Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Williamsport's First Automobiles, 1899

J. Walton Bowman brought the first automobile to Williamsport in 1899

From The Williamsport News, March 16th 1912

"Automobiles  made their appearance in this city in 1899, and since that time a remarkable increase has taken place, giving Williamsport the name of having more autos than any other city of its size in the United states.

Automobiling in 1899 was carried on under difficulties and Jay. Walton Bowman, who owned the first car in the city, talked interesting to a news reporter in regard to the conditions he found when compared to those of the present time.

J. Walton Bowman in his Winton, the first Automobile in Williamsport

Mr. Bowman was the first automobile owner in the city having purchased a Winton phaeton in 1899. This car, he said, was the novelty of the district, and wherever he ran it large crowds gathered to take a look at his car and passed their judgment. The phaeton was bought direct from the manufacturers, as at the time an automobile agency or garage company was unknown here.

This Winton is one of 100 made in 1899

 It had a one cylinder engine in it and its chug, chug, chug was a warning without its bell. A muffler was not provided or even thought of. However, the car did good service and ran with very little repairing or tire trouble.

The wheels were small and the spokes were like those of a bicycle wheel, only slightly heavier.    The tires were wonders, Mr. Bowman said, and gave him very little trouble. One set lasted him for six years, and in the present day this can hardly be believed. The car sold for $1400 and he made at least 20,000 miles in the six years was in service.

Only one very long trip was taken with the machine. That was to Canton and return, a distance of about 43 miles. This trip was made in about four hours and at the time it was considered a marvelous record. Papers in this section devoted much space to the run and hundreds of questions were asked. Other trips, but not so long, were taken and all proved to be very enjoyable.


Mr. Bowman spoke of the excitement it caused when seen in farming districts and even in the city. Horses were frightened and some exciting times were experienced by the motorist.

In 1905 the car was sold, but it has not entirely gone out of Mr. Bowman's memory. He had an attachment for the old car, he said, and only a few months ago heard where it was. He took a trip to the place and intended to buy it back, bring it to Williamsport, have it fixed up and run around the streets as a curiosity. He was unable to do this, however, on account of the last owner having used it so hard there was nothing more to it and had sold it to a junk dealer, for the scrap heap.

Chauffeurs were unknown chauffeurs were unknown at the time and the owner of the automobile was forced to drive the car himself or walk. Mr. Bowman can therefore claim to be the oldest driver, and the first driver.

Soon after this other automobiles began to make their appearance in Williamsport and among the first owners of the machines were Riley W. Allen and Emmanuel Andrews. These cars were among the first cars manufactured by the Lycoming company and were steam propelled. One prominent auto owner and recalling the Allen machine said he can well remember when he first had a ride in it and thought it the finest thing that had ever happened.

The car was of the buckboard type and had a rear seat extending over the back. Under the seat was the boiler and it fell to him to occupy that back seat on a run into the country. At first the ride was very enjoyable, but as it grew longer it became almost unbearable, as the boiler under the seat he was sitting on had become a broiler. He said he finished the ride, sitting on the rear drop or foot rest.

Emmanuel Andrews was probably the first agent in the city and he gave St. demonstrations that opened the eyes of the people. All kinds of circles, curves and corners were cut, much to the amazement of the onlookers, who were frequently startled by the screeching of a whistle attached to the exhaust.

Next came the tonneu cars, and a popular car here for a while was the rambler make. Many of these cars were sold and for a while no other car could be sold. These cars were painted on Nile green and one is in the streets today serving as a delivery wagon.

First Cars Made Here

Williamsport also entered the automobile manufacturing business about this time, and a car was turned out at the Stutzman machine shop. This was never regarded as a success and did not get to the markets. Old time autoists tell of this car and say that at the time it was thought to be the only car worthwhile. They also tell of an accident that befell the car on West 4th and Elmira streets when it skidded on a wet pavement and turning from 4th to Elmira ???. The cars didn't have any different gears and took the turn at one speed, neither was it well braced to the back and consequently it spread flat and was relegated to the scrap heap.

