Joseph S. Fowler

Joseph Smith Fowler
United States Senator fromTennessee
In office July 24, 1866 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	Alfred O. P. Nicholson
Succeeded by	Henry Cooper
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
In office May, 1862 – May 1865
Preceded by	James T. Dunlap
Succeeded by	Samuel W. Hatchett
Personal details
Born	(1820-08-31)August 31, 1820 Steubenville,Ohio
Died	April 1, 1902(1902-04-01)(aged 81) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky
Political party	Republican
Education	Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio
Profession	Attorney

Joseph Smith Fowler(August 31, 1820 – April 1, 1902) was an American attorney and politician. As a resident of Tennessee, he was notable for his support of theUnionduring theAmerican Civil War.Fowler served as state comptroller during the military governorship ofAndrew Johnson.After the war, Fowler served as aUnited States SenatorfromTennesseefrom 1866 to 1871.

Early life

Fowler was born inSteubenville, Ohioon August 31, 1820, a son of James and Sarah (Atkinson) Fowler, natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. He graduated from Steubenville's Grove Academy attendedFranklin CollegeinNew Athens, Ohio,from which he graduated in 1843. He taught school inShelby County, Kentuckyin 1844 and was aprofessorofmathematicsat Franklin College inDavidson County, Tennesseefrom 1845 to 1849. Hestudied lawinBowling Green, Kentucky,wasadmitted to the bar,and practiced in Tennessee until 1861. From 1856 to 1861 he served as president of Howard Female College inGallatin, Tennessee.

Civil War

Fowler was an ardent Unionist and at the start of the American Civil War he moved his family toSpringfield, Illinois.He returned to Tennessee when a pro-Union government was established. From 1862 to 1865, Fowler served as Tennessee's state comptroller, holding office during the military governorship ofAndrew Johnson.

United States Senator

In 1866, Tennessee became the first former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union; theTennessee General Assemblyelected Fowler to the Senate, where his service began on July 24, 1866. Fowler became a part of the majorityRepublicancaucus.In the40th Congresshe served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills.

Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

During PresidentAndrew Johnson'simpeachment trial,Fowler broke party ranks, along with nine other Republican senators, and voted for acquittal. Including Fowler, seven Republican senators were disturbed by how the proceedings had been manipulated in order to give a one-sided presentation of the evidence. The other Republican senators expressing these concerns wereWilliam Pitt FessendenJames W. Grimes,John B. Henderson,Lyman Trumbull,Peter G. Van Winkle,andEdmund G. Rossof Kansas, who provided the decisive vote.Together, with three other Republican Senators (James Dixon,James Rood Doolittle,Daniel Sheldon Norton) they all defied their party and public opinion and voted against convicting Johnson.After the trial, CongressmanBenjamin Butlerconducted hearings on the widespread reports that Republican senators had been bribed to vote for Johnson's acquittal. In Butler's hearings, and in subsequent inquiries, there was increasing evidence that some acquittal votes were acquired by promises of patronage jobs and cash.

Later life

Fowler was not a candidate for reelection, and left the Senate at the end of his term in 1871. He returned to Tennessee, and practiced law in Nashville. In 1872, he was active in theLiberal Republican Party,and was a delegate toits national convention.In 1875, Fowler was selected by the committee planning the public memorial in Nashville that commemorated Andrew Johnson's death to deliver the funeral oration. In 1878, Fowler moved toWashington, D.C.,where he practiced law until shortly before his death. Fowler also authored articles forThe Magazine of American Historyand other publications.

Death and burial

Fowler died in Washington on April 1, 1902. He was buried atLexington CemeteryinLexington, Kentucky.

Family

On November 12, 1846, Fowler married Maria Louisa Embry (1827-1866). They were the parents of two children, Louisa Fowler (1849-1889) and James Bowling Fowler (1859-1887).

Legacy

A collection of Fowler's papers is maintained by the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

External links

• United States Congress."Joseph S. Fowler (id: F000324)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Joseph S. FowleratFind a Grave