John Bryan Bowman
Encyclopedia
John Bryan Bowman was a 19th-century American lawyer and educator, most notably, as the founder Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky
. He is the grandson of Kentucky frontiersman Abraham Bowman
, as well as the grandnephew of Isaac
, Joseph
and John Jacob Bowman
. His great-grandfathers were noted Virginia colonists George Bowman
and Jost Hite.
, John Bryan Bowman was a member of the Disciples of Christ and attended Bacon College; his father being an incorporator and trustee. Upon graduation in 1842, Bowman studied law under Henry Clay
and was admitted to the bar, although he did not become a practicing lawyer. Four years later, he married Mary Dorcas Williams and settled down as a farmer after inheriting the Old Forest Farm in Mercer County. Managing the property for the next ten years, he became a successful farmer and landowner.
He was also a trustee Bacon College until the close of his old alma mater. In 1857, he led a campaign to found a new academic institution, Kentucky University, on the site of the defunct college administrated by the Disciples of Christ. He proposed to the other trustees to organize a fundraiser to raise $100,000 for an endowment, one-third of the proceeds to be raised in Mercer County. With the assistance of Major James Taylor, he was successful in gathering $30,000 in his county and, traveling to nearby communities, gained $150,000 within five months. Due to his efforts, the Kentucky Legislature granted a charter in Harrodsburg on January 15, 1858.
Named a regent by the Kentucky state legislature, he oversaw the later merging of Kentucky and Transylvania University
in Lexington, Kentucky in 1865. During the time, he also founded and organized the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky
as an extension of the new Lexington university. Under his administration, Bowman's liberal-minded policies saw Kentucky University grow as a modern center for education and learning during the next several years.
He remained its chief executive administrative and financial officer, a position he held for over twenty years until he resigned in 1874. Following his retirement however, criticism from both his church and the state eventually caused the withdrawal of the state A&M college in 1878 and the board of curators abolished the office of regent.
In 1887, he moved to the New Mexico Territory
due to his wife's poor health. In his later years, he became a prominent resident in the Las Cruces
-area and was active in promoting industrial interests in the territory serving two years as the general manager of the Southern New Mexico Fair Association. He was involved in the organization of Hocker College
, the College of the Bible
and Commercial College. Returning to Harrodsburg, he died at the home of his brother-in-law John Augustus Williams on September 22, 1891. He was buried in Lexington Cemetery.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. He is the grandson of Kentucky frontiersman Abraham Bowman
Abraham Bowman
Colonel Abraham Bowman was an 18th century American frontiersman and American Revolutionary War military officer, who served as an officer and later commanded the 8th Virginia Regiment popularly known as the "German Regiment".He and his brothers Isaac, Joseph and John Jacob Bowman were among the...
, as well as the grandnephew of Isaac
Isaac Bowman
Isaac Bowman was an 18th-century American soldier and militia officer who took part in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War...
, Joseph
Joseph Bowman
Joseph Bowman was a Virginia militia officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was second-in-command during George Rogers Clark's famous campaign to capture the Illinois country, in which Clark and his men seized the British-controlled towns of Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and others...
and John Jacob Bowman
John Bowman (pioneer)
John Jacob Bowman was an 18th century American pioneer, colonial militia officer and sheriff, the first appointed in Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1781 he also presided as a justice of the peace over the first county court held in Kentucky...
. His great-grandfathers were noted Virginia colonists George Bowman
George Bowman (pioneer)
George Bowman was an 18th century American pioneer, landowner and a prominent Indian fighter in the early history of the Colony of Virginia. He, along with his father-in-law Jost Hite, was one of the first to explore and settle Shenandoah Valley...
and Jost Hite.
Biography
Born to John Bowman, Jr. and Mary Mechum in Mercer County, KentuckyMercer County, Kentucky
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 20,817. Its county seat is Harrodsburg. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer...
, John Bryan Bowman was a member of the Disciples of Christ and attended Bacon College; his father being an incorporator and trustee. Upon graduation in 1842, Bowman studied law under Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
and was admitted to the bar, although he did not become a practicing lawyer. Four years later, he married Mary Dorcas Williams and settled down as a farmer after inheriting the Old Forest Farm in Mercer County. Managing the property for the next ten years, he became a successful farmer and landowner.
He was also a trustee Bacon College until the close of his old alma mater. In 1857, he led a campaign to found a new academic institution, Kentucky University, on the site of the defunct college administrated by the Disciples of Christ. He proposed to the other trustees to organize a fundraiser to raise $100,000 for an endowment, one-third of the proceeds to be raised in Mercer County. With the assistance of Major James Taylor, he was successful in gathering $30,000 in his county and, traveling to nearby communities, gained $150,000 within five months. Due to his efforts, the Kentucky Legislature granted a charter in Harrodsburg on January 15, 1858.
Named a regent by the Kentucky state legislature, he oversaw the later merging of Kentucky and Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
in Lexington, Kentucky in 1865. During the time, he also founded and organized the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
as an extension of the new Lexington university. Under his administration, Bowman's liberal-minded policies saw Kentucky University grow as a modern center for education and learning during the next several years.
He remained its chief executive administrative and financial officer, a position he held for over twenty years until he resigned in 1874. Following his retirement however, criticism from both his church and the state eventually caused the withdrawal of the state A&M college in 1878 and the board of curators abolished the office of regent.
In 1887, he moved to the New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
due to his wife's poor health. In his later years, he became a prominent resident in the Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
-area and was active in promoting industrial interests in the territory serving two years as the general manager of the Southern New Mexico Fair Association. He was involved in the organization of Hocker College
Hamilton College (Kentucky)
Hamilton College was a private women's college in Lexington, Kentucky, that closed in 1932.Hamilton was founded by banker James M. Hocker in 1869 as the Hocker Female College. In 1878, a donation by William Hamilton changed the name of the school to Hamilton College...
, the College of the Bible
Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary is an accredited graduate theological institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. Although the seminary is related to the Christian Church , it is intentionally ecumenical with almost 50 percent of its enrollment coming from other denominations...
and Commercial College. Returning to Harrodsburg, he died at the home of his brother-in-law John Augustus Williams on September 22, 1891. He was buried in Lexington Cemetery.
Further reading
- Pyles, Henry M. "The Life and Work of John Bryan Bowman". (doct. diss., University of Kentucky, 1945).
- Wayland, John W. The Bowmans: A Pioneering Family in Virginia, Kentucky and the Northwest Territory. Staunton, Virginia: McClure Co. , 1943.