Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-03-03
BLACKSM|TH'S
SON MAY Be
PRESIDENT
Governor Lowden Of Illinois,
Leading Republican candi-
date, Had Humble Start.
WON OVER MANY OBSTACLES
A sehooImastsr at Fiftsen-Worked
Way Through College and Law
Schooi-From Law to Politics
Farming His Big
Interest.

Gov. Frank o. Lowden Of Illinois,
one of the prominent candidates for
.he Republican presidential nomina-
ton, won success i'm 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
work and sacrifice-it was
not the kind of beginning to promise
a 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 his class
Then he went to Chicago. He want
ed to be lawyer. By the same pro-
gram of work and sacrifice that had
advanced him thus far Lowden work"
ed his way through the Union college
of law, completing 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 born to them, a son and
three daughters.
Lowden began to take an active in
terest in politics. He was delegate
to the national convention that in
1900 nominated Mckinley and Roose-
welt -Four years later he was can
didate before the Republican guberna-
torlal 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 Illinois
district. He retired voluntarily after
two and half terms. On quitting
congress he went to his farm near
Oregon, ILL.,, 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 a member of the Republican ma
tional committee from Illinois, on
which he served until 1912. In 1916
he entered the gubernatorial primary
and was nominated for that office. He
was elected and took his seat the fol-
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, IN.
1SS5-Graduated from University
of Iowa.
1887-Graduated from law school.
1S96-Married to Miss Florence
Pullman.
1S98-Entered law partnership of
Lowden, Estabrook & Davis. Appoint
ed lieutenant colonel, first infantry.
Illinois National Guard.
1904-Defeated for Republican nom-
Ination for governor.
1906-Elected to congress.
1911-Retired from congress.
1916-Elected governor of Illinois.