The state herald., 1920-03-26
.CHUMS Of:
BoYHOOD RALLY
TO LoWDEN
Sunrise, Mimi, Birthplace Of
Illinois Governor, Backs
Him for President.
Tue LOWDEn SWIMMING HOLE
Early Friends Of Governor Gee Village
Famous ~ Cradle Of President
-seem In sunrlss and Been
Awake Ever Since"

Sunrise. Alnn., a sleepy little village
with a population Of 200. has found a
place In the political sun. Politics has
put the village on the map and 1t ex-
pects to stay thsre. For Gov. Frank
o. Lowden Of Illinois, one of the lead
Ing candidates for the Republican
presidential nomination. was born In
Sunrise dfty-nine years ago. His boy
hood chums and nelghbors are con-
scious Of the fame thrust upon them.
Perhaps the most enthusiastic Lowden-
for-president club In the country IL
the one that meets in Sunrise. now in
the village hall. now In Andrew Lind's
general store.
1t Il many years since the Lowdens
ssnade their home In Sunrise
than half q century. In fact-but the
village has never forgotten the family.
least Of all 'little Frank" The old
shed where Lorenzo Lowden. the gov
ernor's father. Ind his blacksmith
shop. still stands. II Is the property
of the Lowden children. used only for
storage purposes--and for the ghost
games which. the folk say. We're start
ed by Frank Lowden. The Lowden
home still stands. too. 1t is an old
fashioned dwelling that occupies a rise
of ground two miles from the village.
There is third building In Sunrise
that figured in the governors boyhood.
That Is the schoolhouse. Lorenzo
4 L3wden helped to build 1t so his hoy
could have a schooling. The one-room
structure is but stones throw from
the blacksmith shcp. 1t is no longer
school, having been succeeded by n
more modern building, but Is now the
village hall. A picture OF the Illinois
governor hangs on the wall. and un-
der Its roof the Lowden club holds
meetings.
The Sunrise folk are full OF stories
about Frank Lowden.
"He was studlous child" said
Henry voss. one Of the governors
schoolmates. 'After he had learned
TO read he used to walk back and forth
between the school and home. n dis.
tance Of two miles, carrying a book
before his face. The boys would speak
to him and he wouldn't answer. II
ws annoyed him when he was interest
Cd hs would stop and trounce us. Or"
voss added. with . twinkle. at least
he'd try to-"
In q bend Of the river near town 10
~ swimmlng hole whsre Franks
career was almost cut short. The boy
was passionatsly fond Of the water
and In the spring could scarcely wait
fse tie Ice to 90 out.
"Sss right over there In the csnterf'
aGksd voss. That's where Frank
nsariy drowned. Trying to do what
Ne older and stronger boys did be
got up on the springboard and plunged
Oh In ten fee, Of water. TheO. voss
saw his head bob up. go down. come
up Z second time aud ngnin disappear.
Theo divcd In. few feet down the
current. caught him by the hair and
dragged him ashore. We poured the
water out Of him and In II few minutes
he was as right Us ever"
"Lowdcn's swimming hole" IL still
popular with the boys OF the neighbor.
hood.
Many Of the governors old friends
I nre now at North Brunch. ten miles
, from Sunrise. Among them Is y. W.
!, Runyan. who Ind something TO do
(, with Franks education.
II taught Frank TO hunt squirrels"
said RuSynn. eve covered many n
\ mile Of this country with our gun and
htiogs."
\ The I,owdcns left Sunrise In the
Nate sixties. The Inst picture OF
cFrnnk's bo, hood that remains with
,ahe old residents II thnt Of n sturdy
ittie char. drcfsed for travel. march.
ing Of down the rond behind the
Pprmiric schooner that bore NIL tho
,owden effects TO their new home In
own. There was nothing forlorn
bout the picture. The boy was cheer.
nI. widcnwake md on the lookout for
pmcthing 10 do. Alcrtncss was char.
rter1stic Of him.
Said Henry voss. the village phIlos.
,hcr, speaking OF his old friend:
"Frnnk was horn here In Sunrise,
nd II kind OF appears that he has
pcn awake ever since"
Fern Nnaon rettrned Tuesday from "A