Notes for: Margaret Ann Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 19-21, biography of Dr. Webster Bodine Lowman.
Dr. John Lowman was himself a physician of note in his day. He was a son of Andrew Lowman, and was born February 13, 1817, in Greencastle, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. The family of the paternal side enjoyed the distinction of being Hollanders, the great-grandfather of Dr. John Lowman having emigrated, first of the family, from that thrifty little country to this. Dr. John Lowman was educated in the common schools. His parents removed from Franklin county to Indiana county about 1834, where his father died. The latter was a tanner by trade, but followed the milling and distillery business in Indiana county. Dr. John Lowman was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, but becoming dissatisfied with it because of a desire for a professional career, entered Indiana academy at Indiana, Pennsylvania. He read medicine later with Dr. Stewart, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and entered Jefferson Medical college in 1844, graduating from that institution in 1847. He located in Johnstown, where he practiced his profession with deserved distinction until his death, June 16, 1894. He was a member of the American Medical association, the Pennsylvania State Medical association, and the Cambria County Medical society, of which body he was the first president. He was the first surgeon ever appointed by the Pennsylvania railroad, and held the position until his death. He made a specialty of surgery, being for a number of years the only surgeon in the valley. From 1864 to 1872 he was pension examiner of the city. He did not confine his labors wholly to his professional duties, but like a good citizen aided in the promotion of private enterprises that were beneficial to his neighbors. So we find him one of the originators of the Johnstown Water company, and also of the Johnstown Gas company, being at the time of his death president of the latter and a director of the former. He was also one of the promoters and charter members of the Johnstown Savings bank, of which he was vice-president at the time of his death. Politically he was first a whig, then a republican, but never sought nor held office. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of Johnstown, and of the Masonic fraternity. He was married to Margaret Ann Bodine, of New Jersey, whose ancestors were French Huguenots, and they had but one child, Dr. Webster B. Lowman, our subject.
Children: Webster Bodine (2 March 1841).