The one cylinder Cadillac was a popular car when it first made its appearance in the streets of this city, and some are still doing a hard day's work.  These cars stood up in all kinds of bumps and knocks and their popularity never waned. The motor in these cars is still regarded as a wonder. Some record trips were made in these “lungers”, as they were soon dubbed and the newer cars are finding it hard to diminish the time of these runs to a big extent. George Busch, one of the first owners of a Cadillac, said that his car gave great satisfaction all the time he owned it. He told of making a trip to Bellefonte in it and set the time at 2 hours and 43 minutes. This was remarkable then and cars now are only making it in an average of about two hours and 30 minutes.

This run started from the old Holmes garage on West 3rd St. At the start frank Holmes held the watch and the run went on until Mr. Bush pulled up at the brokenhoof house. Here proprietor Rey noted the time and telephoned it to Williamsport. This run again attracted the attention of the public at large and Williamsport was more securely fastened to the automobile map.

Holds Local Record

Fastest time that has ever been made between these two points was made in another Cadillac car, but one of much later design. It befell to Carl rothfus of the rothfuss garage company to smash the old record and he made a remarkable run of one hour and 49 minutes flat. This run was also similarly timed.

In 1893 an automobile was described by the following: “it consists of four-cylinder engine, the connecting rods of which drive a shaft, at which at the opposite ends are respectively the flywheel and the belt wheel. The belt wheel connects by a belt with a drum situated crossed back of the driver's seat and half under the bottom of the vehicle. Inside the drum is arranged an equalizing gearing, that when turning corners, equal power shall be given to catch each set of wheels, by allowing the wheels on one side run as much faster than the other as curve requires. The fuel (gasoline) is ignited from a storage battery copper wire, and over the cylinders is a water tank for the purpose of cooling the cylinders. When in motion the connecting rods fly like lightning and the machine is capable of running 7:00 or 8:00 miles an hour. The present carriage is about 3 horsepower and and the hole weighs about 1300 lbs. The new one will be 5 horse power, more simple in construction and lighter”

This is the description of one of the earliest machines made in Detroit and since the time the development has been remarkable. All parts have been changed about until the present high class machines are to be had. The development of the automobile is an interesting study in itself.

Many exciting times were had by the owners of the first machines in this city and they looked back upon the days with wonderment when they compared the automobiling conditions of that time with those of the present day. Little or nothing was known about the machines and there was not a central repair place Williamsport for some years after the cars made their appearance. In some cases when the machines went wrong it was necessary to send to the automobile factories for men to come to the city and make the necessary repairs. This only lasted a short time for it was soon learned by mechanics that a great field was to be had in automobile repair work.

Mechanics went to the factories where the machines were built and entered the employ of these concerns and learned the construction of a car. When this had been finished they returned to Williamsport and opened establishments of their own. At that time 2 principal repair shops were the Holmes garage now the Keeler automobile company and the Maxwell garage on walnut St.

Cars Frequently Bucked

Machines were in the habit of kicking up when the least expected in parts refusing to work caused many autoists to lose their temper and say things. The perfected machines of the present time have reduced the trouble as well as the words of abuse, to a minimum. Instead of abuse it is now the opposite – praise.


A Princeton Run

It will be remembered by many who are interested in machines and touring that once upon a time 4 rambler machines owned by Lehigh Sherer, Ned Piper, James Brown and John McCormick started to take their owners to a football game at Princeton, NJ. With a rousing send off in front of the Hotel Updegraff the trip was started. Everything went lovely for a while and then trouble was encountered. The tour was a novelty and the newspapers followed their path. The end of the first day's run brought them to Selinsgrove and there one of the machines developed a case of fever, and after fretting a bit refused to budge. Car number one was left at this place and the trip continued. Car #2 had a fit between Selinsgrove and Harrisburg, and this was also left along the route. At reading one car pulled up in the second followed in a dilapidated condition. Here tire trouble started and a puncture was repaired.

