The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-02-06
Governor Lowden Of Illinois,
Leading Republican Candi-
date, Had Humble Start.
WON OVER MANY OBSTACLES
A SchooImaster at Eifteen-Worked
Way Through College and Law
Schooi-From Law to Politics
Farming Ills Big
Interest.

Gov. Frank o. LOwden of Illinois,
one of the prominent candidates for
the Republican presidential nominal
ton. won success in life by grit and
hard work. Son of a village black
smith, confronted by the privations OF
an undeveloped country, enjoying only
such advantages as he could earn by
unremtting work and sacrifice-it was
not the kind of beginning to promise
brilliant future. But by determina-
ton. ambition and ability Lowden lev
eled the obstacles that rose about him
and made success look his way.
Governor Lowden was born near
Sunrise. Mimi, on January 26. 1861.
His father was Lorenzo Lowden. who
ran the village blacksmith shop. The
Lowdens left Sunrise when Frank was
seven years old. barely out of the
primer class at the school which Lo-
renzo helped to build. and moved to
Hardin county. Iowa. There the elder
Lowden took up farming. The boy
farmed, too. but did more. He made
spare time for himself and demanded
an education. So well did he succeed
that at fifteen he was master of the
country school, saving his few dollars
for college, At twenty he entered the
University of Iowa. By outside work
he made enough money to complete
his course-at the head of hiE class.
Then he went to Chicago. Ea want
ed to be lawyer. By the same pro-
gram of work and sacrifice that bad
advanced him thus far Lowden work
ed his way through the Union college
of law, completing a two-year course
| in one year-again at the head of his
| class.
Now came more years of hard work,
| but blessed with greater rewards than
| the young man had before known. In
| 1896 he was married to Miss Florence
! Pullman, daughter of one of Americas
| greatest business men. -Four children
| have been horn to them, a son and
| three daughters.
Lowden began to take an active in
| terest in politics. He was a delegate
| to the national convention that in
1900 nominated Mckinley and Roose-
welt. Four years later he was cam
didate before the Republican guberna-
| torial convention. but a combination
| of the Yates-Deneen forces defeated
| him. Lowden took the stump and
| helped elect his successful rival
Charles S. Deneen. @
Two years later he was elected to
congress from the Thirteenth Tinois
district He retired voluntariiy after
| two and q half terms. On quitting
| congress he went to his farm near
| Oregon, H., and devoted himself to
making that one of the finest proper
| ties of its kind in the state.
Meanwhile in 1904 he had been
made member of the Republican ma
| tional committee from Illinois, on
which he served until 1912. Ir 1916
he entered the gubernatoriaI primary
| and was nominated for that Office. He
was elected and took his seat the fof-
| lowing January to begin what has
| proved one of the most constructive
and successful administrations record
| ed in the history of the state.
In brief. the chief events of Govern
or Lowden's life, are as follows:
1S61-Born, Sunrise. MINI.
1S6S-Moved to Hardin county, Ia.
1SS5-Graduated from University
| of Iowa.
1SS7-Graduated from law school,
1S96-Marred to Miss Florence
| Pullman.
1S9S-Entered law partnership of
| Lowden, Estabrook & Davis. Appoint
| ed lieutenant colonel, first infantry,
| Illinois National Guard.
19o4-Defeated for Republican NOM
| nation for governor.
1906-Elected to congress.
1911-Retired from congress.
1916-Elected governor of Illinois,