Printer Friendly Version

SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection consists mostly of the papers of William H. Bowman (in 1/2 Hollinger box), and covers the years 1856-1897. It contains primarily bills, receipts, and legal documents, mostly from the 1870's, and a few personal letters.

William Harpine Bowman was born on August 26, 1833 in Shenandoah County and married Emily Frances Huffman, who was born on January 25, 1837 in Harrisonburg. His first ancestor in Virginia was George Bowman who built the old Bowman homestead, called Fort Bowman or Harmony Hall, on Cedar Creek near Strasburg in 1751. William H. Bowman settled in Peach Grove, Virginia, in Rockingham County just southeast of Harrisonburg. In the Financial series, tax receipts reveal that Bowman was involved in community affairs and that he and his wife owned land in Peach Grove. Bowman served as Treasurer and possibly President of the Undine Lodge and supported a community effort to purchase a stove for the New Union School in 1857. The series also contains several receipts from various teachers for services rendered. One folder contains a high number of medical bills and receipts, a medical recipe for pain, and a prescription for Mrs. Bowman. William Bowman served the community further by acting as Justice of the Peace in the Ashby Township, Rockingham County from 1870-1872 as evidenced by the Warrants and Judgements series. Of interest in the Personal Papers series is Bowman's exemption from military duty in 1861.

PROVENANCE
Deposited by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society; packaged in a large envelope on which was written: "From Dorice Graham from her great Uncle Ott Minnich. Donated [as a] collection of old papers from collection. Presented [to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society on] April 30, 1980."

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wayland, John B. Men of Mark: and representative citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia. Staunton: The McClure Company, Inc., 1943.

Box 1    
Series I: Financial Papers              

Folders 1-4 	1850's-1890's, and undated

Folder	5  	Medical bills, receipts, and etc.   

Series II: Judgements and Warrants     

Folders 6-7      1870-1872

Series III: Personal Papers             

Folder 8     4 items