Page 445, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.



 

  WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. 445

HOMER P. FOWLER.

HOMER P. FOWLER—In presenting herein the brief record of him whose name introduces this review it is not unfair to state that he is one of the younger and newer settlers of Allen county. He cannot bost of a pioneer history or relate what he did during the war, for he was only born just a year prior to the passage of the first acts of secession. When it is stated that he came to Allen county in 1879 it will be seen that he was only a boy when he took the initial steps which connected him, as a citizen, with the history of the county. In the twenty-one years which have elapsed since that eventful day in his life Homer P. Fowler has comported himself as an honorable, ambitious and industrious citizen. He has aimed to live right, he has striven to achieve success; and few can gainsay the accomplishment or achievement of his ambition.

Mr. Fowler was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 2, 1860. He is a son of a soldier of the war of the Rebellion, Frank Fowler, who married Elizabeth Birney, a lady with Irish antecedents, of the vicinity of Dublin. There were four children born of this union of which number Homer P. was the oldest. The latter was educated liberally and prepared himself for a career as a teacher when he left his native State, enroute to Manitou, Colorado. He stopped over in Allen county, Kansas, and during his stay was so impressed with the outlook that he decided to remain. The first two years he lived a bachelor's life but in 1881 he returned to Ohio and married Rebecca J. Copeland who died in 1889, leaving two children, viz.: Nora E. and Frank W. Fowler. She lived an exemplary Christian life and was laid to rest in Moran cemetery. In 1890 Mr. Fowler married Mrs. Katie Berkihiser, of Moran, who has borne him two sons, Walter Marion and William Lindella.

Farming embraces the life work of our subject. He has encountered some of the struggles and difficulties which discourage some men in their effort to establish a home in a new country but he has not faltered nor fallen by the wayside. His success has come by industry, frugality and honesty, qualities which stand sponser[sic] for a good character, always.

In politics Mr. Fowler has played some part in the affairs of his adopted county. In the first place he is recognized as a genuine Republican. He has been honored with various offices in his township, served nine years as clerk of his school district and in 1897 was nominated for Register of Deeds of his county. He was elected by a large majority, carrying his own Populist township by a majority of thirteen-votes. He was re-elected for a second term in 1899 and has made a careful, painstaking and efficient officer. In fraternal matters he holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees. His name has been on the rolls of the Methodist church since his thirteenth year and he is now Recording Steward of the Methodist congregation in Iola.


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