Thomas Bowman (Methodist Episcopal bishop)
Thomas Bowman was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872.Biography
Born July 15, 1817 in Berwick, Pennsylvania, Bowman earned his B.A. degree from Dickinson College in 1837. Two years later he entered the traveling ministry of the Baltimore Annual Conference of the M.E. Church. He was ordained by Bishop Waugh.
Bowman taught in the grammar-school of Dickinson College, and five years later founded Dickinson Seminary in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Bowman was then chosen as president and later chancellor of Indiana Asbury College, later DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. He also was the chaplain of the United States Senate from May 1864 until March 1865.
During his time at DePauw, Bowman presided over such significant events as the first admissions of women students and of the initial planning of East College. He also served on the university's board of trustees, including a term as president.
Upon his election to the episcopacy, Bowman resigned the Asbury presidency. As a bishop he officially visited all M.E. conferences in the U.S., Europe, India, China, Japan and Mexico.Bowman died at the age of 96 in Orange, New Jersey on March 3, 1914. His remains were interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle, Indiana.