A man at this point was given 1/4 to inflate the tire, and he was so tickled in earning this easy money that he pumped until the tire blew out. This necessitated the party to continue to Princeton in the one remaining car and they did make it in the grandest kind of style. Some of the automobile owners, friends of the first tourists, say whenever a part of an automobile is unearthed along the path taken by the four machines that it belongs to the Princeton party, and some day the pieces will be sent to the Smithsonian institute at Washington to take position alongside of the prehistoric man.

Dunwoody still exists today - a private club in the area near Barbours, above Williamsport.

Tough roads for cars

The hills in this vicinity were heard on the early machines and many cases of worn outbreaks were reported. One case in particular will never be forgotten by altoists. Walt Bowman in his first Winton made a trip to the Dunwoody fishing club. So great was the break tension that the shoe bands were worn out. The greatest difficulty was encountered in going up the hills as well as down, and only by careful headwork was an accident avoided. Another case the experience of George Bush while on a trip to Jersey Shore, is related. He had trouble with his machine in the olden days and the thing started to run at a fearful rate. Not caring to take a risk on losing his life, Mr. Bush reversed his motor and caused his gears to all but be stripped. He cautioned those with him never to mention a word about this, but that was a long time ago and the story is still told. Hundreds of interesting stories could be told of the old automobiles and their troubles.

The first electric automobile in Williamsport was owned by J.  Walton Bowman, who saw one at the Pan American exposition at Buffalo in 1901. Mr. Bowman liked this machine and bought it, having it shipped to this city, where it was as much of A curiosity as his Winton had been. The machine was a Babcock and it was run until about a year or two ago when he purchased a later model car.

Mr. Bowman says people wanted to know if the thing would freeze, if batteries had to be placed in the box to make it run, whether dry or wet batteries were used and hundreds of other queries. Mr. Bowman always explained the mechanism and principle of the car to those interested and it was not long before other people who had their eyes on his car purchased similar ones.

Today there is about 1 electric car to every 25 gasoline cars and are giving good service. Women find the electrics convenient for shopping tours afternoon calls and for theater usage. Some very beautiful cars are now to be seen in the city.

A Boon To Farmers

Farmers were not far behind their city brothers to recognize the worth of an automobile as a means of locomotion, and to day many of these are found in the rural sections. They are now the most eager seekers after automobiles, trucks and motor driven machinery. From the very beginning farmers took a deep interest in the gasoline machines and demonstrators were soon busy going into the country to show off their cars.

A story is told of one dealer who was called to the country to give a demonstration of his machine and on one hill in particular the driver found that his machine could not make the grade. Not at all baffled by this the experts said to  the prospective customer “We will stop here and let the machine run back down the hill then I will turn around and back up the hill to show it can negotiate it just as well backing as it could if I were headed straight up.” This was done much to the delight of the prospective customer, and resulted in the sale of the machine.

When the starting place was reached again the demonstrator filled the gasoline tank and then took the hill straight up. Nothing was thought about this, but later when the machine was sold he confessed the only reason he had backed the car up the hill was on account of the gasoline being low and the tank not sufficiently full to feed the cylinder. Rather than have the automobile appear in an unfavorable light by his neglect, he turned around and backed up the level of the gas tank being so changed as to allow the gasoline to feed.

Hurrs Ice Cream Trucks, Unknown year, Williamsport

Utility Soon Provided

Automobiles were first designed for pleasure wholly, but since the first few years of their manufacturer they have been put to commercial uses as well and have been found to be much cheaper than horses. Many Williamsport merchants have bought delivery machines, and manufacturers and express companies have purchased the more powerful trucks to do all kinds of heavy work.

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J.Walton Bowman
1865-1931

Bowman field in Williamsport was named for J.W. Bowman.
"The man for whom Bowman Field was named has a long-time involvement in the local baseball scene. He led the fundraising drive to build what would become Bowman Field."

