Wikipedia:Articles for creation/2008-04-19

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John Jacob Bowman (1733 or 1738-May 4, 1784) was an 18th century American pioneer, colonial militia officer and sheriff, the first appointed in Lincoln County, Kentucky. He also presided over the first county court held in Kentucky in 1781 as a justice of the peace. The first county-lieutenant and military governor of Kentucky County during the American Revolutionary War, he also served under General George Rogers Clark during the Illinois campaign.

He is the brother of Joseph, Isaac and Abraham Bowman, all of whom were among the earliest pioneers to settle in Kentucky and prominent officers in the Continental Army. ^[1] He was also the brother-in-law of frontiersman Isaac Ruddell, Jethro New and George Brinker. His grandnephew, Abraham's grandson John Bryan Bowman, founded Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky. ^{[2] [3]}

[edit] Biography

Born to Virginia pioneer George Bowman and Mary Hite (daughter of pioneer Jost Hite) in Frederick County, Virginia, ^[4] he is first recorded as a captain in the local militia in 1760. ^[2] Living in Botetourt County during the late 1760s, he was a witness to the land deed of Andrew Miller, heir-at-law of John Miller, to Israel Christian for a tract of land (81 acres) in southern Catawba later donated to build the first county courthouse and other public buildings. During that same year, he acted as an appraiser for the estate of David Bryan. ^[5]

In July 1768, he sold his share of the inheritance received from his father's death, 545 acres of the Bowman family estate in Linvel's Creek, and settled on the Roanoke. He was later recommended a justice of the peace in Augusta County in June 1769 and was appointed as commissioner of Botetourt County following its official incorporation into the Colony of Virginia. ^[5]

Marrying the widow of David Bryan, he was involved in a minor legal dispute during the early 1770s over land which Bryan had directed in his will be sold to William Cox upon his death. He successfully acquired the 166 acres along Glade Creek and kept it as part of the Bryan estate until selling the Clade Creek claim to Esam Hannan and the rest of the estate to Tolliver Craig shortly before moving his family to Bowman's Station. ^[5]

Visiting Kentucky in 1775, he served on the safety committee at Harrodsburg the following summer and was appointed as colonel of the Kentucky militia by Virginia Governor Patrick Henry in the fall. ^[4] The following year, he was named as the first county-lieutenant of Kentucky County on July 14 and, with his officers Captains Henry Pauling and John Dunkin, marched with two companies numbering 100 men from Holston River area to Kentucky County stopping at Boonesborough on August 1 and Logan's Fort on August 26 before finally arriving at Harrodsburg on September 2. Immediately after his arrival, he was elected a presiding judge in the first court of quarter sessions held at Fort Harrod and included Richard Callaway, John Floyd, John Todd and sheriff Benjamin Logan on September 2, 1777. ^[6]

During the Illinois campaign he received a message from General George Rogers Clark shortly after the capture of Kankanskia requesting support for his planned campaign into Detroit. Promising Clark at least 300 men, he began gathering men and provisions during the spring of 1779. ^{[7] [8]}

Accompanied by Benjamin Logan and Levi Todd, he led between 160 ^{[9] [10]} and 300 militiamen ^{[7] [11]} against the Shawnee town of Chilicothe in late May. Dividing his forces between himself and Logan, the camp was attacked from both sides but were eventually repulsed. Unable to draw the Shawnee from their single blockhouse, he instead burned much of the camp and left with between 30 to 300 horses valued at $32,000. He and his men marched two days north to meet Clark at the mouth of the Licking River and later participated in Clark's expedition along the Little Miami and Ohio River. ^{[12] [13]}

Although initially blamed for their defeat, as well as the eight or ten casualties suffered, the raid proved a major victory for the Kentuckians. With the destruction of a major Shawnee settlement and the death of Chief Blackfish, ^[14] the battle at Chilicothe discouraged further war parties being sent against Kentucky and, according to Theodore Roosevelt in The Winning of the West, "the expedition undoubtedly accomplished more than Clark's attack on Piqua next year." ^[9]

In the fall of 1779, he founded Bowman's Station on Cane Run in present-day Mercer County, Kentucky. Originally housing seven families during the "Hard Winter" of 1779-80, the settlement eventually grew to thirty families during the next year. His position was reaffirmed by Governor Thomas Jefferson and he used the settlement as his base of operations although he himself was often away organizing the defense of Kentucky County. ^[15]

In 1781, he became the first sheriff and county-lieutenant of Lincoln County, Kentucky. He also presided over the first county court held in Kentucky, when he and several others were appointed justice of the peace on January 16, 1781. ^[16] His position was eventually taken over by Benjamin Logan who succeeded him as county-lieutenant in July 1781 ^[17] and sheriff in November 1783. ^[18] Settling down at the station founded by his cousin Isaac Hite, he spent his last years at his home where he hired local residents to tap the maple trees on his property and sold the sugar for a substantial profit. Falling ill, Bowman died at his home on May 4, 1784. ^[4] Although said to be opinionated and quick to anger, he was both admired and respected by fellow settlers for his bravery.

