Edith Bowman

Notes:

Source: "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

EDITH BOWMAN, the fifth child of Reuben and Louisa Bowman, was born in the old house at the corner of Weber and Wellington Sts., in Berlin, on June 22nd 1887. She attended Agnes St. School and after passing her entrance examination, she went to the Berlin and Waterloo High School, taking a commercial course. After leaving school, she accepted employment with the D. Hibner Company Limited and later on with the C.P.R. telegraph Company.

She is married to George Bremner, a native of Berlin, who was overseas with the 135th Battalion and Fifth Divisional Engineers during the First World War. He is an electrician by trade and after living for some years in Berlin and Waterloo, they moved to Windsor, Ont., where he is employed with the General Motor Company in the capacity of chief maintenance electrician. They have a family of five children, two daughters and three sons.

Family/Spouse: George Bremner. George (son of George Bremner and Jennie Henderson) was born on 8 Aug 1888 in Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maryc/water09.htm

020214-09 (Waterloo Co) George BREMNER, 20, glove cutter, Berlin, s/o George BREMNER & Jennie HENDERSON married Edith BOWMAN, 21, Berlin, d/o Reuben BOWMAN & Louise GEIGER, witn: James BREMNER & Beatrice BOWMAN both of Berlin, 3 February 1909 in Berlin.

1. Evelyn Bremner was born on 27 Jul 1909 in Berlin, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario; died in date unknown.
2. Dorothy Jean Bremner was born on 27 Feb 1912 in Waterloo, Ontario; died in date unknown.

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book.

Reuben S. Bowman, "was born near Berlin, August 3rd, 1852. He is a contractor and builder, and has so far proved himself to be a man of more than ordinary business talent. He is considered one of the most successful contractors of the town of Berlin. On December 30th, 1879, he married Louisa, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hollinger) Geiger. She was born in Berlin. Their family consists of eight children.



Source: "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

REUBEN BOWMAN was born near Berlin (now Kitchener) Ontario, on August 3rd 1852, the son of Joseph C. Bowman and Mary Ann Shoemaker. He spent his boyhood days on the farm of Jacob D. Shoemaker, his maternal grandfather, about two miles southwest of Berlin. Here, under the guidance of this deeply religious, industrious and simple-living Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite family, were instilled in him those qualities of honesty, diligence and fair dealing which continued a part of his character throughout his life. As a boy, he attended school at Natchez near Doon. For a time he lived with his Uncle George Shoemaker in Woolwich Township where he also attended school. Mr. Solomon Kaufman, a school trustee in Woolwich Township at the time, stated that Reuben was a very attentive and industrious student. Among his teachers were Mr. McIntyre and Mr. Samuel Moyer who afterwards moved to Berlin. When about eighteen years of age he moved to Berlin and worked for a time at the Kaufman Planing Mill, where he acquired that skill as a craftsman in woodworking, which he so successfully applied in the construction of many buildings in the town. About 1872 he went to Red River in Manitoba where he was employed in building settlers’ cabins. During the 1870’s, after returning to Berlin, he went into partnership with Mr. Peter Itter in the operation of a sawmill in Hespeler but as the venture proved a financial failure, the partnership was dissolved after having been in operation for only a few years. In 1880 he went into partnership with Mr. Benjamin Hallman as building contractors, their first and chief contract being the Grand Central Hotel, now the Kitchener Hotel at 101 King St. East. The partnership was dissolved in 1889, after which he carried on a contracting business of his own. He confined his work largely to the carpenter trade and during the following thirty years he handled the carpenter work of such outstanding structures as The First Church of Christ, Scientist at the corner of Water and Francis Streets, the home of the Misses Glick at the corner of Queen and Church Streets, Edward Smyth’s home at the corner of Duke and Young Streets, Robert Smyth’s home at 233 Queen St. North, The Agnes St. School and many others.

Reuben and Louisa (Geiger) Bowman had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. First, by coincidence, and afterwards by intent, the names of the children follow down through the alphabet from Allen to Ivan. The youngest Ivan, has continued the custom in naming his children with names beginning with J. K. and L.

It is interesting to note that all of the children of Reuben and Louisa Bowman, who have daughters, have named one of them Louise, after the grand-mother. The grandchildren are now also largely following this practice.

A unique family institution is the so-called Bowman chain letter. This letter was started on its rounds I 1917 at the time when two of the brothers were serving in the army in France. It consists of letters from each member of the family, addressed to all, and may include newspaper clippings or photographs, old or new, or any other matter which may be of interest to the family as a whole. It travels to each member of the family in a fixed sequence, each one removing his or her previous contribution and replacing with new material before sending it on its way. The letter is now in its thirtieth year of travel and shows no sign of losing its interest or popularity.




Reuben was raised by his mother and maternal grandfather at the Shoemaker farm on Greenbrook Drive in Kitchener.

