William Madison Fowler
Photo from Sesquuicentennial |
| Born: | September 7, 1887 or, Tennessee |
| Died: | August 3, 1965, Madison County, Alabama |
| Buried: | Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville, Alabama |
| Business: | 116 Washington Street NE | - This is one of several locations for businesses connected with William Fowler |
| Brother of: | Charles Wesley Fowler |
| Husband of: | Grace Lee Mason Fowler |
| Father of: | James William Fowler |
Notes:
• Son of Madison F Fowler (1858 - 1933) and Mary Jane Stroud (1853- 1920). - Ancestry.com
• The Draft Card ists his place of birth as Limestone Co., AL. However, other sources list other places. His place of birth is unclear. - Draft card
• In the 1910 Census William is listed as living as a boarder in the household of Viola Whitman along with ten other boarders including Pierre S. Dunavant (a future business partner of William). Viola's 18 year old daughter was also living in the house. - 1910 Census
• Married Grace Lee Mason on March 10, 1914 in Lincoln County, TN (Rev. R. S. Brown "Solemnized the Right of Matrimony") - Marriage
• President, Associated Tennessee Valley, Chamber of Commerce. - Record
• "In 1914, P. S. Dunnavant and William Fowler formed a partnership known as Dunnavant and Fowler. In 1916, Ira Terry joined them and the firm became Dunnavant, Fowler, and Terry. After a number of years the partnership with Mr. Fowler and Mr. Terry dissolved and Mr. Dunnavant started a store of his own called 'Dunnavant's' Ca. 1904" (Northeast corner of Clinton Avenue and Washington Street) - Simpson
• Written in 1955:
"In Huntsville, the name Fowler immediately suggests the idea of good service and reliable wearing apparel for men, and women of various ages. For William Fowler has been in the merchandise business since 1916.
In this year he and P. S. Dunnavant formed a partnership called Dunnavant and Fowler. This they kept for two years. Then they were joined by T. T. Terry and for two more years the store was known as Dunnavant, Fowler, and Terry.
In 1920, Mr. Fowler sold his part of the organization out to his two partners. Then he and his brother, G. W. Fowler opened a store of their own called, Fowler Bros.
These two brothers were together until 1932. C. W. Fowler moved to another town and his brother, William, was left in control of the Huntsville establishment.
The store has been located in a number of sections of the business district and at present is at the corner of Jefferson and Washington Streets.
Mr. William Fowler's wife is named Grace. They have two children, Bill and Frances.
He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a former member of both the Rotary and the Kiwanis Clubs.
Recently, Mr. Fowler and his son, Bill, opened another store at 200 N. Washington St. The name of this one is Bill's. It is a modern store specializing in the latest styles for men - suits, shirts, shoes and accessories.
Bills' is noted for attractive window displays where clothes are shown with the proper background to denote the theme of the season.
Bill Fowler lives at home with his parents. He is a member of the Acme Club and the Jaycees. The personnel at Foxclefs consists of 15 people; at Bill's - 5.
Between the two stores customers are able to find correct outfits for all members of the family." - Sesquicentennial
• Record describes a transition: "What once were cotton fields where slaves had toiled were transformed into subdivisions or industrial plant sites or shopping centers. Urban renewal projects abounded." And then he includes William Fowler in a list "of the men who helped bring much of it to pass and never got to see the fruits of their labors" because of untimely deaths. - Record 2
• "Tragedy struck the Community again in 1965 with the loss of prominent William Fowler who had given of much of his life for Community betterment and had been in business for 50 years. He was murdered in a senseless beating by 17 year old Jerry Wayne Houston. Fowler stayed in a coma over two months." - Record 2
Related Links:
• 1910 Census - This view of the census is through an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1910USCenIndex&indiv=try&h=55370.)
• Ancestry.com - Page owned by MattFowler23 and may be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/19443390/person/803082554.)
• Draft card - This view of the World War I Draft Registration Card is through an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WW1draft&h=21178683&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7884.)
• Find A Grave - Page created by Bobbie Christian and maintained by Gene Hill. With three generations of John O. Fowler, we are uncertain which one is buried here.
• Marriage - Viewed through an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=1169&iid=VRMUSATN1780_068099-00128&fn=Grace+Lee&ln=Mason&st=r&ssrc=pt_t19443390_p803084276_kpidz0q3d803084276z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&pid=6344826.)
• Record - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume I, by James Record, 1970, page 342.
• Record 2 - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume II, by James Record, 1978, pages 249, 305, 758, 790.
• Sesquicentennial - Commemorative Album, Celebrating Our City's Sesquicentennial of Progress, Huntsville, Alabama, by James E. Taylor, General Chairman, 1955, pages 218, 273, 318.
• Simpson - A Walk Through Downtown HUNTSVILLE: Then and Now, by Fred B. Simpson, 2002, page 134.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• 116 Washington Street NE
• Charles Wesley Fowler
• Grace Lee Mason Fowler
• James William Fowler
• Record
• Record 2
• Sesquicentennial