Dr. Lorin L. Fowler was born in Lake Creek Township in Williamson County on January 4, 1877, the son of physician James Madison Fowler (1848-1911) and Sidney Hendrickson (1853-1930).
The 1880 federal census located the Fowler family living in Lake Creek Township where Lorin was born. His father at the time was a 32 year old physician. Lorin was aged 3 and had a younger sister named Sydney, aged 1, named after their mother. Also, present in the home were Richmond Fowler, a 19 year old farm laborer and Rena A. Fowler, an 18 year old domestic servant. Richmond and Rena were listed as nephew and niece to James F. Fowler, head of household.
Except for his years in college, Army service in the Spanish American War and World War I and for two periods in state service, Dr. Fowler had spent his entire life in Williamson County attending the rural schools, Crab Orchard Academy and Ewing College.
Prior to completion of his education, he enlisted in the Army on March 28, 1900, at Evansville, Indiana and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he became a member of the Regular Army and was assigned to the Medical Corps in May, 1900.
His 1900 enlistment records indicated that he was 23 years old and was skilled as a druggist. He was described as 5’ 7 ¼” tall, with blue eyes, dark hair and a light complexion. He left San Francisco aboard a troop transport for the Philippine Islands. Lorin was discharged from the Army on March 27, 1903 at Fort McDowell, California with the rank of Sergeant. His records indicate his service as excellent.
The 1900 census, found the parental family had moved to Crab Orchard Precinct east of Marion. Although Lorin was listed in the census he was actually serving in the Spanish American War in the Philippines. In addition to the parents, siblings listed in the home were Sydney M. Fowler 21, Althea H. Fowler 16, John A. Fowler 14, William H. Fowler 11 and Charles H. Fowler aged 5, all born since the 1880 census.
After discharge from the army, Lorin went to Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and was graduated from the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons April 26, 1907.
He served the following two years on the medical staff of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary at Menard, and then began his medical practice in Marion in 1909.
Dr. Fowler was married to Miss Maude McDonald in 1910 and this was reflected in the 1910 census. The Fowlers were at that time renting a home at 720 E. Main Street. Lorin and Maude were both listed as 33 years old and newly married. Lorin listed himself as a physician at general practice. The following year in 1911, Lorin’s father passed away.
Dr. Fowler served the City of Marion as an Alderman from 1914 to 1916.
On June 8, 1917, Dr. Fowler volunteered for service in World War I. He entered the Medical Corps with the rank of First Lieutenant. On August 23, 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and was sent to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York with a troop train for embarkation for Foreign Service. He served overseas with the 339th Field Artillery, 88th Division, and returned home February 18, 1919, after being discharged with the rank of Major.
In the 1920 federal census, Lorin and Maude, aged 43, were still living at 720 E. Main but now own the home mortgage free.
A 1922 business directory listed Dr. Fowler as having an office located at 1204 Public Square in the north east corner. By 1927 he had moved to the upper floors of the Marion State and Savings Bank as did many of the professions, occupying rooms 52 through 55.
On May 24, 1929, Dr. Fowler applied for an invalid pension due to military service. Anyone interested in the details of Dr. Fowler’s life and military service, should certainly apply for a copy of his military pension records at the National Archives which would reveal a plethora of details about his life and injuries.
In 1929, Lorin and Maude moved out of their home on E. Main Street and purchased a home located at 512 E. Thorn Street which is where they were located in the federal census of 1930. The couple valued the home which they owned free of mortgage at $4,000. Lorin’s widowed mother, Sydney, now aged 76, was living with them in the home, but died the same year.
When the Marion State and Savings Bank failed at the start of the depression in 1930, the building was later purchased and converted to the Hotel State. This necessitated a move by all of the occupying professional people with offices in the building to move elsewhere. Dr. Fowler moved temporarily to an office over the Whittington-Wallace Pharmacy (later Parks Pharmacy) in the 600 block of the Public Square near an office occupied by Dr. Virgil A. Baker, father of Dr. Alonzo Baker.
Directories indicate that by 1939, Dr. Fowler had moved his office back across the square to his original location at 1204 Public Square.
As Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Officers’ Reserve, he was called in 1941 to Scott Field for examination for assignment to duty in World War II. He passed the physical examination, and returned home to await a call for active duly. Later, he was advised by the War Department that his age was beyond the limit for officers being called for duty.
In 1944, Lorin’s wife, Maud, passed away. He was married again on May 4, 1945 to Mrs. Lula Pulley Caplinger who had one son by the name of Walter L. Caplinger. The couple continued living at 512 E. Thorn.
From 1948 to 1951 Dr. L.L. Fowler was a member of the medical staff at Anna State Hospital.
In 1951, after leaving the Anna State Hospital, Dr. Fowler occupied an office at 1200 ½ Public Square.
He was a member of the First Methodist Church, the Williamson County, Southern Illinois and State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. Among the Masonic orders, he held membership in Fellowship Lodge No. 89, Royal Arch Chapter 100 and Select Masters at Harrisburg. He was a life member of Elks Lodge No. 800. He held membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and Spanish American War veterans.
Dr. Lorin L. Fowler, 512 East Thorn Street, died at 2: 30 p m, Saturday, June 1, 1957 at Marion Memorial Hospital at the age of 80. He had been a patient at the hospital since the evening of May 7th when he suffered a stroke at a testimonial dinner given by the Williamson County Medical Society, honoring him for 50 years of service as a physician.
Lorin was preceded in death by his parents, James and Sydney Fowler; his first wife, Maud; sisters, Rena A. Fowler and Sydney M. Fowler; and a brother John A. Fowler.
He was survived by his wife, Lula, and two brothers, William H. Fowler, Washington, D.C., and Charles H. Fowler, Socorro, New Mexico, and a step-son, Walter L. Caplinger, LaHabra, California. Both brothers came to Marion to be with him after he was stricken.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Wilson-Frick Funeral Home for Dr. Lorin L. Fowler, 512 E. Thorn Street who died Saturday in Marion Memorial Hospital. Rev. C.V. Tolley officiated at the service, Mrs. Fannie Evans and Mrs. Louie Moffett, accompanied by Miss Helen Longbons sang, “In the Garden” and “Beyond the Sunset.”
Representing the medical profession and the Marion Memorial Hospital were Doctors Howard C. Dibble, C.E. Boyd, James Felts, H.T. Merrell, Martin M. May, Alonozo N. Baker, John W. Johnson, W.W. Ritchey, Ben Fox and Mrs. Shirley Lindberg, Marion Memorial Hospital Administrator and Mrs. Ruth White.
Masonic rites were conducted Monday at 7:30 P.M. at the Wilson-Frick Chapel by the following officers of Fellowship Lodge No. 89; Worshipful Master, Orville Sneed; Chaplain, Clyde Young; Secretary, R.E. Lawrence; and Marshal, Oscar Richerson.
Military graveside rites were held Tuesday by American Legion Post No. 147 and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Officers in charge were; commander, Horace Neely; Chaplain, Seba Marshall; Officer of the Day, Joe Witter; Firing Squad, James Eveland, Bob Buckner, Hugh Pettus, Dudley Groves and Sam Avery.
American Legion Color Bearers were Bill Jones and Leon Michael. VFW Color Bearers were Ray Hood and Roy Kelley; Color Guard, Moses Adams and Raymond Klope, Honorary Pall Bearers from the VFW and American Legion were Esco Thompson, Claud Hudgens, Bob King, Arthur Friese, George Crenshaw and Wilsie Fosse and Spanish American War Veterans Harry Peebles, Jerry Cavitt was the Bugler.
Active Pallbearers were Adoph Fluck, Alfred L. Fluck, Delmar Fluck, Orville Sneed, R.E. Lawrence, and Rudolph Fuller. Interment was in Maplewood Cemetery.
Sam’s Notes: The spelling of Lorin looks incorrect but is the spelling as found on military records, federal census records, and his obituary. The only spelling of his name as Loren occurred in a handful of directory listings.
(Data extracted from Marion Daily Republican Obituary, June 3, 1957, and Funeral article; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion business and street directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 10/16/2013)