Thomas Bowman was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and educator. He is known as a central figure in the development of Asbury University, serving as president for fourteen years, acting as trustee, 1875-95, and a president of the board, 1887-95, as well as chancellor, 1884-99.
Background
Thomas Bowman was born on July 15, 1817, in Berwick, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John, a successful businessman, and Sarah (Brittain) Bowman. He came of stock which had a decidedly religious strain, Scotch Presbyterian on his mother's side, but Methodist on the paternal ever since his grandfather, after whom he was named, was converted and later ordained by Francis Asbury, becoming a pioneer preacher of that denomination throughout eastern Pennsylvania.
Education
Thomas had sufficient mental ability to enter the junior class of Dickinson College at the age of eighteen, after one year's preparation at Wilbraham Academy, Massachusetts, and three at Cazenovia Academy, New York.
He graduated, valedictorian, in 1837. His first inclination was toward the law, which he studied for a year under Judge John Reed, noted Pennsylvania jurist, but turning to the ministry, he entered the Baltimore Conference in 1839.
Career
From 1840 to 1843, Bowman taught in the Dickinson Grammar School. Owing to a poor health and the circumstances of his aged parents, for five years he ran a farm and small flour mill in his native town.
From 1848 to 1858, he was principal of Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, from 1858 to 1872 president of Indiana Asbury (later DePauw) University; and in 1872, he was elected bishop. Possessing a keen analytical mind and the gift of exposition, he was an unusually successful teacher. Although much engaged in other labors, he preached continually, acquiring a wide popularity, and in 1864-65 serving as chaplain of the United States Senate.
As bishop, he was indefatigable in superintending the work of the denomination in this country and visited all the Conferences in Europe, China, Japan, India, and Mexico.
A lecture by him "Romanism Enslaves, Degrades, Corrupts" was published in Popular Lectures on the Errors of the Roman Catholic Church (1878), but his activities left little time for authorship.
Achievements
Religion
In his religious affiliation Thomas Bowman was a Methodist Episcopalian.
Connections
In 1842, Thomas Bowman married Matilda Hartman, by whom he had eleven children.