the Ontario Mutual Life Assurance Company (now the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada) and was president from 1870 to 1897. He was also president of the Mercantile Fire Insurance Company.

Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

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King Street, Kitchener

Next, well back and at the bottom of a slope from King Street, was the back of Gaukel's Hotel, extending back to Hall's Lane.

Gaukel's was the first considerable Hotel in Berlin. Frederick Gaukel, who had come from Pennsylvania in 1820, purchased a tract of lots in 1833 from Joseph Schneider on the westerly corner of Queen and King Streets, the site formerly occupied by Phineas Vemum's blacksmith shop, and thereon erected a two story frame building with a wide Colonial style veranda. Candidates at election spoke from this veranda to the crowd on the street, and it had other like uses. The little house standing in the rear, which Phineas Varnum had used for a tavern, was used as a kitchen. The hotel woodshed came next. It was a frame building.

When judges came to Berlin for County Court they stayed at this hotel and Henry Stroh would be asked to forage for speckled trout and partridge, Mr. Gaukel wishing to place something special before his distinguished guests. In 1851 Gaukel had a bear tied by a chain to a post in the barnyard on King Street. There was a cross board on top of the post to which the bear could climb and become a public exhibition. In the early years Indians, wrapped in their government blankets, were in the habit of calling at the house for something to eat. The woods along the Conestoga River abounded in butternuts and these, gathered in the fall, served to entertain the guests on Sunday afternoons. Henry Bachman was an early bartender at the hotel.

Frederick Gaukel died in 1853. His son George thereafter had the hotel for one year, paying $140.00 rent to the Estate. James Potter, who came from Bridgeport, then bought the place and changed its name to The Great Western Hotel. He took down the heavy colonial veranda and replaced it with a new one of iron posts and iron railings. The veranda continued to be a rostrum for political orators. Hon. Michael Hamilton Foley, Post Master General, and Mr. I. E. Bowman, for many years Member of Parliament for North Waterloo, spoke from it. Potter had a large swinging sign on a post at the corner facing King Street. On a windy day 'the squeak of the swinging sign could be heard throughout the village. On the sign were the proprietor's name, the name of the hotel and a picture of The Great Eastern Steamship, by far the largest ship of its time.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

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In Memoriam Died. At Waterloo. Friday, September 3rd, 1897, at 4 o'clock, a.m., Isaac Erb Bowman, Aged 65 Years and 17 Days. Funeral. The Funeral will take place from the residence, King Street, Waterloo, Tuesday, September 7th, 1897, at 1 p.m., to the Methodist church for service, thence to the cemetery at St. Jacobs, for interment. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation.

Funeral Card

Rsrch. Note:
ISAAC ERB BOWMAN 1832-1897

Isaac Erb Bowman was one of the most prominent and competent politicians and businessmen in Waterloo County's history. Born on a St. Jacobs's farm, he was educated at the local public school and Rockwood Academy and taught school for ten years. He lived in St. Jacobs for most of his life. In his early years he was a municipal clerk, treasurer of Woolwich Township and St. Jacobs postmaster.

In 1864 he was elected as a Liberal to the last parliament of old Canada, and represented with distinction the north riding of Waterloo from 1864 to1878 and from 1887 to1896.

Bowman was senior member of the firm of Bowman and Zinkan that operated tanneries in St. Jacobs, Port Elgin and Southampton. He was one of the founders of the Ontario Mutual Life Assurance Company (now the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada) and was president from 1870 to 1897. He was also president of the Mercantile Fire Insurance Company

Occupation:
The I.E. Bowman Tannery was founded in 1855. By 1861 it employed five people; two employees were engaged in tanning, while the other three made shoes.

Isaac married Lydia Bowman 18 Dec 1861, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lydia (daughter of Jacob W. Bauman and Mary Ann Bowers) was born 29 Jan 1839, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was christened 1 Dec 1848, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Jan 1927, Southampton, , Hampshire, England; was buried , Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, Bruce Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Isaac married Nancy Kaufman 12 Oct 1857, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Nancy (daughter of Andrew Kaufman and Magdalena Erb) was born 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 Dec 1858; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: C. M. Bowman
• Eby ID Number: 00002-577
• Elected Office: 1914, , Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada; MPP
• Residence: 1920, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario
• Residence: 1932, 71 Margaret Avenue, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Charles A. Bowman, "resides in Southampton, Ontario, where he is engaged in the leather business. He is married to Louisa Hesse and has a family of two children, namely: Florence Edna, and Howard."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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CHARLES M. BOWMAN, Manufacturer, Southampton, Ont., was born in 1863, in Waterloo County, Ont. His parents are Isaac E. Bowman, M.P., and Lydia Bowman, of Waterloo, Ont. He was educated in the public school and the High School, Berlin. In 1879, he became apprenticed to the tanning business in his father's employ, and at nineteen, was admitted as a partner in the Southampton Tannery, in which place he has resided ever since, and where a very large and successful business is conducted. Mr. Bowman, in religion, is a Methodist, recording steward and trustee of his Church, and has been, for years, superintendent of his Sunday School. Every influence he exerts is for good, and he is very highly respected by all. He is chairman of the School Board. In politics, he is an active and influential Liberal, being president of the North Bruce Reform Association. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In 1886, Mr. Bowman was married to Miss Lulu Hesse, of Howell, Mich. His family consists of two children : one son and one daughter.

