Vaux.] v) J [March 7, 



prominent citizens are best understood and appreciated after they are 

 buried. 



Franklin B. Gowen was born at Mount Airy, near Germantown, in the 

 county of Philadelphia, February 9, 1836. He inherited some of the 

 marked mental and moral traits of his father, whose life in Philadelphia 

 demonstrated his striking individuality. 



It can hardly be doubted that what is known as heredity is the outcome 

 of the parents' characteristics in their descendants. Mr. Gowen's char- 

 acter in this respect may be judged by the recognized principles of pathog- 

 nomy. 



Yet in his social relations he was genial, agreeable and attractive. His 

 acquirements rendered him notable in association with cultured and re- 

 fined society. His information, belle lettres and scientific reading and the 

 charm of his conversation were thoroughly appreciated by his personal 

 friends and associates. 



Mr. Gowen was, at an early age, sent to Emmetsburg, in the State of 

 Maryland, to receive the instruction which made the college located there 

 so eminent as an institution of learning. 



After marked proficiency in his studies, he returned home and finished 

 them at the Moravian School, at Litez, Lancaster county, Pa. 



His youthful training was intended to qualify him for a business life. The 

 first introduction to his proposed avocation was entering the store of Mr. 

 Baumgardner, at Lancaster. Acquiring sufficient knowledge of the 

 business, Mr. Baumgardner sent him to his iron furnace, at Shamokin. 

 All this was prior to his majority, for at twenty years of age Mr. 

 Gowen formed a partnership with a Mr. Turner, for the purpose of mining 

 anthracite coal. This promised well, but in the monetary panic of 1837 

 the firm failed, with liabilities amounting to some $60,000. Mr. Gowen 

 seems to have been disappointed in his business venture. He then studied 

 law at Pottsville, Pa., with Mr. Benjamin W. Cumming. On the 31st of 

 May, 1860, he was admitted to the bar of Schuylkill county. 



To indicate the integrity and energy of Mr. Gowen, he paid in full 

 the liabilities of the firm of Gowen & Turner. In 1862, Mr. Gowen 

 was elected the District Attorney of Schuylkill county. His legal stand- 

 ing being assured, he continued to represent the pleas of the common- 

 wealth in Schuylkill county until his increasing professional business 

 required him to resign that office, and devote himself entirely to his pri- 

 vate practice. 



Mr. Gowen was the counsel of the Reading Railroad Company in 1864, 

 and in 1867 it became necessary from the increase of his professional 

 duties to remove to Philadelphia. He was then in the thirty-second year 

 of his age. In 1869, Mr. Gowen was elected President of the Philadel- 

 phia and Reading Railroad Company. 



He reluctantly accepted the position at the request of a majority of the 

 controlling interest in the company. From this period in his life, Mr. 

 Gowen began a career burdened with great responsibilities. The large 



