John Mervyn Bowman was born at Indian Creek Community, Comanche County, Texas, September 25, 1899. His parents were J. H. and Eldona McGuire Bowman. He grew to manhood on the family farm. He and his brothers had a section of the farm to manage.
On August 16, 1923, he married his widowed sister-in-law, Opha Richardson Bowman, and became the father to his nephews, Glenn Carroll and L. B..
He and Opha had five additional children: Charles Mervyn, LaVelle, LaVerne, James Weldon, and Preston.
During the depression, J. M. worked in the oil fields and picked cotton in west Texas. After his twin daughters graduated high school, he relocated his family to Brownwood, Texas. He was employed for many years with Safeway, Brownwood Cable TV, and the Brownwood Hotel.