The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-20
MRS. CHARLOTTE FOWLER WELLS
PROPRIETOR OF srHE "PHRENoLoGfcAL JOUR-
MALI

nuCh vi their space W Tue pEdlSS VI uS-
of women who make their
mark in literature or in art, but the
women who come to the front in liter
ature or in business and maintain the
falling standard when other hands have
failed are not so frequently mentioned.
And yet there are many such women in
the field doing the work as grandly and
successfully as it was ever accomplished
by their compers, men.
The woman whose name stands at the
head of this sketch is eminent among |
this class. Mrs. Charlotte Fowler Wells |
was born In Steuben county, New York,
in 1914, and is the oldest sister Of o. S. |
and L. n. Fowler, the distinguished |
phrenologists. AS soon as this new and |
interesting science was brought to her
notice, she seized upon its truths with
an earnestness and intelligence only a
little less marked than that shown by
her college-educated brothers.
In the year 1885 her instructions were
sought by company of ladies and gen.
tlemen who had formed themselves
into a class and selected her as their
tutor in the science of phrenology. At
first she declined, but when their claim
was urged with a persistency that
would take no denial, she finally con-
sented, aud gave regular lessons twice
week for some months.
Her brothers, o. S. and L. n. Fowler,
established their chronological Cabinet
in New York the same year (1S35), and
she Joined them in 1887, and although
they wrote the books and received all
the credit, she gave valuable assistance
in the solution of many a vexed and
knotty problem. AS the subject devel
oped and attracted more and more the
public attention, she assumed the busi-
ness management, and they devoted
their energies entirely to the develop
ment and propagation of their new
science.
Mr.. Samuel R. Wells, whom she af-
terward married, received his first inn
pressions of phrenoIogy from the study
of chart that had been issued by Char
Iotte Fowler. He then sought to make
the acquaintance of its author, and soon
became so much interested in the new
science as to give up the business in
which he was engaged and devote
himself entirely to its study. He de-
voted himself to it in 1s43. He was
married in 1874, and Joined the firm in
January, 1S45. Shortly after partner
ship was formed under the firm name of
Fowler and Wells.
In October, 1888, the chronological
Journal, was established, which has
been one of the leading scientific month
lies of this country for period of nearly
forty years, and is now in the zenith OF
its prosperity. While the financial dis
asters of the country have crippled
nearly every literary enterprise, this
journal has pursued the even tenor oi
its way, scarcely feeling the financial
ripple. 1t has become so thoroughly
established in the affections of its
|
years accustomed to its monthly visit:
would dispense with many comfort
before giving up this indispensable
household luxury.
In 1865 Mr.. o. S. Fowler withdrew
from the firm, and the partnership con
tinued with L. n. Fowler until 1858
when the latter withdrew for the pur
pose Of spending few years in Europ,
in the interest of phrenology. The bus
iness, which had then grown to ranl
among the first publishing houses of tn,
city, was assumed by Mr.. Wells, ant
conducted by him until the time of hi
death in April, 1875.
At this time his wife, who was thel
in her sixty-first year, assumed the en-
control, and has since conducted tn
business with such marked ability tina
it has never Known dimunition o
8 change. There are two things in tn
. life of this distinguished woman partic
ularly worthy of note. One is her rar
> business qualifications, another, the re
markable skill with which she has car
ried the vigor and vivacity of you'll
: clear across life's meridian, and make
> them her companions down the decliv
. ity of years. She is now sixty-tw
o years of age, but in physical vigor rival
J.. the average woman of thirty. Fo
> depth of reasoning and clear menta
A perception, especially in matters of bus
=, iness, she is in every respect the equa
. of men, as the thrift and enterprise c
!, the business she conducts is abundan
evidence.
The first may perhaps be explaine
by the hypothesis that in teachin
'' others how to live she has for herse
;, learned the secret of putting old age afa
off. At least, her mental and physics
" vigor at the age when, in the halcyo
\ days of our grandmothers-a period {
which the maleontent of our own age
ever wont to point with pride and sati
faction-women were accustomed to 81
aside the cares of life aud think only
their knitting and the prayer-book, 81
stands, mid the breakers of financit
u ruin all about her, at the head of