Reuben married Louisa H. Geiger on 30 Dec 1879 in Berlin, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario. Louisa (daughter of Joseph "Jacob" Geiger and Elisabetha T. Hollinger) was born on 17 Oct 1852 in Berlin, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario; was christened on 12 Nov 1852 in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Berlin, Ontario; died on 08 Feb 1937 in Kitchener, Waterloo County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Louisa was raised by the Erb's in the house located at the corner (or near) Pandora and King Streets in Kitchener, Ontario.

Christened:
View baptism record.

Notes:

Married:
Three records/references of the marriage of Reuben Bowman and Louisa Geiger have been located. Information provided in the three sources is not consistent.

Marriage record ( view image) certifies that Reuben Bowman of Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario and Louisa Geiger of Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario were married by David B. Sherk, Minister of U.B.C. Waterloo at Berlin on the 30th day of December 1879. Witnesses were ?? Ziegler and Carrie Geiger.



http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maryc/water79.htm

011197-80 (Waterloo Co) Reuben BOWMAN, 27, carpenter, Canada, Berlin, s/o Joseph BOWMAN & Mary Ann SHOEMAKER married Louisa GEIGER, 27, Canada, Berlin, d/o Jacob & Elizabeth, witn: Albert ZIEGLER & Aaron ERB both of Berlin, 30 December 1879 in Berlin.



http://www.waterlooogs.ca/Newspapers/BerlinerJournal1880Marriages.PDF

Dec. 23, 1879 - Ruben Baumann and Louise Geiger, both of Berlin, were married by Preacher Baumann of Freeport. Print date Jan. 8, 1880.

Notes:

Joseph C. Bowman, the eldest child of Elias B., was born near Breslau on January 12th, 1830. His first wife, Nancy Baumann died six months after they were married. By his second wife, Mary Ann Shoemaker, he had one son, Reuben Bowman...His third wife was Lydia Wismar by whom he had four children, namely: Nancy, Hannah, Maria and Solon. They moved to Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan, where he died of pneumonia on June 16th, 1905 and is buried in the cemetery near the United Brethen Church in Caledonia.

Source: "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948, unpublished.

Joesph married Mary Ann Shoemaker. Mary (daughter of Jacob D. Shoemaker and Jane Dunbar) was born on 7 Nov 1824 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; died on 28 Jul 1876. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

Mary Ann Shoemaker, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, November 7th, 1824. She came to Canada when in her fifth year. She has left one heir, Reuben Bowman who was born August 3rd, 1852, and is married to Louisa Geiger. They reside in Berlin, Ontario. She died July 28th, 1876."

Notes:

At some point, Jacob Geiger and his wife separated. Following this, he went to Calumet, Michigan copper mines.

Joseph married Elisabetha T. Hollinger on 11 May 1852. Elisabetha (daughter of George Balthaesar Hollinger and Charlotta Trautman) was born on 11 May 1824 in Obermiesau, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany; died on 9 Dec 1896 in Berlin, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

Elizabeth Hollinger, the eldest child of George, was born in Misau, Bavaria, on May 11th 1824 and came to Canada in 1848, she being then twenty-four years of age. She often stated that they were three months on the sailing vessel crossing the ocean and did their own cooking on the journey. She first married to Frederick Yaeck, by whom she had one son named Frederick, who married Catherine Diegel and lived at Bridgeport. Her second husband was Joseph Jacob Geiger, by whom she had a family of five children, namely; Louisa, who married Reuben Bowman; Carl did not marry; Caroline no married; George, not married; and Jacob, a twin brother to George, died in infancy. She died in Berlin on December 9th 1896 and is buried in the East End Cemetery in that city.

Notes:

From "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

ELIAS B. BAUMANN , the twelfth child of Reverend Joseph, born in Berks County, Pa. on May 4th 1809. In 1816 he came to Canada with his parents and spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm near Blair. In 1829 he married Maria (Polly) Clemens, a daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Dierstien) Clemens. Soon after the marriage they moved to a farm near Breslau where they lived until 1863, when they sold the farm and moved to Kent County, Michigan, where he died on August 21sr 1875 at the age of sixty-six years, his wife surviving him by ten years. They had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters whose names were Joseph, Jacob, Susannah, Wendel, Aaron, Maria, Leah, Isaac, Owen, Elias, Salome, Catherine, Nancy and Simon. It was during this generation that the spelling of the name was changed to Bowman.

