This is a transcription of an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated October 13, 1915.
THOMAS P. FOWLER DIES
AT HIS SUMMER HOME
Thomas Powell Fowler died suddently at his Summer residence, "Belair," in Warwick Monday evening at 8:30. He had been in ill health for several years. Mr. Fowler and family had prolonged their stay in Warwick this autumn, enjoying the pleasant days driving about the country before returning to their winter home in New York. He has been a sufferer from asthma and found the climate here agreed with him better than any other.
Thomas Powell Fowler was the son of the late Issac Sebring Fowler and Mary Ludlow Powell and was born in Newburgh Oct. 26, 1851. After graduation from Columbia Law School he studied at Heidelberg, Germany for two years, and returning home practiced law in New York five years before entering the railroad service, as director, in 1879, in the Shenango & Allegheny railroad.
Mr. Fowler was elected a Director of the Warwick Valley Railroad Company in December, 1881, and Secretary during the following month. He served until the consolidation with the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway Company, when he was elected first Secretary of the company, but owing to the pressure of business matters he was compelled to decline this position. He, however, took warm interest in the road and its varying fortunes and was elected a Director of the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway Company December 2nd, 1902, and has served continuously since. His knowledge of local conditions made him most acceptable to the Warwick people as a local member of the Board, following the death of Mr. Burt and the entrance upon the Board of men who were not familiar with the needs of our section of the Country, and his influence in the Board has been for such action as would benefit the interests of our village. It was during this period that the location of the new shops was decided upon and it was his influence that contributed largely to this result, which has been so beneficial to this village.
In 1883 he was elected a director in the West Pennsylvania and Shenango Connecting railroad; in 1884 he was elected a director in the New York Ontario and Western railroad; March 15, 1884 he was appointed receiver of the Shanango & Allegheny and on March 31, 1884, he was elected president; since January, 1866, he served as director of the Carthage and Adirondack railroad, and from January 20, 1880, until Sept. 25, 1912, he was president of the New York Ontario & Western. It was under the management of Mr. Fowler that the Ontario & Western achieved it greatest development.
When the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe went into the hands of Receivers, Mr. Fowler was named as a member of the Reorganization Committee. After the reorganization was completed, he continued to serve as a Director until his death, and was a member of the Financial Committee and his able services on the Board have undoubtedly been of much influence in the up-building of the Santa Fe to its present enviable position among American railroads. During the past year, Mr. Fowler was elected a Director of the Erie Railroad, at the earnest request of Mr. Underwood and his associates, who were aware of the value that his services and counsel would be to the road.
Mr. Fowler was a director in many banks and financial institutions in New York and a member of the Down Town Association and of the Metropolitan Club, Grolier and Tuxedo Clubs, and Sons of the Revolution.
He has been for many years a Warden of St. James Episcopal Church in New York. He has always maintained friendly relations with Christ Church in Warwick, which the family have always attended when in town, and was a liberal contributor to its support.
During his long and active railroad career Mr. Fowler came in contact and established personal relations with many prominent men in the railroad and financial world, and among them all, he was respected as a man of the highest integrity, and of unusually sound judgement.
The kindly neighborly interest which he took in the people and affairs of Warwick won him their high respect and esteem, and he will always be held in a warm regard by those who knew him in Warwick. He loved our not alone for its beauty and it unsurpassed environment, but because it was somewhat isolated from the main line of travel, sequestered from any suggestion of metropolitan nearness.
Since his marriage in April, 1876, with Miss Ruth Seely Dunning, a daughter of the late Benjamin F. Dunning, the Fowlers have spent their summers at their beautiful estate, "Belair," on Maple Avenue, except for a few seasons when Mr. and Mrs. Fowler were abroad or taking a trip to the California coast. Their winters have usually been spent at their residence, No. 39 East 68th street, New York.
Mr. Fowler is survived by Mrs. Fowler and her four daughters, Miss Ruth, Mrs. Francis F. Palmer, Mrs. Dunlevy Milbank, Mrs. Albert Maurice, all of New York, and three sons B.F. Dunning, Thomas P. and A. Ludlow. Also one brother, Hon. Robert Ludlow Fowler, Surrogate of New York County.
