Henry Bowman, a prominent resident of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania, comes from a lineage deeply rooted in the area. His father, John D. Bowman, settled in Bowmansville in 1796, and Henry was born there in 1814. Initially involved in farming and lumbering, Henry ventured into business for himself around 1838, specializing in building canal-boats. Later, he discovered iron ore on his property and pioneered the use of metallic brown paint, leading to the establishment of the "Poco Metallic Paint Company." He also undertook various construction projects, including rebuilding parts of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s canal after a freshet in 1841. Henry was involved in organizing the iron-works at Parryville in 1857 and built significant structures like the Carbon County prison. In his personal life, he married Lavinia Peters in 1844, and they had nine children, four of whom survived into adulthood. His sons pursued different careers, with Victor managing a mercantile establishment, Roger working as a rail-inspector, Morris serving as a clerk, and Fulton assisting his father in business. Henry has also served in public offices like school director and township auditor and has been an active member of the Lutheran Church for over forty years. Despite facing numerous challenges, including personal losses and setbacks, Henry remains grateful for his blessings and credits his success to divine providence.