Elias married Maria "Polly" Clemens in 1829. Maria (daughter of Jacob Clemens and Susannah Dierstein) was born on 12 Jul 1811 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; died on 28 May 1886 in Kent County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Ezra Eby Book

Jacob D. Shoemaker, "the eldest son of George Shoemaker, was born on his grandfather's place near the old mills on Swamp Creek, Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, November 24th, 1799. His boyhood days were spent in assisting his father in the woollen mills, carding and dying wool and yarns. From his fifteenth to his eighteenth year he was engaged in the grist and oil mills and during the wool season he assisted his father in the carding mills. When eighteen years of age he hired himself to John Funk who during that time had the misfortune of having his dwelling destroyed by fire, Shoemaker losing all his earthly possessions except the clothing he wore at the time. After quitting at John Funk's in the fall of 1818, he obtained work for a short time in a tannery near Pottsgrove. In spring of 1819 he attended school for six weeks in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County. During the summer he labored for six months with David Allebach, in Skippack Township, at $12 per month. He paid out his wages $50 annually to his parents until he became of age. After having served his six months he attended school another six weeks in Lower Salford Township. His teacher's name was Mr. Borsch. This then finished his school days. In 1820 he engaged himself to Abraham Clemens where he remained for two years, receiving $80 for the first year's wages and $72 for the second year. During the year 1822 he worked for George Reiff of Skippack Township, for $80 per year. The following year he spent in working by the day among the farmers. On November 18th, 1823, he was married to Jane, daughter of Alexander Dunbar. She was raised by Jacob Merkley who resided on the Perkiomen Creek, Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In spring of 1824 he, in company with his wife moved to Joseph Lowery in Skippack whose farm he managed for five years. He received one-third of the product of the farm as wages for his labor and management. The annual income thus derived generally amounted to about $80. In 1829 they with their family of two children, his parents, and two of his brothers and one sister, namely, Daniel, Joshua and Catharine, moved to Canada and came to what is now Bridgeport. Here he was engaged with Jacob S. Shoemaker who had come to Canada in 1820. During the fall of 1829 he worked on the sawmills erected the same year. While engaged here he purchased pine logs from Henry Erb who resided on lot No. 58, German Company's Tract, and had them sawed during the winter and drawn on his farm where he had a small shanty put up. Into this shanty they moved in April, 1830. The year previously he had purchased his farm, being south-west half of lot No. 19, Germam Company's Tract. containing 224 acres. During his first year on this extensive farm large clearings were made and a two-story log dwelling, 24x28 feet, erected. The log barn was erected the year following. In 1851 he erected the stone dwelling now occupied by his son, Alexander, and in 1842, he put up the large frame barn still standing. He is still living and enjoying good health and has his home with his son, Alexander who resides on the old homestead. His family consisted of ten children, of whom two died in infancy.

Jacob married Jane Dunbar on 18 Nov 1823. Jane (daughter of Alexander Dunbar and Martha Mathias) was born on 8 Feb 1798; died on 9 Aug 1880; was buried in First Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

JOHANN ADAM GEIGER was born on a farm at Sinsheim, a village in Baden, Germany, about fifteen miles south-east of Heidelburg. The name of his father, who died when Johann Adam was still quite young, is not recorded. His mother’s Christian name was Elizabeth and young Johann was raised by his widowed mother. He was first married to Elizabeth Koerber whose mother was a daughter of Johannah Doll. They had three children, namely: Joseph Jacob, Louisa and Elizabeth, all of whom emigrated to Canada in the 1850’s. Joseph Jacob married Elizabeth Hollinger; Louisa married Philip Gmelin and Elizabeth married Frederick Rittinger. After the death of his first wife, Johann Adam married Magdalena Huxsel by whom he had two children; Charles, who came to Canada and shortly afterwards moved to Calumet, Michigan, where he was employed as mason foreman at the Calumet & Hecla Mines; and Marie who married a man named Englefinger and remained in Germany. The brothers and sisters who left Germany surrendered all rights to their share of the family estate at Sinsheim which passed to the youngest daughter Marie. She had one daughter who was married to a man named Fisher. Contact with this family was lost during the first World War.

Johann married Elizabeth Koerber. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "Reuben Bowman, His Family" by Fred Bowman 1948

GEORGE HOLLINGER was born and lived at Misau, a village or district in Bavaria, Germany. He was first married to Charlotte Trautman by whom he had three children, namely: Elizabeth, George and Charlotte, all of whom came to Canada; Elizabeth in 1848 and George and Charlotte in 1850. Elizabeth was married to Joseph Jacob Geiger, George to Katherina Besserer and Charlotte to John Schaus. After the death of his first wife, George Hollinger married Margaret Schneider, by whom he had five children, all of whom came to Canada about the year 1854. Philip married Catherine Hoffman, Caroline married Jacob Schaus and lived in Hespeler, Jacob died in infancy or remained in Germany, Michael married Anna Bramm and lived in Bridgeport and Eva married Christian Ohliger and lived in Elmira. George Hollinger was a cooper by trade and all of his sons followed the same occupation. He died in 1862.

George married Charlotta Trautman on 24 Jul 1823 in Schoenenberg, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany. Charlotta (daughter of Johann Trautmann and Anna Stauch) was born on 16 Nov 1800 in Breitenbach, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany; died on 09 May 1832 in Obermiesau, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]