Alvin H. Bowman, a stock and bond broker of Allentown, son of Josiah, was born at Bowman's, Carbon County, Jan. 16, 1870. He received his early education in the public schools and later attended the Allentown Business College. He located in Allentown in 1888 and entered the employ of William H. Ainey; then occupied a position as clerk for the Lehigh and Coplay Iron Co. for one year, and later located at Bethlehem, where he was employed as a silk weaver, continuing there until 1893, when he engaged in the retail provision business. The ensuing year he returned to Bowman's and was employed as a clerk in the general store of his brother, Penn, and in 1900 again located at Allentown and entered the employ of Pascoe and Crilly, for whom he secured the right of way for the trolley line from Mauch Chunk to Lehighton. He again returned to this trade and in 1902 entered upon his present business with offices in the Allentown National Bank building.

He was granted a patent on *penny in the slot' chewing-gum machines, on Sept. 21, 1912, which were specially devised for vending chewing gum on trolley cars. In order to promote his interest in the machines, he organized and incorporated the National Automatic Sales Company under a N.J. Charter. Mr. Bowman is president, and E. W. Rick, secretary and treasurer, of the company. Mr. Bowman is a member of the F. O. E. and K. G. E. He married, in 1891, Sallie H., daughter of Charles D. and Annie (Eddinger) Deshler, of Allentown. They have no children.