Thomas Bowman

Who was Thomas Bowman?

Thomas Bowman was a local official, newspaper publisher, and one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district. Benefiting from an electoral backlash in 1890 against Republicans for their support of the McKinley Tariff, Bowman's election was a rare nineteenth century Democratic win in traditionally Republican southwestern Iowa.

Born in Wiscasset, Maine, Bowman moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1868. A bachelor, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1875, 1877 and 1879 he was elected treasurer of Pottawattamie County. He served as mayor of Council Bluffs in 1882.

In 1883, he purchased a controlling ownership of the Council Bluffs Globe newspaper. Under his ownership, the Globe identified itself as a Democratic newspaper. While publishing and editing the Globe, he was appointed postmaster of Council Bluffs in 1885, serving until his resignation in 1889.

In 1890 two Democrats other than Bowman ran for their party's nomination for the U.S. House seat then held by Republican Joseph Rea Reed. However, at the 9th district's convention, Bowman was drafted and nominated instead.