This a shot in the dark, but I tend to play clues (CLOOZ) so I will offer what I have found: I have a copy of Histories of Skagit and Snohomish Counties of the State of Washington published in 1909 with Biographical Sketches. There was an AMOS BOWMAN (dec'd at the time of the Biog. Sketch but he was the founder of the town of Anacortes, WAand a man of great influence for Skagit county just north of our Snohomish County. He envisioned an agriculture and commercial empire on the shores of Puget Sound. He was ranked among the foremost of the men of vision in his time. His profession was in mining and civil engineering.and he was skilled in geology and journalism who had ties with the Atlantic coast persons of influence. He had gotten his education at Oberlin University, in Ohio & later the Univ. of the City of New York. He grad with degree of mining and civil engineering at the famous Copllege of Mines, Freiberg, Germany. His course included arts in Munich. He worked with Horace Greeley editor of the New York Tribune as a special correspondent. He saw service in the Crimean War. He toured Continental Europe before returning to the United States. Wouldn't we have wanted to have know such a gentleman of his accomplishments? You bet, we would! Mr. Bowman visited Puget Sound - surveyed coal lands. Later he became connected to Canadian geological surveying, (British Columbia division). Visiting Skagit County he became highly impressed with the region - he mapped the area and carefully observed the region in detail from the County as related to Puget Sound. The ship harbor of Fidalgo Island he saw as destined for a great future for connection of the sea with the continental railway. In 1877 he purchased the land that now makes up the town of Anaqcortes and and moved his family including house,, and equipment by steamer when it was a stark wilderness between water and forest. He established his pioneer home. It was not til 1887 ( ten yrs hence) that he saw the time ripe to tempt his friends in the east to invest in the region. It was at that time that the Union Pacific was making its way to Puget sound country and Bowman traveled to New York in order to "sell" the idea of Anacortes as being an site for a terminus. The Oregon Railway & Navigation Company resulted in action. Mr. Bowman did not live to see the vision he'd had for so many years fulfilled. Mr. Bowman died at his home in Anacortes which he'd established so many years earlier with his great insight for the region. He died in the year 1894 w/o experiencing the unerring results of his prophecy. Now, this Bowman may not be related in any way to the Bowman you are interested in, but in case he happened to be, I'm sure you would want to know the information above. There is a PIX (picture) of Amos Bowman with balled head + mustashe and gotee, bowtied, and white handkerchief in his left pocket. His eyes are of those of a man with "vision" not only with his eyes, but his mind and his attitude toward what he envisioned. We are in dire need of men/women like Mr. Bowman today to inspire our country with a positive vision for the Future! Carroll in Snohomish * * * 30 * * * ----- Original Message ----- From: <tbarw@Shawneelink.com> To: <WASNOHOM-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 11:40 AM Subject: [WASNOHOM] BOWMAN surname > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Surnames: BOWMAN > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VEC.2ACI/3455 > > Message Board Post: > > I am looking for a John Van Buren Bowman b. abt. 1850. He may have been in this area. Does anyone have anything on a person by this name and description? >