Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Thomas Gowenlock
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
THOMAS GOWENLOCK. The business interests
of Clay Center and vicinity recognize this gentleman
as one of the important
factors which have lent to this town a standing second
to none in this part of Kansas. He deals
extensively in drugs, paints and oils, and is located
on Fifth street, adjacent to the business portion of
the city. He carries a complete stock of all goods
in his line, and is in the enjoyment of a lucrative
trade.
Mr. Gowenlock was born in the city of Carlisle,
England, Feb. 3, 1847, but when a little lad of
four years was brought by his parents to America.
They lived in New York City until 1861, where
the boy acquired a good education, completing
his studies in the High School. He entered upon
his business career as an apprentice in a drug store
in the metropolis, hut later circumstances conspired
to change his vocation, and he entered the employ
of the Hudson River Railroad Company. In the
meantime, desirous of advancing his book knowledge
knowledge,
he attended the night schools of Cooper Institute,
and was graduated in mechanical drawing and
mathematics. He was finally admitted to the drawing
rooms of the above-mentioned railroad company,
and remained in its employ until 1861.
In the year above mentioned, Mr. Gowenlock
emigrated to Illinois and became chief clerk and
draftsman of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad
Company, with headquarters at Litchfield. He was
occupied at both drawing and designing for that
railway, generally known as the "Big Four," and
superintended the construction of their shops at
Mattoon. In 1872 he resigned this position and
going to Springfield became, draftsman-in-chief of
the Wabash & Western Railroad. Six months later
he left this position to become draftsman-in-chief
and chief clerk in the machinery department
of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, remaining
with this company until 1872.
Determining now to quit railroading Mr. Gowenlock,
in company with several other gentlemen,
including ex-Governor Glick and Mr. Strickler, of
Junction City, all men of wealth and standing,
formed a partnership for the purpose of developing
a silver mine in Colorado in the vicinity of
Silverton, purchasing considerable mining property
and Mr. Gowenlock putting up a free milling ore
plant. Not finding this very lucrative, Mr. Gowenlock
acquainted himself more fully with the practical
details of mining and then utilized his
knowledge by putting in mills and other apparatus
for other parties.
Mr. Gowenlock finally drifted into Leadville in
January, 1879, where he found a fine field for exercising
his knowledge of mining, becoming superintendent
of mines and mining property, and
sojourning there two years and until 1880. In the
fall of that year he went to Kokomo, Col., and engaged
as Superintendent of mining property for
Senator Tabor and his associates. He returned to
Leadville in 1882 and was similarly engaged until
December the following year. During this time he
had charge of a larger extent and more valuable
mining property than any man in the United States.
He also took up more ore in twenty-four hours than
was ever before or has ever since been raised� upon
one occasion $111,000 in twenty-four hours.
He has a valuable pin presented to him by Thomas
Nast, Charles Francis Adams, Jr., and the Directors
of the Bank of Republic of New York City.
The general knowledge of Mr. Gowenlock as a
mechanical engineer, in connection with his knowledge
of raining, created a demand for him as an
expert in various important law cases and other
business. Even after abandoning mining, he was
frequently called upon to testify as an expert before
the United States courts. While in Colorado
he likewise became prominent in the affairs of Kokomo,
and was elected the second Mayor of the city.
Although he found mining very lucrative at this
place, he did not wish to take his family there, and
so established himself at Colorado Springs in .January,
1884, where he purchased a drug store and
conducted this until coming to Clay County, Kan.,
in January, 1886, when he located in Clay Center.
Here likewise he established himself in the drug
business to which he has given his undivided
attention.
Since coming to- this section Mr. Gowenlock has
held aloof from politics, although he has kept himself
thoroughly posted upon State and National
events, and possesses a large fund of general information.
While in Colorado he owned and edited the
first paper published there. In Mt. Vernon, Ill.,
Mr. Gowenlock was married Jan. 17, 1876, to Miss
Emma Mabel Allen. Of this union there are two
children�Mabel Allen, who was born in Kokomo,
Col., just at the timber line, 11,000 feet above the
sea, in 1883; and Thomas Russell, who was born
in Clay Center, Kan. Mrs. Gowenlock was born,
reared and married in the same house at Mt.
Vernon, Ill. and is the daughter of John and Eliza
Allen, formerly of Kentucky. She is a very estimable
lady and a member in good standing of
the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gowenlock, socially
belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and has attained
to the Master's degree. He is also a Knight Templar
and a Knight of Pythias, and in the latter order
was Commander in Illinois.
The father of our subject was James Gowenlock
a gentleman of English birth and parentage, who
married Miss Sarah Russell. After the birth of
two children, they, in 1851, emigrated to America,
and sojourned for awhile in New York City, where
the father occupied himself at his trade of machinist.
Seven of their children lived to mature years.
James, at an early age, began working for himself
in England, New York City, Litchfield, Mattoon
and Mt. Vernon, Ill., receiving for his services
never more than $2.50 per day. By frugal living
and care in his investments, he has amassed a little
fortune of over 150,000. He owns stock in the
Mt. Carmel Bank, of which one of his sons is Cashier
and another son Assistant Cashier. The parents
upon leaving New York City settled in Mt.
Vernon, Ill., where they still live.