Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-11-12
OWEN FOWLER
DIED TODAY
Editor Of the Progress Ex-
pired This Morning.

Succumbed to Death After
a Hard Struggle Against
Typhoid Fever.
Owen Fowler, editor and publisher of
the Semi Weekly Progress, died at SIS
| a. m. today at his home on North Centre
| street Death came to him peacefully
| and while surrounded by his wife, son
and mother, who were called to his bed
side when the attending physicians and
| nurses saw that the end was drawing
near. The news of the death, while not
unexpected by the public, nevertheless
shocked the community, and expressions
of sympathy were heard on every side.
MIR. Fowler became Ill on October 25,
and few days later symptoms of
typhoid fever developed. He was at
once given the best medical care and
attention possible, but he sank rapidly
and fears for his recovery were enter
tanned in the early days Of his illness.
| Favorable changes occurred occasional
ly, and these gave hopes to his friends
that he would gain sufficient strength
| to overcome the ravaglng effects Of the
malady, but IN this all were disappoint-
| ed, and at the hour stated death came
and ended the life Of one OF whom Free
land had many reasons to call promi-
nent citizen and a true friend.
The funeral will take place at 2
o'clock Saturday afternoon. Services
will be conducted at the residence by
Rev. F. Marshal, of st. James Protes-
tant Episcopal chapel. The interment
will be made at Freeland cemetery.
| Owen Fowler, whose death is noted
above, was born at Lightstreet, Colum-
bia county, on May 30. 1859, and was
aged today 43 years, 5 months and 13
days. He was son of Thomas
G.. Fowler, also a native OF Columbia
county. In 1870, Mr.. Fowler's par
ents removed from Lightstreet to
Riverside, Northumberland county,
opposite the town of Danville, and at
the age Of twelve years the deceased
entered the Intelligencer Office In that
town as printers apprentice. He re-
nained there five years.
| Leaving Danville he went to Halle
ton, where he worked on the Mountain
| Democrat for a short while, and after
ward took Western trip, working for
some time on the Omaha, Nebraska,
Herald. He again returned to Danville,
worked there about year, then went
to Mauch Chunk and later accepted
position as foreman on the Shickshinny
Mountain Echo.
While in Shickshinny Mr.. Fowler's at
tention was attracted to Freeland, and
after making q few visits here and
taking survey OF the field he decided
that the town could support news
paper. With this object in view he can
vassed for advertisements and subscrip-
tions, and while the reception he met
was not wholly favorable the young pub
Usher persevered and finally gained a
sufficient number of patrons to justify
the launching of a weekly, which he
appropriately named the Progress.
The first number was issued on Noy-
ember Is, 1881, and, though Of modest
size and unassuming, the paper soon be-
came a recognized fixture OF the town.
Circulation and patronage steadily in
| xuft ha oil nd
prestige of the paper, and In May, 1887,
Mr.. Fowler put forth daily issue. The
coal strike which followed caused the
abandonment OF the daily and the week.
ly was changed to semi-weekly, In
which form the Progress has since been
published.
In the meantime the publisher gave
to the town all the assistance at his
command, both personally and through
his paper, In furthering its progress.
He was among the first to subscribe to
every local industry which needed
money to develop, and, though he took
no ostentatious part in doing so, he
gave freely to every movement which
had the upbuiIding of Freeland for its
object.
He served some years as postmaster of
the town and In that capacity gave
satisfaction to every patron Of the Office.
In conjunction With others he managed
Yannes opera house for some time and
had a number of excellent theatrical
ventures produced here. He had a
large acquaintance throughout the
county and was frequently spoken OF In
Republican circles as a desirable candi-
date for office, but refused to permit the