Following his death, his brother Abraham served as executor of his estate with his wife Elizabeth receiving one-third of his property and the residue going towards the education of his son, John. ^[5] John Bowman, Jr. would build a brick house which still remains near the site of his father's old station. ^[15]

[edit] References

{{Reflist}}

[edit] Further reading

• Butler, Mann. A History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: From Its Exploration and Settlement by the Whites, to the Close of the Northwest Campaign, in 1813. Cincinnatti: J.A. James & Co., 1836.
• Clark, Thomas D. A History of Kentucky. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1937.
• Cotterill, Robert S. History of Pioneer Kentucky. Cincinnatti: Johnson & Hardin, 1917.
• Giles, Janice Holt. The Kentuckians. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1987.
• Rice, Otis K. Frontier Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1975.
• Sanchez-Saavedra, E.M. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978.
• Wayland, John W. The Bowmans: A Pioneering Family in Virginia, Kentucky and the Northwest Territory. Staunton, Virginia: McClure Co. , 1943.

72.74.195.64 (talk) 04:05, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
Article created. Thank you for your contribution to Wikipedia! Yngvarr (c) 09:06, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

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The Battle of Little Mountain, also known as Estell's Defeat, was fought on March 22, 1782 near Mount Sterling in what is now Montgomery County, Kentucky. One of the bloodiest engagements of the Kentucky frontier, the battle has long been the subject of controversy resulting from the actions of one of Estill's officers, William Miller, who ordered a retreat leaving the rest of Estill's command to be overwhelmed by the attacking Wyandots.

[edit] Background

On March 19, 1782, Captain James Estill received a message from Colonel Benjamin Logan requesting assistance after a band of hostile Wyandots had been seen in near Boonesborough. Gathering around 40 men from nearby settlements, he began searching the area.

While he was gone, the Wyandots attacked a number of nearby settlements including Estill's Station killing 14-year-old Jennie Glass and capturing Monk Estill, a slave belonging to James Estill. While under interrogation, Monk was able to persuade the Wyandots to hold off their attack on Estill's Station believing the garrison to be at full strength. After killing a number of cattle, the Wyandots fled across the river.

Returning to his station on March 21, James Estill was informed of the incident which had occurred and ordered five men to return to Estill's Station while he led the rest of his men in pursuit of the raiding party. He and his men would set up camp at Little Mountain, near present-day Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Picking up the chase the following morning, Estill was forced to leave 10 more men behind after their horses were to tired to continue. Finding fresh tracks, they soon overtook the Wyandots at Little Mountain Creek. ^[15]

[edit] Battle

On the night of March 22, 1872, Estill and his remaining twenty-five militiamen encountered the Wyandot raiding party. Separated by Little Mountain Creek, they were only a mile and a half south of Little Mountain. Over an area of only a few acres, the two sides fought in a violent, pitched battle for nearly an hour. The Wyandot leader, Sourehoowah, was reportedly killed during the first volley and urged his men to continue fighting while mortally wounded.

After several hours of firing at each other from across the creek, both sides began suffering heavy casualties. When the Wyandots began fording Little River Creek, Estell countered by dividing his forces into three units. Estill took the right flank, the left being given to Lieutenant William Miller while another officer held the center.

Miller was ordered to flank the rear of the Wyandots from the left. As Miller prepared to lead his men into battle, a bullet apparently hit his gun knocking the flint from the jaws of the lock. At this point, he allegedly shouted to his men that "it was foolhardy to stay and be shot down" and he fled the battle with his men following after him.

