Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

A Foundation for Sustainable Rural Community Development

Frank Orren Lowden

American Country Life Association President

• CLC home page
• Introduction
• Report

Summary

• Purpose
• Commissioners
• Survey & Hearings
• Prominent Deficiencies
• Underlying Problem
• Migration
• Agriculture Challenges
• Public Health
• Role of Farm Women
• Conservation & Land Use
• General Corrective Forces
• Commission Recommendations
• Legislative Recommendations
• Remedies
• The Call for Leadership

Legacy

• American Country Life Association
• Rural Sociology
• American Farm Bureau Federation
• Highways
• Agricultural Economics

Resources

• Bibliography
• Web Resources
• Timeline

Frank Orren Lowden (1861-1943) represented the political side of the American Country Life Association (ACLA). Lowden was born in Sunrise Township., MN, and moved to Point Pleasant, IA, at age 7. He graduated first in his class from both Iowa State University (Ames) in 1885, and the University College of Law (now Northwestern University) in 1887. That same year, he was admitted to the bar and began his law career. Early on, Lowden was a law professor at Northwestern and served as Lieutenant Colonel for the Illinois National Guard during the Spanish-American War. In 1896, he married Florence Pullman, daughter of railroad tycoon George Pullman. Lowden’s legal career led him into politics, including Republican Party delegate, Congressman (1906-1911) and Illinois Governor (1917-1921).

Lowden almost won the Republican nomination for president in 1920, but delegates could not decide between him and General Leonard Wood. Meeting in secret, party leaders chose Warren G. Harding, who went on to win the election. Republicans asked him to run for Vice President in 1924, but he declined. In 1928, he unsuccessfully challenged fellow Iowa native Herbert Hoover for the presidency.

Lowden actively advocated for agriculture and the Country Life Movement. The former governor served as ACLA President in 1929 and 1930 as the country entered the Great Depression. He continued his ACLA activities as a director, contributing editor for the association’s publication, Rural America, and as an honorary president.

In 1933, Lowden and International Harvester President Alex Legge established the Farm Foundation. This non-profit organization addressed rural issues such as land tenure, rural education, health, and churches, public policies for agriculture, farm management, farm life, and water and range management (Wunderlich, 2003). The Farm Foundation’s ideas and purposes coincided with those of ACLA.

Throughout his career, Lowden expressed his awareness about the agrarian community through his speeches. He called for improving the curriculum and role of the country schools, support for the small farmer and disapproval for corporate farming, and rural community improvements.

Recommended Resources