Ambrose O. Bowman
Ambrose O. Bowman was born in Huntington Township, Brown County, Ohio, April 6, 1863, on the farm now occupied by Rev. T. J. Bowman. George Bowman, great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came down the river in the old keel-boating times, settled on the same farm, which, in turn, has been occupied by Benjamin Bowman, grandfather, and Patrick Bowman, father of our subject. Benjamin Bowman married Mary McElwee, a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, and a lifelong advocate of the cause of temperance. His mother's name is Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Rachael (Housh) Senteny, of Virginia stock.
Our subject attended school until he was fifteen years of age, then went to the Lebanon University. In 1880, he began teaching in Lewis and Mason Counties, Kentucky. He attended the Southwestern Normal School at Georgetown, in 1883, and 1884, and taught in Brown County, Ohio, till 1894, when he located at Youngsville, and taught at that place in 1894 and 1895. From 1806 to 1809, he occupied the position of Principal of the Bentonville schools.
Mr. Bowman is a natural born musician and has been successful as a teacher of vocal music and conductor of orchestra, band and choir.
He was married March 21, 1887, to Laura E. Johnson, daughter of William and Cindora (Shaw) Johnson, and great-granddaughter of Russell Shaw, the founder of Russellville, Brown County, Ohio. They have had four children. Frank died at the age of two years; William, aged seven years; George, aged four years, and Idella, the baby.
From April, 1899, to October of the same year, he was engaged in canvassing for and writing sketches for this work, the History of Adams County. Ohio. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, and is regarded in music and the common branches, as a teacher of more than ordinary ability, and he has brought the Bentonville schools into a high standing in the period in which he has had charge of them.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900