FOWLER, CHARLES C. (deceased), late of Springfield, left behind him, the record of an honorable life and was highly respected as a citizen and an upright, industrious man. He was actuated by high principles in his relations with his fellows and had a wide circle of sincere friends. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania, August 12, 1845, and he was a son of Caleb and Catherine (Ross) Fowler, both natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in 1824, and the mother in 1828. Caleb Fowler, a farmer of Pennsylvania, emigrated from that State to Kentucky, he and his brother-in-law, James Canedy, with their families, making the entire trip down the Ohio River on a flat boat, which they had constructed for the purpose. They located near Ashland, Boyd County, where Mr. Fowler purchased a large farm and operated it until his death, in February, 1906, his wife having passed away about one year previous, in February, 1905. He was a Past Master in the Masonic Order, and at the time of his death the oldest Mason in the State. The Fowlers were an old family in Pennsylvania, having made their home there for several generations before Caleb Fowler removed to Kentucky. Nine children were born to him and his wife, of whom Charles C., was the second in order of birth. The others were as follows: John G., a farmer of St. Germain, Wash.; Ambrose, who was a farmer, died in 1891; Henry is a farmer and lives near Ashland, Ky.; Samuel lives at Ashland, Ky.; James A., a wealthy farmer of Missouri; Anna, widow of James McClellen, who was a wealthy farmer, residing in Indiana; Tryphena, who married Benjamin Barber of Ashland, Ky., and is now deceased; Bell, wife of Wilson Ballard.

November 12, 1845, when three months old, Charles C. Fowler was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where he received his education. It is the earliest home he can remember and his first work was done on his father's farm there. When about thirty years old, he married and began active farming on his own account, purchasing sixty acres of land in Carter County, Ky., where he lived from 1875 to 1885, when he sold his holding, and removed to Illinois. He located near the village of Cantrall, eight miles from Springfield, in Sangamon County, where for the remainder of his active life, he operated a frm. Being an energetic and practical farmer he won success, and in 1904, was able to retire. He then moved to the city of Springfield, where his last years were spent.

Mr. Fowler's marriage occurred in Carter County, Ky., July 17, 1874, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Weisman, in the Southern Methodist Church, when he was united with Matilda Dickerson, a native of Lawrence County, that State, born January 1, 1845. Her father, William J. Fields, was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., September 9, 1819, and her mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Boggs, was born in Lawrence County, Ky., in 1827. Matilda Fields was first married to James H. Dickerson, in 1864, and he was killed soon after their union. She was the oldest of the six children born to her parents, the others being: Christopher Columbus, a well-to-do farmer of Carter County, Ky.; James A., died in April 1906; Walter A., a successful farmer of Carter County, Ky.; Elihu M., a farmer of Olive Hill, Carter County; Leander C., on the home farm.

James and Matilda Dickerson were parents of one child, Rebecca Dickerson, born August 29, 1865, who lives with her mother. To Charles C. and Matilda Fowler were born children as follows: Taylor, born on June 11, 1875, a motorman, lives in Springfield, is married and has four children; Kalam C., born December 2, 1876, a farmer of Trinidad, Colo.; William J., born January 1, 1878, a successful fruit grower of Riverside, Wash.; Eva, born December 14, 1880, wife of George Long, of Springfield; Oscar W., a lineman, was born February 9, 1882, and lives at home; Phena B., born July 3, 1886, a stenographer for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, of Newark, N.J., at Springfield. Mrs. Matilda Fowler is a devout and helpful member of the Methodist Church, of which she has been a member for the past fifty years. She is a woman of high character and good deeds and has many warm friends. Her father, William J. Fields, served fourteen years continuously as Sheriff of Carter County, Ky., and had served in the Civil War under the command of Gen. Marshall.