Tulare-Fresno County CA Archives Obituaries.....Fowler, Thomas April 17, 1884
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Steve Harrison raleighwood@juno.com April 17, 2008, 8:18 am

Weekly Visalia Delta, April 17, 1884
"SUDDEN DEATH.

Hon. Thos. Fowler Dies Suddenly in Visalia.

The people of Visalia were much pained this morning to learn of the sudden 
demise of Hon. Thos. Fowler, who had just returned from a protracted absence in 
San Francisco.

About a month ago Mr. Fowler went to Fresno and thence to San Francisco.  While 
at the former place he negotiated for the purchase of a large track [tract] of 
land. He went to San Francisco as a witness in an important land-suit, and this 
with other matters kept him there longer than he at first intended to remain.

During his absence he was quite sick and was under a doctor's care, and 
appeared down-hearted in consequence.  When at Goshen on the way home he fell 
when trying to get off the train while in motion and hurt his side 
considerably, but did not appear to think it serious.  Feeling unwell he 
stopped at McCabe's Hotel, intending to come in next day, Wednesday, by the 
Hanford stage.  But not feeling well enough when the stage passed, he concluded 
to wait for the evening train, and arrived in Visalia about 8:30 p.m.  He took 
a room at the Palace Hotel, thinking he would be better in the morning, and not 
wishing to alarm his wife needlessly.  About 11 o'clock he rang for a waiter 
and said that he wanted a physician.  Dr. King was summoned and Mr. Fowler told 
him that he was very sick.  He was given some medicine that relieve him very 
quickly and soon after the Doctor started to go down stairs.  Mr. Fowler rose 
up and asked him not to leave him alone all night, and not to be gone 
long. "You will save my life" he said "if you will stay with me."  Dr. King 
told him that he would return shortly, and on going back to the room in about 
ten or fifteen minutes found him dead.  He was lying in almost the same 
position as when the Doctor left.  He had turned partially over and had 
stretched one foot out a little.  There was no appearance of there having been 
any struggle.

An examination of his body disclosed a large black spot on his side in the 
region of the liver, where he had kept his hand and had complained of the 
pain.  The doctor was not certain whether the discoloration was the immediate 
result of the bruise, or was caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the 
vicinity, which would have had much the same appearance.  The body was taken 
home soon after, the painful news having previously been broken to his wife.  
The funeral will take place to-morrow, Friday, under the auspices of the Odd 
Fellows, of which order he was a member.  He leaves a wife and three children 
to mourn the loss of a kind husband and parent, in which they have the 
heartfelt sympathy of a host of friends.

Mr. Fowler was born in County Down near Belfast March 17, 1829, and at the time 
of his death was 55 years and one month of age.  He left Ireland [1847] when a 
youth, and came to New York, where he was apprenticed in a machine shop to 
learn the trade; but the iron dust injuring his health he drifted about 
aimlessly for a while.  He finally went to New Orleans and from there to 
California via Texas, arriving in this State in 1853 [other sources have 
1852].  He was engaged in mining near Millerton, and from there came to Tulare 
and went into the cattle business first with Fisher and Ray.  His parents were 
quite wealthy and often tried to get him to return to Ireland, he being the 
only son in the family.  He had made up his mind to go at one time, but getting 
married soon after, gave up his claim to the estate in favor of a twin sister, 
who survives him.  At the same time he bought the cattle belonging to Barney 
Harrell, and these with those he already owned in his own brand, "76," 
increased his responsibilities so that he gave up all intentions of returning 
home.

He represented this district two terms in the California Senate, being first 
elected in 1869, and has for years been quite active in the political affairs 
of the State.  In the Legislature he made himself well known and his fight 
against the Railroad Subsidy bill will be remembered by people here.  Lately he 
has taken an important part in the settlement of the difficulty between the 
S.P. Railroad and the Mussel Slough settlers." END


Additional Comments:
Weekly Visalia Delta (Visalia, California), April 17, 1884 (Thursday). Page 3, 
Column 7.  Thomas Fowler married Mary Elizabeth Farley, daughter of Ebenezer 
Farley and Eliza Minerva (Smith) Farley.  

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