Cañon City record., 1899-01-19
Memory of a Noble Character.


| For the trouble and sorrow to come.
EDITH IRMA RUpD.
Memory of Noble Character.
ByB.F p. nocKAFRLLow.
Warren-R Fowler was born March
10, 1915, in Central New York. His
father was soldier of the war of
1924. He died December 20, 1899,
at Rialto, California. The impress of
of his Christian character, being
marked with strong inviduality, will
ever remain one of the chief founda-
ton stones Of Canon church and
society. 1t is pleasureable duty to
do all in our power to perpetuate and
honor his memory.
He left the pursuit of teaching
higher mathematics and languages in
New York State after seventeen years
service, to 90 to California in 1849,
making some of his gold in the tea
trade with China. Returning, in 1854
he invested in Chicago and in prairie
lands, clearing fifty Thousand dollars
in about two years, which was as
speedily lost in the panic of 1878.
With all he had left-his noble wife
and Christian faith-he started on
his third pioneer venture; this time
with OK teams Che never allowed the
drivers to swear att, embarking in
prairie schooners" for Colorado.
Much needed as their limited space
was for transporting necessaries, yet
Bibles, Sunday school books and tracts
were slowed away in the safest cor
ner.
They arrived at Canon City August
10, 1860, where Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler
were met by the generous hearted
pioneers, comprising every phase of
frontier life, with most hospitable
welcome. Having cast their home
anchor of hope amongst them, and
possessing vein of humor that cap
tivated by being tinged with the tact
of former pioneer experiences, Mr.
Fowler stroye at the outset to inter-
est the people in the work of his Mas
ter, never permitting Sabbath to
pass without holding some sort Of
Divine servjse, and distributing tracts
in the settlements. The first attempt
towards enforcement of local lava
for they had no other, was intrusted
to him as acting justice or Judge. Z,
He was one of the eight who Or
ganized the Methodist church here
and was one of the charter members
of Mount Moriah Lodge, A. F. and A.
NJ. Was six years county superin-
tendent of schools. One Sunday in
the winter of 1S60-6l, while reading
a sermon, news was brought of the
approach, by the South Park road, of
a large body of Indians, and his con-
gregation all flew to arms. Rallying
the people of the settlements, they
prepared for determined resistance,
and Brother Fowler, armed with his
trusty rifle, took the outpost around
the soda point. About midnight the
Ute Indians, supposed to number one
thousand, appeared, apparently on the
march after their old foes, the Arapa-
hoes, which fact he reported to the
line of sentinels, and the watchful
people kept silent, with bated breath,
as for hours they waited the tread of
the last red man to pass. The Indians
returned by daylight, giving such
friendly demonstrations that ever
after their appearance gave feeling
of security against an invasion of the
hostile Indians of the plains.
Mr. Fowler was the first and most
earnest prohibition worker in Fremont
county. The sincerity and probity of
his Christian life gave entrance and
weight to all hearts to his views. He
was staunch Republican, and when
once asked by the writer to become a
candidate for representative, his re-
ply was: mo, all the demons in
every whiskey jug will work against
me. rather fight them single hand
ed, unless my party will take up the
ISSUE" So pronounced were his views
that young miss said the gallop of
his horse measured off prohibition
as he rode it back and forth on duty.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler moved to
California there was universal sorrow
felt by all classes of our people,
whether church workers or not, and
now that the venerable friend of all
who knew him has gone, there are. no
misgivings as to the reception he has
met in 'the land of the blest," while
there is heartfelt sorrow and sympathy