James W. Fowler, Jr. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1068-1071 (No pages 1069-1070) 
	in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, 
	Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice 
	Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES W. FOWLER, JR. 

	James W. Fowler, Jr., is a well known member of the bar of 
Deadwood, where he is practicing in connection with his father. He was 
admitted to the bar on the 11th Or August, 1907, and at once entered 
upon the active work of his profession. It is a calling in which 
advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and it is by close 
application anti ability that Mr. Fowler is working his way steadily 
upward. 

	He was born at Rapid City, South Dakota, August 8, 1886, a son of 
James W. and Helen R. (Montross) Fowler. The father was born in 
Brooklyn, New York, in 1845 and the mother's birth occurred in 
Pennsylvania in 1856. In early life James W. Fowler engaged in the 
hardware business. In his youthful days he became a resident of Ohio 
and attended school there. Later he removed to Crete, Nebraska, where 
he conducted a hardware business for a number of years. He afterward 
went to Sidney, Nebraska, where he engaged in the practice of law, 
having studied for the profession when in Ohio. He continued in 
practice there for some time and then removed to Rapid City, South 
Dakota, where he followed his profession from 1879 until 1898. He then 
located in Deadwood, where he continued as an active member of the bar 
until 1913, when because of impaired health he was compelled to 
practically retire. He had gained a prominent place as an able and 
representative lawyer and one whose devotion to his clients, interests 
was proverbial. He also did not a little in shaping public thought and 
action and was recognized as a leader in his community. He served as a 
member of the first territorial convention of South Dakota, was city 
attorney of Rapid City and also filled the same position in Deadwood 
for a number of years. He filled other local positions and in 1907 was 
elected to represent Lawrence county in the state legislature. He has 
thus left the impress of his individuality upon many lines of public 
thought and action and his efforts have been attended With results 
beneficial to the community and to the commonwealth, To him and his 
wife have been born three children: Alice, the wife of Frederick H. 
Whitfield, a practicing attorney of Portland, Oregon, Helen, the wife 
of J. W. Johnson, formerly vice president of the Bank of Spearfish but 
now a resident of Chicago and city sales manager for S. D. Childs & 
Company; and James W., Jr., of this review.. 

	The last named attended school in Rapid City and Deadwood and 
afterward matriculated in the University of Michigan, while still later 
he attended the University of South Dakota. When nineteen years of age 
he was employed by Selden Lewis in his abstract office in Vermillion. 
He had previously learned the printer's trade, which he followed for a 
time, and he was also a stenographer in his father's office. These 
various employments come mended his attention until after he had 
completed his professional education and was admitted to the bar on the 
11th of August, 1907. He then began practicing in Deadwood, becoming 
the associate of his father in June of that year. The partnership is 
still maintained, although the senior member of the firm is now 
practically retired. Mr. Fowler continues in the general practice of 
law save that he does not take criminal cases. He pays particular 
attention to commercial law and is the legal representative of various 
wholesale houses. He is likewise interested in local mining 
propositions and is the owner of considerable property. 

	In April, 1908, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage to Miss Meckie 
L. Peterson, who was born in Vermillion, this state, a daughter of 
James and Anna Peterson. The father, who was a farmer, is now living 
retired in Vermillion. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, 
becoming a member of an Illinois regiment, with which he continued at 
the front throughout the period of hostilities. He has held numerous 
township offices in the locality in which he resides and has also 
filled some city offices in Vermillion. He comes of Danish ancestry. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have been born two children. James R., who was born 
in April, 1909; and Richard M. in January, 1913. 

	Mr. Fowler gives his political allegiance to the republican party 
but has never sought nor desired office. He is a member of the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and of the Modern Woodmen of 
America. He has always been interested in athletics and manly sports 
and while at school at Vermillion was general manager of athletics and 
made the state record for the hundred yard dash. He also obtained a 
scholarship prize while at the State university. He now concentrates 
his energies upon his professional duties and his powers along that 
line are constantly expanding and have gained for him a position of 
distinction among the younger members of the Deadwood bar.