Fowler, Gilbert O.

GILBERT O. FOWLER was son of Dr. David Fowler, of Newburgh. He graduated with honor at Columbia College, and subsequently pursued the study of law at Newburgh, with Solomon Sleight. He was licensed to practice in 1810; appointed master in chancery in 1816; judge of Orange Common Pleas in 1828, and first judge of that court (in place of Samuel S. Seward) in 1833. In the autumn of 1833 he was elected to the Legislature, and as a member of that body was instrumental in securing the passage of the charter of the Highland Bank, and also of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. He was elected president of the Highland Bank on the organization of that institution, and occupied that position until his death. He also held several important military commissions: was aide-de-camp to Gen. Leonard Smith in 1813; quartermaster of Thirty-fourth Brigade in 1815; aide-de-camp to the major-general of the second division of infantry in 1816; brigade major and inspector in 1818; brigadier-general of Thirty-fourth Brigade in 1826 (elected in 1825); and major-general of Fifth Brigade in 1827. Few men enjoyed to a greater degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens or more worthily performed the duties of the public stations which he held. He died in 1843. His sons were Isaac V., lawyer of New York.; James W., surrogate of the county, 1851; and David E., who served as quartermaster under Gen. Sherman. Isaac V. and David E. are now deceased.