He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 1858 to 1860.

He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 1858 to 1860.

[2] Bowlus was commander of Company B of the Middletown Home Guards during the start of the Civil War.

[1] He was a farmer and was a member of the Lutheran church in Jefferson and served as superintendent of the Union Sunday school in Broad Run.

They had four sons and four daughters, Franklin L., Lewis H., Samuel L., Stephen R. Jr., Eliza A. V., Mary F., Julia K. and Melissa E.[1][2][5] Bowlus died from grip on January 18, 1894, at his home near Broad Run.