Frank Orren Lowden - Political Career, Legacy

Lawyer, US representative, and governor, born near Sunrise City, Minnesota, USA. He grew up in Iowa where he worked on a farm and taught at schools. Educated in Iowa and then Chicago, he established a lucrative law practice in Chicago, married George Pullman's daughter, and began managing the Pullman railroad industries in 1897. Serving in the US House of Representatives (Republican, Illinois, 1906–11), he worked to reform the State Department, and as governor of Illinois (1917–21) he created a state budget bureau and initiated other reforms. He retired to his farm outside Chicago and declined all offers by his fellow Republicans to run for or accept higher office, although he did campaign for measures beneficial to agriculture and improving public administration. During the Great Depression he favoured extensive federal aid to farmers.

Frank Orren Lowden (January 26, 1861– March 20, 1943) was an American political figure. Born in Sunrise Township, Minnesota, he lived in Iowa from the age of 7 until his graduation from Iowa State University in 1885.

Political Career

He was a Congressional representative from Illinois, from 1906 until 1911.

He was the Governor of Illinois from 1917 to 1921, during which he won wide notice for the major reorganization of state government he spearheaded.

Legacy

The following are named after Governor Lowden: Camp Lowden Boy Scout Camp, Lowden State Park and Lowden-Miller State Forest, all near Oregon, Illinois; and Lowden Hall, located on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.