The Raymer enterprise., 1920-02-19
Governor Lowden Of Illinois,
Leading Republican candi-
date, Had Humble Start.
WON OVER MANY OBSTACLES
4 Schoolmastsr at Fifteen-W orked
Way Through College and Law
School-From Law to Politics
Farming His Big
Interest,


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 prlvations Of
an undeveloped country, enjoying only
such advantages as he could earn BY
lnremitting work and sacrifce-it was
not the kind Of beginning to promise
q brilliant future. But by determine.
tion, ambition and ability Lowden lev.
eled the obstacles that rose about him
and made success look his way.
Governor Lowden was born near
Sunrise, Minn., on January 20, 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
bis 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 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
1895 he was married to Miss Florence
Pullman, daughter of one Of Americas
greatest business men. Four children
have been born to them, 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-
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 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 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 Eowden's life. are as follows:
188l-Born,. Sunrise, Minn.
1868-Moved to Hardin county. La.
1885-Graduated from University
pf Iowa.
1SS7-Graduated from law school.
998-Married to Miss Florence
Pullman.
1808-Eptered law partnership of
L0wden, Estabrook 4 Davis. Appoint.
Cd lieutenant. colonel, first infantry,
Illinois National Guard.
1o04-Defeated for Republican nom
lnation for governor.
1905 Elected to congress.
1911-Retired from congress.
l9l8-Elected governor Of Illinois.