Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 799 - 800

JOHN F. BOWMAN, proprietor of the Wichita Stair Factory, is operating successfully one of the leading industries of the city, turning out in a first-class manner, in addition to his main product, all kinds of fancy trimmings and scroll sawing, besides carving of the finest description. He employs the best talent procurable, and uses the finest woods -- oak, walnut and cherry. He is in possession of the secret of preparing the wood in a manner which will prevent warping, and his contracts have extended to many of the important buildings of the city, including the staircases in the Fechimer Block, the Lewis Academy, the Methodist Church in Wellington, the private residences of Mr. Fletcher, Col. Dyer, Joel Black, John Wallace, and those of many other leading citizens. The beautiful staircase in the elegant residence of A. W. Bitting gives ample evidence of the taste and skill of this firm, also the Cary Hotel, which is generally admired by all who have seen it.

             Mr. Bowman is a native of New Jersey, and was born June 12, 1844. His parents were C. A. and Sarah Bowman, and he continued with them under the home roof during his childhood and youth, and in early life learned the trade of a carpenter. He was a youth of eighteen years upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, and laying aside his personal plans and interests, proffered his services to his country, enlisting in Company H, 2d District of Columbia Infantry, in which he served three years and seven months. He fought at the battles of Gettysburg and Antietam, and in most of the other engagements by the Army of the Potomac. He escaped wounds and imprisonment, and at the close of the war, after a service of three years and seven months, received his honorable discharge. Upon his retirement from the army Mr. Bowman supplemented his knowledge of carpentering by an apprenticeship at stair-building, for which he subsequently developed a natural talent, and is considered one of the finest workmen in this line in the State of Kansas. Of wood carving, which has now become very popular in the finishing of modern residences, Mr. Bowman is also master, and as a correct judge of this class of work cannot be excelled.

             John F. Bowman was born in Essex County, N. J., as above stated, and began work in Newark, that State. He was subsequently a resident of the cities of Philadelphia, New York and Harrisburg, all this time occupied at his trade, and later migrated to Jeffersonville, Ind., and built the stairway of the New Orleans & St. Louis Packet Line at that place. This work was very difficult, requiring extreme care, strength and exactness, and Mr. B. while engaged in its prosecution added greatly to his knowledge of the art. He is a man who keeps his eyes open to what is going on around him, and loses no opportunity to inform himself not alone in regard to matters connected with his craft, but all others of general interest.

            The spring of 1885 witnessed the advent of Mr. Bowman into the city of Wichita, where he still pursues his calling, and in 1887 became the partner of Mr. Blackburn, whom he bought out in 1888. He stands now at the head of this industry in the State, and being prompt and reliable as a business man, has fully established himself in the confidence and esteem of the people.

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