The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-03-24

lived on II farm he inherited from his
father, and which is still owned by the
Gowen family Mr.. Miller was a Presby-
terrain, and contributed largely to the
erection of the First Presbyterian church of
Germantown. James Gowens ancestors in
Ireland were methodists, but, like most Meth
odists in those days, belonged to the Estab-
lished church. For many years Mr.. james
Gowen was II regular attendant at and pro-
minent member of st Paul's, on Third
street, this city, and later became attached
to St Lukc's church. in Germantown, under
the ministration of the venerable John Rod
ney, the oldest Episcopal rector now living
in this State, and who is still the officiating
and beloved pastor Of the same church
nls EARLY LIFE.
Franklin b. Gowcn was born at Mt. Airy
on the 9th of February, 1886 With his
brother, James Gowen, the wcll-known
eminent lawyer and faithful friend he re-
ceived his early education in Mt. Airy.
lie was hardly old enough to travel alone
when he was sent to the Catholic institu-
ton at Emmetsburg Md, where he receiv-
ed the foundations of splendid education,
and he finished his school days at the we'll
known Moravan Institution at Lititz, Lam
caster county. Before he became of age
he commenced to earn his own living as u
clerk in Bnmgarder's store at Lancaster.
Subsequently, and when scarcely twenty
one years of age, he had charge of fur
mace at Shamokin. Pa, which he left in 1857,
to engage in the coal mining business in Mt.
i.affey, Schuylkil county 1t was while
| thus engaged that Mr.. Gowen acquainted
himself with the vast resources of the an
thracite coal fields, and the first ideas of the
great mineral wealth of Schuylkill county,
and its relations to the Reading Railroad
Company, were gathered while struggling as
n member of the firm of Turner & Gowen to
earn Il livelihood. The firm failed in bust
ness, and Mr.. Gowen assumed load of in
dcbtcdness, an obligation which he honestly
discharged later in life to the very cent His
father watched the progress of his fayorite
son with many misgvings. To engage in
coal mining twenty-four years ago was re-
garded with the same fears and doubts as a
venture in the unknown Gun nison country
is to-day, and this sire of Il hopeful son was
not well pleased with young Frank until he
entered us student in Pottsville law Office
and applied himself to the study of the
law. On the 3lst day of May, 1860,
the name of Franklin b. Gowen was
registered as member of the Schuyl-
kill County Bar, and before he was
three years older he had been elected Dis
trict Attorney, served two years and resign
ed, the latter act being nccessitated by the
accumulation of great practice, the emolu-
ments of which would have restrained any
body else from relinquishing the Office But
Mr.. Gowen never practiced for fees alone; no
more did he accept the Presidency of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
| pany for the sake of the salary. A man who
| pays other peoples debts as he did when he
assumed the Indebtedness of Turner & Cow
| en-; one who enters II fight for humanity IS
| sake as he did when he enlisted Allan Pink
| erton against the murdcrous gang which ter
,orized the coal region, and kept Mcfarland
at work ferretng out crime, AT great personal
| cost, will never be accused for working sole
| ly for money. So that when the Reading
Railroad Company sought and employed
him as counsel, while it still had eminent
counsel in the same locality, on pay and no
work, he accepted the position, and resigned
| a prominent public Office and devoted his
whole time and all his talent to single
| client. He could have commanded in that
year a salary of $50, 900 from the best rail
road in the United States, and gone out of
the State, but he is Il Pennsylvania and he
prefer ed to remain at home and take his
chances with home institutions.
RAILROAD PRESIDENT.
The legal business of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad Company became heavy
in proportion as the traffic of the road in
creased, and the company asked Mr.. Gowen
to lease his mountain home and take up his
residence in this city. lie was so successful
as lawyer for the company, that Charles f.
Smith, the companys president, conceived
the idea that he was the proper person to
succeed to the office. Mr.. Smith found that
the company's affairs overrcached his own
ability to grapplc with them, and of all the
many good men in the company's service
and among the stockholders he could find no
one who could fill the bill as well as Franklin
b. Gowcn. Mr. Smith vas firm believer in
Mr., Gowen's theory that the company should
fortify itself against the possible encroach-
ment of rural lines, and was the first man to
indorsc the plans proposed by Mr.. Gowen as
condition precedent to his acceptance of
the Office of president of the Philadelphia
and Reading railroad. Accordingly, thirteen
years ago, Mr.. Smith announced his inten-
ton of retiring from active service, and nom-
mated Mr.. Gowen for the succession. Mr..
Gowen was duly elected, and has been the
official head of the company ever since,
being annually reelected at every election,
except in 1891, when opposition to his plans
for the relief of the company brought forth
opposition, and created an interregnum with
Frank S. Bond at the head. Mr. Gowen's
policy, when, in 1869 he accepted the great
trust of President of the second railroad in
Pennsylvania, was that the company should
own the coal and iron on the lands in the lo-
cahtics from which the railroad company
drew its revenue. He, accordingly, secured
a charter for II coal and iron company, and
went into active business as II miner and
shipper of coal In such capacity he revolu-
tionized the coal trade, and became master
of the situation, making his company the
leading operator, miner and shipper, and
| virtually dictator of the mining industry OF
Pennsylvania,
THE MAN AS We FIND HIM.
| Mr., GOwen will be forty-siX years old on
the first monthly anniversary of his reinstate
ment to the responsible position of Presiden
of the Philadelphia and Reading railroaC
and branches and the Coal and Iron Com
pany His birthday occurs ON the 9th o
next month. In appearance he looks like Il