"A true friend A loyal friend Paymaster in USA Cival War"

St. Johnsbury Caledonian. volume, August 01, 1906, Image 1

News was received here yesterday of the death on Monday afternoon of
Major N. P. Bowman at the home of his sons, Thomas H. Bowman, at
Pasadena, Cal. This news was not unexpected as Major Bowman had
been steadily failing since his first shock last February.
The son started from California last night and will arrive here with the
remains the first of next week. The funeral arrangements are in charge
of Charles A. Calderwood and the service will be held in the South
church next Tuesday afternoon at 1.30, conducted by Rev. Dr. Edward T.
Fairbanks.
Major Bowman will be buried by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Vermont.
Nathan Parish Bowman was born in Westford, August 24, 1822. He
received such an education as could be had in our common schools of
that day, he attended the academy one term each at Jericho and St.
Albans, Vt; after 18 years of age he labored on his father's farm and
taught district school for six seasons; in 1846 he married Charlotte,
daughter of Col. N. Wheatley of East Brookfield, and settled down on
a farm in his native town until 1851 when he was employed as agent
in a Union store 18 months; then being elected sheriff of Chittenden
county moved to Burlington in 1852 and was re-elected in 1853. At
the end of the year he received the appointment of deputy collector
of customs at Island Pond, Vt., moving there in 1854, continued in the
office during part of the administrations of Pierce, Buchanan and
Lincoln, until 1863, when he received the appointment of Paymaster of
Volunteers in the United States Army. The appointment was received
unsolicited through Hon. Portus Baxter M. C, from Vermont.
The following is what is said of Major Bowman in the "Revised Roster
of the Vermont Volunteers in theWar of the Rebellion."
"Nathan P. Bowman, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
"Appointed additional paymaster in the United States Army with the
rank of Major. May 28, 1864, Ordered to report to Washington and
assigned to duty in the department of North Carolina with headquarters
at Newberne, paying troops at Hatteras, Roanoake Island, Plymouth
and the Sounds.
"Major Bowman was on duty at this department at the breaking out of the
yellow fever, and when all the other officers of his corps had fled to the
north he remained at his post until October 1865, when he was stricken
down with the fever and sent to Roanoake Islandby the surgeon's orders;
upon convalescence he returned to his post and continued in the service
until March 1st, 1865, when he was compelled to resign on account of
ill health the result of yellow fever.
It is greatly to Major Bowman's credit that when officers were fleeing
from the terrible scourge mentioned he not only performed his duty
as an officer of the staff, but attended to the sick and dying within his
department."
After the war closed Major Bowman run a cotton plantation two years in
North Carolina; in 1869 removed his family to St. Johnsbury where he has
since resided. From 1870 to 1884 he was engaged in the manufacture of
brick and in the insurance business in St.Johnsbury. In 1862 he represented
the town of Brighton in the legislature, in 1875 and 6 served as Assistant
Judge of Caledonia county court; delegate at large to the Democratic
National Convention in 1880; candidate for elector on the Hancock ticket
and was Democraticcandidate for Lieut. Governor in 1884.
In 1884 was appointed postmaster atSt. Johnsbury which office he held
nearly five years; had the office repaired and made over into a handsome
and convenient office as could be found in the state and succeeded in
getting free delivery.
He is a member of the South Congregational church; is a member and Past
Commander of Chamberlin Post, No. 1,G. A. R.j has been a member of the
Masonic Fraternity since 1853, held all the offices in the Grand Lodge, from
Junior Deacon to that of Grand Master, the last in 1875 and 6, also Past
Veteran Chief of Masonic Association; is a member of and has held all the
offices in the order of Odd Fellows from Treasurer of Caledonia Lodge to
that of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1885. At the institution of Apollo
Lodge of the Knights of Pythias at St. Johnsbury May 30, 1888, he was
appointed the first Past Grand Chancellor, and on the institution of the
Grand Lodge of Vermont, December, 1889, was elected its first Supreme
Reppresentative. He is also a member of the military order of the "Loyal
Legion" in Burlington and Trustee of the Soldiers' Home, Bennington.
In politics he has always been what is termed a "Jackson Hard Money
Democrat," was the first leading democrat in Vermont who bolted the
Chicago Platform in 1896 and came out publicly for McKinley but remained
true to his Democratic principles.
Major Bowman has been twice married; first in September, 1846, to
Charlotte, daughter of Col. Nathaniel and Lydia (Loveland) Wheatley,
of East Brookfield, Vt. She died June, 1883, leaving two sons: Charles, a
lawyer in Alabama, and Thomas, who resides in Pasadena, Cal.
Major Bowman was again married in 1885 to Mrs. Rosalea Denison, widow
of the late Harley M. Hall of East Burke, who died June 13, 1904.
Major Bowman was a firm temperance man and while sheriff at
Burlington made the first liquor seizure in Vermont under the Prohibitory
Law of Vermont, and believed the law would prohibit if thoroughly executed.