James Sanford (Thos. Pynes), was born in Milbury, Mass., in 1843; he died in Cohoes, N. Y., December 23, 1891.
Charles Wilson (Neiman), was born in Milwaukee, Wis.; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 15, 1893; age 51 years.
John Bowman. This prominent song and dance artist began his regular career at Graham’s Concert Hall on Market Street, near Second, St. Louis, Mo., in October, 1863, where he met with much success doing an “Essence.” It was there that he met his future partner, William Harris, though he did not join him in partnership at that time. After Graham’s he went to Jake Esher’s Bowery, same city, doing “ends” and comedy; traveling engagements followed until he met Harris again at Deagle’s in St. Louis, 1866, when the partnership was formed; they remained at Deagle’s Varieties one year, played many variety theatres, and engagements in St. Louis with Fred Wilson’s Minstrels, also Simmons and Slocum in Philadelphia. Bowman and Harris dissolved partnership in Canada in 1873 while with the L. B. Lent’s Circus.
After separating from Mr. Harris he opened in Providence, R. I., with Archie Stalker, and played other dates, later taking out the Bowman Brothers Minstrels; a wagon show.
In 1881 he went to work for William Harris, in Boston, and has been with him ever since.
John Bowman was born in Mobile, Ala., November 16, 1842.
William Harris, famous in professional circles for many years as a member of the great theatrical syndicate, began his career in St. Louis, Mo., in the early days of the Civil War, as a black-face song and dance man, playing the variety houses until 1866, when he formed a partnership with John Bowman, which lasted until 1873, when they separated. Mr. Harris next allied himself with William Carroll, a good comedian and banjoist, and as Harris and Carroll played many first-class engagements, including Tony Pastor’s Road Company; they separated in 1879. Later he went to Boston at the Howard Athenaeum, as stage and acting manager for Josh. Hart, subsequently taking the house himself, and retaining it for several seasons. Afterwards, in conjunction with Isaac Rich, they had many stars under their banner, including George Thatcher, Andrew Mack and many others.
Mr. Harris is one of the youngest looking men in the profession, retaining the appearances of youth to a remarkable degree; he hails from St. Louis, Mo. I didn’t get his age, but I am sure he must be younger than he would admit that he is.
(Overture—“Apple of My Eye.”)
Joe. Lang, the old-time black-face performer, made his first appearance with the Morris Brothers, Pell and Trowbridge’s Minstrels, at an early age. Subsequently he played an engagement with Morris and Wilson’s Minstrels in St. Louis.