California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ROYAL R. FOWLER. A native son of the state and a prominent rancher of Merced county, 
Royal R. Fowler was born in San Joaquin county March 12, 1861. His father, Joseph M. 
Fowler, was a native of Massachusetts, born near Westfield on a farm, where he was reared 
to manhood. Upon leaving the paternal home he went to Northampton, where he joined the 
soldiers, thence to New York. In 1849 ne went with the company intending to go to the south- 
west to enlist in the Mexican war, but as the war ended in that year they decided to come on 
to California. Leaving New York City they took passage on a steamer bound for Mexico, 
and crossing to the Pacific they completed their voyage and safely reached San Francisco. Mr. 
Fowler went at once to the mines at Horseshoe Bend and for the ensuing seven years followed 
the life of a miner in northern California. Needless to say his success justified a continuance in 
the work, and during this time he made several trips hack to his eastern home. Upon deciding 
to take up other work he came south to San Joaquin county and in company with his brother, 
William P. Fowler, bought six hundred and forty acres of land, which was devoted to gen- 
eral ranching and stock-raising. He remained so engaged until his death in 1896, at the age 
of seventy-two years. His wife, formerly Eliza Bromley, of Massachusetts, still survives him, 
and has six living children. 

Reared upon his father's ranch in San Joaquin county, Royal R. Fowler remained at home until 
attaining manhood, when he came to Merced county, and locating near Atwater raised wheat 
for a' short time. In 1886 he located upon his present property, which consists of fourteen hun- 
dred and forty acres of fine farming land five and a half miles east of Merced. This property 
is given over entirely to the cultivation of wheat and barley, while in addition to this he rents a 
thousand acres. Upon his own property he has erected a beautiful two-story frame house, con- 
sisting of nine rooms, finished in a modern and approved style, and provided with a telephone. 
In addition to his ranching interests Mr. Fowler is proprietor of the Cerealis Warehouse at 
Turner Station, which adjoins his ranch. 

The marriage of Mr. Fowler occurred in 1885 and united him with Miss Mary McCauley, a na- 
tive of Tiffin, Ohio. In his political convictions Mr. Fowler is an adherent of the principles advo- 
cated in the platform of the Republican party, and fraternally he is associated with the Knights 
of Pythias, Ancient Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.