Frank L. Bowman (1879-1936)

Frank L. Bowman was born in Masontown, PA in 1879. Bowman’s father was a merchant and moved the family to Morgantown in the late nineteenth century to take advantage of more plentiful business opportunities. Bowman attended West Virginia University, where he was an active member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. Bowman was also a celebrated student – he won the Inter-Society Oration and Debate prize and was lauded by his professors and peers. After graduating in 1902, Bowman worked at the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Morgantown for two years. He then returned to West Virginia University, this time to study law. Shortly before re-enrolling, Bowman was married to Pearl Silveus. The couple later had two children.

Bowman was admitted to the bar in 1905, and began practicing law in Morgantown. He also developed an interest in the coal industry and pursued this through shareholding and board membership. Bowman’s political career began in 1911 with his appointment to postmaster of Morgantown. He served in this capacity for four years before resigning to run for mayor of Morgantown. Bowman defeated his mayoral opponent by the largest margin ever seen up to 1915. Bowman was a highly celebrated leader and it was expected that he would win the 1917 reelection in a landslide. However, he declined to run again, opting instead to focus on his business interests. The former mayor filled a variety of executive positions with the Tropf Coal Company. In addition, Bowman served as an attorney for many other coal companies.

In 1925, Bowman reentered the political scene with his election as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives. He served in the sixty-ninth through seventy-second Congresses before being defeated in 1933. Bowman returned to Morgantown and was extremely active in local organizations. He belonged to the Rotary Club, Knights Templar, Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and Knights of Pythias. Bowman’s final political stint occurred in the years before his death, when he served as a member of the Board of Veteran Appeals from 1935 until 1936. Bowman died in Washington D.C. on September 15, 1936.

BOWMAN, Frank Llewellyn, History, Art & Archives United States House of Representatives. Accessed September 11th 2020. https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/B/BOWMAN,-Frank-Llewellyn-(B000704)/.

The History of West Virginia, Old and New. Volume II. New York, NY. The American Historical Society, Inc., 1923.