Isaac Chapman Fowler (September 2, 1831, Jeffersonville, Virginia[1] – April 29, 1905) was a Virginia politician. He served as mayor of Bristol, Virginia, from 1871 to 1875,[2] represented Washington County in the Virginia House of Delegates, and served as that body's Speaker from 1881 until 1882 as a member of the Readjuster Party.[1][3]

Isaac C. Fowler
Fowler in 1901 book
34th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
December 7, 1881 – December 5, 1883
Preceded byBenjamin W. Lacy
Succeeded byCharles E. Stuart
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from Washington County
In office
December 7, 1881 – December 5, 1883
Preceded byDavid F. Bailey
Succeeded byDaniel Trigg
In office
December 1, 1875 – December 3, 1879
Preceded bySeldon Longley
Succeeded byDavid F. Bailey
Mayor of Bristol, Virginia
In office
1871–1875
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Personal details
Born
Isaac Chapman Fowler

(1831-09-02)September 2, 1831
Jeffersonville, Virginia, U.S.
DiedApril 29, 1905(1905-04-29) (aged 73)
Abingdon, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1884–1905)
Readjuster (1878–1884)
Conservative (1870–1878)
Spouse
Kezia McDonald Chapman
(m. 1854)
EducationEmory and Henry College
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
List of former Speakers of the House of Delegates in the old House chamber in the Virginia State Capitol

Early life and family life edit

Isaac Fowler was born to Thomas and Priscilla Fowler on September 23, 1831, in Tazewell County, Virginia. He attended Emory and Henry College. He married Kezia McDonald Chapman on December 4, 1854. During the Civil War, he worked for the Commissary Department of the Confederate States under John Breckenridge. Fowler, along with his brother, Elbert, purchased the Bristol News from A.C. Smith in 1864. He became the paper editor until February, 1884.[2]

Political career edit

Fowler's first delve into politics came when he served as Mayor of Bristol, Virginia, from 1871 to 1875. After his term as mayor was up, he won his first stint in the Virginia General Assembly where he served until 1879. During the 1877-79 General Assembly meeting, he served as Chairman of the Virginia House of Delegates Schools and Colleges Committee.[4] He won his second stint in 1881 and was voted Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates during the 1881-82 General Assembly Meeting. As speaker, he oversaw legislation enacted that repealed the state's poll tax as a prerequisite to voting and liberalized appropriations for the state's public school system, which included the creation of Virginia State University, passage of the ReAdjusters debt bill, and reform of tax laws.[5] After his term as speaker was up, he served as Clerk of the U. S. District Court in Abingdon, until shortly before he died in 1904.[6]

Death and legacy edit

Fowler died on April 6, 1904. He is buried at East Hill Cemetery in Bristol, Virginia.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Brock, Robert Alonzo (1888). History of Virginia from Settlement of Jamestown to Close of the Civil War. H.H. Hardesty. p. 721.
  2. ^ a b https://www.bristolhistoricalassociation.com/icfowler
  3. ^ Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1884. p. 968.
  4. ^ https://history.house.virginia.gov/sessions/160
  5. ^ https://archive.org/details/williammahoneofv00blak/page/n485/mode/1up Pg.220
  6. ^ a b https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/6208