The Canadian Album: Men of Canada; Or, Success by Example, in Religion, Patriotism, Business, Law, Medicine, Education and Agriculture; Containing Portraits of Some of Canada's Chief Business Men, Statesmen, Farmers, Men of the Learned Professions, and Others. Also, an Authentic Sketch of Their Lives object lessons for the present generation and examples to posterity"

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Charles Martin Bowman

Charles Martin Bowman, elder son of Isaac Erb and Lydia (Bowman) Bowman, was born at St. Jacobs, Waterloo County, May 7th, 1863, and died at the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital early on the morning of October 24th, 1932, after a brief illness.

He received his Public School education in the village of his birth and later, 1877 to 1879, attended the Berlin High School (now Kitchener and Waterloo Collegiate). Entering his father's tannery as an apprentice he had learned the trade when at the early age of 17, in 1880, he went into business practically for himself, establishing a tannery in Southampton, as partner of the St. Jacobs firm of Bowman and Zinkan. He retained control at Southampton until 1900. From 1880 until 1890 he was also President of the Southampton Lumber Company Limited which operated in the Bruce Peninsula. For twelve years he was engaged in contracting; from 1904 to 1910 he was President of the Great Lakes Dredging Co. Ltd. of Port Arthur, Ont., which concern was awarded the contract of dredging Fort William harbor, the largest single dredging contract given out in Canada up to 1910. In addition to these activities he was at various times director of the Bell Furniture Co. of Southampton, of the Stevens Hepner Co. Ltd. of Port Elgin and of the Durham Furniture Co. Ltd. of Durham.

Mr. Bowman had an extended and distinguished public career. He was President of the Southampton Board of Trade, was in 1894 and 1895 member of the municipal council and 335 subsequently Reeve. In 1898 he was first elected to the Ontario Legislature as member for North Bruce. He was re-elected in 1902, in 1908 and in 1911. Before the next election the ridings were changed somewhat; he was again elected in 1914, for the same general district, but now as member for West Bruce. Always taking a leading part in the Parliamentary debates, Mr. Bowman was made Liberal whip in 1902. For years he acted as financial critic and for a time he was seriously considered for the leadership of his party. In 1919 he definitely retired from active politics.

In 1916 Mr. Bowman, following his father's footsteps, became identified with The Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada in being elected a director. In 1926 he became chairman of the Board of Directors which office he held until his death. He was also President of the Dominion Mortgage Association, President of the Colonization Finance Corporation Ltd., and one of the vice-presidents of the Waterloo Trust and Savings Co.

As President of the Immigration Board of the United Church of Canada Mr. Bowman became widely known. Through his efforts hundreds of immigrant boys were placed on farms in the west. Perhaps his greatest interest, next to the Mutual Life Assurance Company, was, in latter years, the Dominion Agricultural Credit Company, which is devoted to the purpose of profitable agricultural production in Western Canada. Several years ago Mr. Bowman's name was prominently mentioned for appointment to the Dominion Tariff Board.

Mr. Bowman was twice married, in 1896 to Lulu Hesse, who died October 1910, and in 1920 to Henrietta Hesse, sisters, daughters of Julius and Lina Hesse, of Howell, Mich. He is survived by his second wife, one son and two daughters.

Interment was in the Bowman family vault in Southampton Cemetery. An ardent bowler and curler. Mr. Bowman was President of The Kitchener Waterloo Athletic Association and one of the founders of the Granite Club. He was member, and for seven years, May 1914 to May 1921, president, of the Ontario Club of Toronto. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Order.

Twentieth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society 1932 Vol. IV., Kitchener, Ontario, 1933

Charles married Louisa Thusnelda "Lulu" Hesse 17 Nov 1886, Howell, Livingston, Michigan, USA. Louisa (daughter of Julius Carl Johann Heinrich Hesse and Linna T. Kresse) was born 12 Nov 1866, Neenah, Winnebago, Wisconsin, United States; died 17 Oct 1910, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; was buried , Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, Bruce Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Charles married Henrietta Mary Hesse 6 May 1920, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. Henrietta (daughter of Julius Carl Johann Heinrich Hesse and Linna T. Kresse) was born 1873, Howell, Livingston, Michigan, USA; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Fred Bowman
• Eby ID Number: 00002-578
• Occupation: 1887, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; contractor
• Occupation: 1917, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; manufacturer

Notes:

Alfred [should be Albert] Frederick Bowman, "also resides in Southampton, Ontario, where he is engaged in the leather business with his brother Charles. He is married to Charlotte Sparling and has a family of two children, namely: Elmer and Cecil."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Albert married Charlotte Catherine Sparling 23 Nov 1887, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario. Charlotte (daughter of John Sparling and Ann Willoughby) was born CALC 9 Jun 1865, Arran Township, Bruce, Ontario, Canada; died 7 Sep 1915, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; was buried , Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, Bruce Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Albert married Minnie Georgina Davis 1 Mar 1917, St. Thomas, Elgin Co., Ontario, Canada. Minnie (daughter of Thomas Davis and Elizabeth Ayre) was born 1864, Southampton, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-87487

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201883056
• Eby ID Number: 00064-4041.2

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• Eby ID Number: 00002-577.2

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• Eby ID Number: 00002-578.2

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• Eby ID Number: 00002-578.3