legendary sharpshooter and JC native Joe Bowman... (Gray, Mason: area, Dutch)

[kamoshika]

died late last month. I'd never heard of the guy until I listened to an NPR report on him a few minutes ago, but apparently his shooting skills were nothing short of astounding:
Joe Bowman dies at 84; sharpshooter was known as 'Master of Triggernometry' - Los Angeles Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/us/06bowman.html

Joe Bowman - The Straight Shooter

[NorthernLights]

Any relation to Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman from Gray Station?

[jabogitlu]

I doubt it. That would be really random. Bowman is an "ancient" name from this Appalachian region. I'm related to a bunch of them myself.

[NorthernLights]

I figured it was pretty common when I discovered Bowman town and I think there's a Bowman springs.
You say it Boe-man down here too don't you? The area I'm from up along the Mason-Dixon line was settled by German Dutch in a similar fashion as this area was settled by Scots-Irish. They largely pronounce it Bow-man, [rhymes with cow] or even spell it in a more German way e.g. Baughman. Some will say Boeman they often are recent additions to the area.

[jabogitlu]

Yep, it's boe-man. Pronouncing it as bow sounds so weird...!