Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-05-27
BLACKSMITH'S
SON May Be
PRESIDENT
Governor LoWden Of illinois,
Leading Republican Candi-
date, Had Humble Start.
WON OVER MANY OBSTACLES
a Schoolmaster at fifteen--Worked
Way Through College and Law
oehool-From Law 70 Politics
farming He Bic
Interest

Gov. Frank q. Lowden Of Illinois.
one Of the prominent candidates for
the Republican presidential nomina-
ton, won success In life by grit and
hard work. Son Of village black
smith. confronted by the privations Of
an undeveloped country, enjoying only
such advantages as he could earn by
unremitting work and sacrihce-it was
not the kind Of beginning to promise
q 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 rs. 1851.
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 Mt the school which Lo-
renz0 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
| 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 a lawyer. BY the same pro
gram of work and sacrifice that had
advanced him thus far Lowden work
Ell 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,
hut blessed with greater rewards than
the young man had before known. In
1895 he was married 10 Miss Florence
Pullman, daughter Of one Of Americas
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 II
1900 nominated Mckinley and Roose
welt Four years later he was can
didate before the Republican guberna
torial convention, but q combina tioI
of the Yates Deneen forces defeated
him. Lowden took the stump AM
helped elect his successful rival
Charles s. Deneen.
Two years later he was elected t
congress from the Thirteenth Illinoi
district. He retired voluntarily afte
two and half terms. On Quittin
congress he went to his farm nea
making that one Of the finest proper
ties OF its kind In the state
Meanwhile in 1904 he had bee
made member Of the Republican ma
tional committee from Illinois. o
which he served until 1912. In 1871
he entered the gubernatorial primar
and WAS nominated for that Office. II
was elected and took his seat the fol
lowing January to begin what ha
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:
1SGl-Born. Sunrise MINI
1SGS-M0ved to Hardin county Ia
1ss5-Gradnated from UniversIt,
Of Iowa
SS7-Graduated from law school.
1896 Married to Miss F7orenc,
Pullman
lS9S-Entered law partnership O
LOwden, Estabrook x Davis. Appoint
cd lieutenant colonel. first infantry
Illinois National Guard.
1Di--Defeated for Republican nom
inatlon for governor
1HE-Elected 10 congress
191l--Retired from congress.
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