On This Date in Minnesota History: January 20

January 20, 1920 – Minnesota-born Gov. Frank Lowden of Illinois returned to his native soil today to address a convention of 2,000 members of the Northwest Lumberman’s Association in Minneapolis.

The governor was born in Sunrise, Minn., and moved to Iowa by boat when he was eight years old, and he reviewed pioneer days in the northwest in his address.

Lowden declared the work of Americanism “is the greatest before our people today,” and he made a strong appeal against internationalism, and held up American institutions as the greatest of all material possessions.
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A few months later, on March 2, Lowden returned to Sunrise, Minn., where he was born on Jan. 26, 1861, to announce his candidacy for President of the United States. Lowden was still the Governor of Ill. at the time. “At the Republican Convention in Chicago, a deadlock occurred with General Leonard Wood. A compromise candidate was chosen and Warren G. Harding [became] the 29th President of the United States.”

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Illinois Governor Revisits Native State”; Jan. 20, 1920; p. 1.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMF1CT_Frank_O_Lowden_Almost_a_President

 

This historical marker is located in front of the Sunrise, Minn. town hall where Frank Orren Lowden attended school.

Frank O. Lowden "Almost A President"!

Born January 26, 1861, just a mile southwest of here, Frank Lowden attended school at this site, until the age of 7. His Dad, Lorenzo, helped build the school at the beginning of the Civil War. His brother Eugene, and sister Caroline are buried in the Sunrise Cemetery. In 1868, the Lowdens moved to Iowa. From 1917-1921, Frank served as Governor of Illinois. On March 2, 1920, he returned to Sunrise and announced his candidacy for President! At the Republican Convention in Chicago, a deadlock occurred with General Leonard Wood. A compromise candidate was chosen and Warren G. Harding would become the 29th President of the United States.

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