Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-22
READS LIKE A ROMANCE.
Life History Of a Kentucky Soldier
Who Was Mourned as Dead.

The story Of Major Oscar B. Fowler.
the once wen-known Missouri poll
tician, who shot man at Jefferson
City, and went to England, where he
has been for sixteen years. and his
coming back to this country in search
of his wife and children. reads like
the romance of Enoch Arden of old.
Major Fowler found his wife and his
daughter, Gail, and son, Gus. and he
is once more happy. He had not seen
them since the eventful night when
he shot a man for attacking his honor
in game of poker during the SEES
sion of the Missouri legislature in the
winter of 1879.
AS soon as the shot was fired Major
Fowler left Missouri for the west, and
first struck the wild territory of
Idaho, where he donned cowboys
garb, with the high-heel boot, broad
brimmed sombrero and heavy spurs
While filling the position of a COW
puncher FOwler's mustang pony threw
him one day and he fell on him, which
came near ending his checkered life
He was pronounced dead, and his cot
fin ordered, which the workman con-
structed of rough boards, but he came
to life and was put in the hospital at
Sacramento, Cal. Two months later
he was able to walk by means of
crutcheS, and went to Portland, Ore,
and was engaged as night clerk in a
hotel. 1t was there that Major Fowler
met with Captain Cook, wel-known
steamboat man, and later Fowler &C
cepted an invitation to sail with him
to Liverpool. The vessel went by
Cape Horn, and for three months was
on the voyage. On one occasion the
major was washed overheard during
a severe storm, and his life came near
ending again.
In Liverpool the major obtained a
position at small pay for three years,
and after that time Manager Griffith
of the London Times, was induced to
hire him as one of the street reporters
for that great paper. I'm two weeks
Major Fowler was given a prominent
position ON the paper, which he held
for twelve years, resigning the first
days Of June, to come back to Amer
lea, to hunt his wife and children,
from whom he had been absent for
sixteen years. His three children,
Guy, Gail and Gus, were prattling
about his knee when he left, and now
were all grown. Soon after Major
Fowler arrived in Perry he located
his family, seveh miles out from the
city, and he made haste to join them,
which was a happy meeting.
Major Fowler was born in Coving-
ton, KY, in 1899, and in 1860 he was
commissioned a lieutenant by the
confederacy, and given a place on
Stonewali Jackson's staff. After his
generals death Major Fowler was
put in command of a company of re-
cruits as captain, and later promoted
to the Office of major. He was cap
tured at Frederick City, Md, while
sparkling a young lady one night, and
condemned to be shot as a spy, but
was later turned loose. After the war
Major Fowler was the advertising
manager of a large circus, and from
1871 to 1876 was an itinerant preacher
in the Methodist church. In 1874, in
Union City, ILL.,, Major Fowler was
married and in 1876 he quit preaching
and entered politics in Missouri. He
stumped st. Clair county, Missouri,
with Jeff Younger, an uncle of the
noted Younger brothers, whose work
of outlawry is well known to many
readers Oklahoma Letter to Cincin-
natl Enquirer.