Bowman also gifted tower chimes and a four-manual organ to the First Presbyterian Church of Williamsport in 1925.

Memorial Field was renamed Bowman Field on Wednesday June 26th, 1929 - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2025/05/j-walton-bowman-bowmans-field.html



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The 1908 Imperial Roadster was the only automobile ever manufactured in Williamsport Pa


The Grit 1982

James Walton Bowman, vice-president of the Bowman-Foresman Company of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and also prominently identified with the ownership and management of various other important industrial and financial interests in that vicinity, is the youngest son of the late Benjamin Carleton and Eliza Ann (Buck) Bowman, and was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1864.

He began his education in the private schools and became a student in Dickinson Seminary, finishing with a business course in Commercial College. Young Bowman was now well advanced in his studies, and capable of entering upon an active career, and he began work in the mill and shops of B. C. Bowman & Company, of which his father was the head and active manager. The other member of the firm, J. H. Rowland, of Port Deposit, Maryland, was associated with Mr. Bowman from the early fifties to the time of his (Mr. Bowman's) death. In 1898 the firm name was changed to that of the Bowman-Foresman Company, in which corporation James W. Bowman was appointed to the position of vice-president. He came to his duties with excellent preparation, being entirely familiar with every detail of the great business in which he had grown up, and with which his family name had been associated from the inception of the enterprise. In addition, Mr. Bowman has long been actively identified with various other manufacturing and financial institutions, some of which owed their founding in large part to the effort of his father. He is a director in the Bowman Lumber Company of St. Albans, West Virginia; secretary and treasurer of the Rowland Land Company of West Virginia; a stockholder in the Saluda River (South Carolina) Lumber Company; the Rishel Furniture Company of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; the McKean Chemical Company and the Lycoming Calcining Company; and is a director in the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He takes an intelligent and active interest in the affairs of the community, and is particularly interested in educational concerns. At the present time (1905) he is serving his second term as a member of the board of school directors of the city of Williamsport. He is a warm advocate of the principles of the Democratic party. He has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Bowman was united in marriage on the 14th of October, 1886, with Miss Harriet Elizabeth Geiger, a native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, daughter of Andrew and Mary Eva (Mott) Geiger.

Mr. and Mrs. James Walton Bowman are the parents of one child, Helen Eliza Bowman, born December 27, 1889, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.


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J.Walton Bowman prominent businessman and sportsman of Williamsport died suddenly of a heart attack about 5:30 o’clock last night while driving his automobile towards the city on the Montoursville Road. He was returning from a trip to Wilkes-Barre when his automobile skidded across the highway and into an embankment.


It is believed the shock of the accident and the exertion of shoveling snow from around the car brought about the heart attack that proved fatal.


Mr. Bowman had been prominent in business circles all of his life. He was vice president of the Bowman Lumber Company, which his father, Benjamin founded, and secretary-treasurer of the Bowman Land Company.


His greatest prominence was as the president of the Williamsport Baseball Club, and as organizer and treasurer of the Imperial Teteques Band. He was one of the original “triple tongue cornet quartet.”


Word of his death swept Williamsport quickly. Many calls were received at this newspaper’s office and by close friends of the family.


It was as a baseball enthusiast that Bowman was best known. In fact, Williamsport’s place in baseball since the early part of the present century, is due in large part to the interest and support of Bowman and his older brother, Francis.


When the Tri-State League became popular in the early years of the century, it was the financial support of the two Bowman brothers that was largely instrumental in placing in Williamsport one of the best teams outside major league baseball.

With organization of the present New York-Pennsylvania League in 1923, J. Walton Bowman and Thomas Gray, were largely responsible for getting Williamsport a berth in the new circuit.

Bowman Field, present home of the Williamsport Grays in Memorial Park, was named for Bowman in 1929.

J. Walton Bowman also had the distinction of owning the first automobile in Williamsport.










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