With Estill's left flank now open, defended by only four men, the Wyandots easily rushed in killing seven men including Estell himself before the militiamen retreated. Estill had been wounded three times during the battle and, as he attempted to retreat with his men, he was attacked and killed in hand-to-hand combat by a pursuing Wyandot. One of his men, Joseph Proctor, witnessed Estill's death killing his attacker with his rifle. ^[15]

Only a handful of men remained on each side and, with both commanders now dead, the battle ended with the Kentuckians withdrawing from the field. Those who were captured later reported that the Wyandots had suffered around 20 casualties. Monk, who had escaped from the Wyandots during the battle, claimed 17 Wyandots had been killed and two had been wounded. This was later confirmed by another prisoner who escaped. Of the 18 men who returned from the Little Mountain, frontiersman James Anderson, ^[19] David Lynch ^[20] and William Irving were among the survivors. Adam Caperton, the father of Hugh Caperton, was killed at the battle. ^[21]

The traditional site of Estill's death, where he was killed in hand-to-hand combat with the Wyandot warrior, is marked by a millstone marker pointing to an old sycamore tree on Kingston Creek. ^[22]

[edit] References

{{Reflist}}

[edit] Further reading

• Belue, Ted Franklin. "Death in the Bluegrass: The Battle of Little Mountain." Dixie Gun Works Blackpowder Annual (1995): 66-69.
• Belue, Ted Franklin. Wyandot Braves Proved Too Strong at The Battle of Little Mountain. The Kentucky Exporer. January 1997: 23-26.
• Conkright, Bessie Taul. "Estill's Defeat; or, The Battle of Little Mountain." RKHS 22 (1924): 311-22.

72.74.195.64 (talk) 08:36, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
Article created. Thank you for your contribution to Wikipedia! Yngvarr (c) 09:08, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

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John Bryan Bowman (October 16, 1824-September 21, 1891) was a 19th century American lawyer and educator, most notably, as the founder Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky. He is the grandson of Kentucky frontiersman Abraham Bowman, as well as the grandnephew of Isaac, Joseph and John Jacob Bowman. His great-grandfathers were noted Virginia colonists George Bowman and Jost Hite. ^{[2] [23]}

[edit] Biography

Born to John Bowman, Jr. and Mary Mechum in Mercer County, Kentucky, he was a member of the Disciples of Christ and attended Bacon College; his father being an incorporator and trustee. Upon graduation in 1842, Bowman studied law under Henry Clay and was admitted to the bar, although he did not become a practicing lawyer. Four years later, he married Mary Dorcas Williams and settled down as a farmer after inheriting the Old Forest Farm in Mercer County. Managing the property for the next ten years, he became a successful farmer and landowner. ^[24]

He was also a trustee Bacon College until the close of his old alma mater. In 1857, he led a campaign to found a new academic institution, Kentucky University, on the site of the defunct college administrated by the Disciples of Christ. ^[15] He proposed to the other trustees to organize a fundraiser to raise $100,000 for an endowment, one-third of the proceeds to be raised in Mercer County. With the assistance of Major James Taylor, he was successful in gathering $30,000 in his county and, traveling to nearby communities, gained $150,000 within five months. Due to his efforts, the Kentucky Legislature granted a charter in Harrodsburg on January 15, 1858. ^{[24] [25]}

Named a regent by the Kentucky state legislature, he oversaw the later merging of Kentucky and Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky in 1865. During the time, he also founded and organized the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky as an extension of the new Lexington university. Under his administration, Bowman's liberal-minded policies saw Kentucky University grow as a modern center for education and learning during the next several years. ^[15]

He remained its chief executive administrative and financial officer, a position he held for over twenty years until he resigned in 1874. ^[24] Following his retirement however, criticism from both his church and the state eventually caused the withdrawal of the state A&M college in 1878 and the board of curators abolished the office of regent. ^[15]

In 1887, he moved to the New Mexico Territory due to his wife's poor health. In his later years, he became a prominent resident in the Las Cruces-area and was active in promoting industrial interests in the territory serving two years as the general manager of the Southern New Mexico Fair Association. He was involved in the organization of Hocker College, the College of the Bible and Commercial College. ^[24] Returning to Harrodsburg, he died at the home of his brother-in-law John Augustus Williams on September 22, 1891. He was buried in Lexington Cemetery. ^{[15] [26]}

[edit] References

{{Reflist}}

[edit] Further reading

• Pyles, Henry M. "The Life and Work of John Bryan Bowman". (doct. diss., University of Kentucky, 1945).
• Wayland, John W. The Bowmans: A Pioneering Family in Virginia, Kentucky and the Northwest Territory. Staunton, Virginia: McClure Co. , 1943.

72.74.195.64 (talk) 21:10, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
Article created. Thank you for your contribution to Wikipedia! Wilhelmina Will (talk) 22:30, 19 April 2008 (UTC)