Jacob Bowman, the eldest son of John Dieter, was born 3/28/1799, in Towamensing Township. He was reared upon the farm and received a liberal education as equipment for a useful career. He became at first a merchant, conducting a general store for many years in the lower end of Lehigh Gap. He sold out in 1844 and removed to Lower Towamensing Township, where he conducted a farm, gristmill and general store. He was an enterprising man and was one of several who kept up a summer school for the benefit of their community. He was an old-line Whig, and later a Republican, and was a member, trustee, and class leader of the Evangelical Church. He died 10/17/1877, and was interred at Snyders Church. He married, 6/9/1829, Elizabeth Weiss, born 12/5/1808, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Solt) Weiss, and granddaughter of Col. Jacob Weiss, a revolutionary officer. Mrs. Bowman died in 1883. They had ten children, three who died in infancy, and Amelia, wife of Cornelius Snyder; Eliza, wife of John Seem; Sarah, wife of Judge Levi Went; Bishop Thomas Bowman, D. D.; James; Ellen, wife of Perry Wannamacher; and Wesley W. Bowman.