Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE W. J. FOWLER, M.D.
In the county of Santa Clara, where is now a skilful and popular physician of the city of the same name, Dr. Fowler was born at the family homestead near Evergreen. The genealogy of this old American family dates back to the great-grandfather of Dr. Fowler, who was born in the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland. He came to American and fought in the Revolution. His son, who was in the war of 1812, became the father of three sons; one settling in the east, one in the west and one located in Missouri. The father of Dr. Fowler, A. J. Fowler, was a native of the vicinity of Glasgow, Mo. In 1852 he crossed the plains with ox teams to California, where he lived the adventurous life of a miner for a short time. Being an expert marksman, he often enjoyed hunting wild game and many a deer fell before his unerring aim. At an early day he came to Santa Clara and settled on a ranch fourteen miles from the town of that name, where he took up general ranch pursuits. While living there he served as captain of a company of cavalrymen from this county. After several removals, in 1866 the family purchased their present homestead, consisting of two hundred and twenty acres near Evergreen, and used for the raising of fruit and general farm products. At this writing he is hearty and robust for one who has lived seventy-three active years.
The mother of Dr. Fowler bore the maiden name of Sarah L. Wandell and was born near Quincy, Ill. In 1852 her parents with the children started for California---the mother with five children coming via the Isthmus of Panama, the father and eldest son John crossing the plains. The voyage proved a sad one for them. While on the way two of the sons, George and Will, died of yellow fever and were buried at sea. Nor did the family misfortunes cease with this heavy bereavement. The father had sold property in Illinois, and had taken with him about $15,000 for investment in California, concealing the money in his clothing. The Indians captured the train and he and his son escaped with one mule and one pair of boots. The father took the mule and continued the journey. The son took the boots and arrived in California only to find that his father had been murdered for his money just as the ship, with the mother on board, arrived in San Francisco.
In a family of four sons and three daughters Dr. Fowler was fourth in order of birth. Primarily educated in common schools, he further enjoyed the advantage of study in Santa Clara College, which he entered in 1883 and of which he continued to be a student until his graduation in 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. In the fall of 1889 he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania and took the regular course of lectures in that institution, from which he received the degree of M.D. in 1892. For a year afterward he had the advantages offered by the clinics of Philadelphia. With this excellent and thorough preparation for professional activities, he returned to Santa Clara county and opened an office in the city of Santa Clara, where he has since built up a growing and important practice. In addition to his private practice, since 1901 he has held the office of county physician. Keenly alive to every advance made in his profession, he is a student of medical journals, a member of the Santa Clara County and the State Medical Societies, and adopts into his practice such new methods of treatment as are of unquestioned value.
The marriage of Dr. Fowler occurred in Santa Clara and united him with Lena A. Manschot, who was born in Milwaukee, Wis., a daughter of Henry A. Manschot, a popular and well-known resident of Milwaukee. Dr. and Mrs. Fowler have two children, George Melvin Lewis and Mary Doris Elizabeth, and the family are identified with the Roman Catholic Church. Few citizens are more deeply interested than Dr. Fowler in educational matters. Evidence of this interest appears in his efficient service as school director since 1895. Though not a partisan nor a politician, he is a stanch believer in Republican principles and votes for the men and measures of that party. By virtue of his birth in Santa Clara county he holds membership in the Native Sons of the Golden West. His fraternal relations further include membership in Lodge No. 60, Order of Foresters, and True Fellowship Lodge, I.O.O.F., both of Santa Clara, and the Independent Order of Red Men.
Transcribed
7-14-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 684-685. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.