Frank Dowden

Indiana State Journal, Mar. 30, 1898, p.3.

GREENSBURG, Ind., March 26. --- The body of adjutant Frank M. Dowden, who died yesterday of apoplexy at Dr. Fletcher's hospital, in Indianapolis, was brought home today. He was taken to a sanatorium two weeks ago, paralyzed on both sides, and his case was regarded hopeless. His son and daughter and a brother were with him at the time.

Frank M. Dowden was a son of the late Judge Samuel H. Dowden, and was born in Decatur Count, June 7, 1845, and was therefore fifty-two years old. When sixteen years old he enlisted in Major Strickland's company of the Fifty-second Indiana Volunteers and served four years, becoming adjutant of his regiment at the age of nineteen, the youngest field officer in the Sixteenth Army Corps. In 1866 he became deputy county auditor, and in 1871 bookkeeper of the First National Bank and later assistant cashier of that institution, resigning about a year ago, when first stricken with premonitory symptoms of paralysis. He represented his ward several times in the City County, and for a number of years was school trustee. He was a charter member of Pap Thomas Post, G.A.R., a charter member of the Indiana Commandery, a member of the Loyal Legion and an Odd Fellow. His first wife was a daughter of Auditor John D. Spillman, whom he leaves a daughter, now a resident of Ottumwa, Ia. His second wife was a daughter of the late Samuel L. Christy, cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, by whom he has two children, Samuel H. and Elizabeth. Last June he submitted to a dangerous surgical operation at the Cincinnati Hospital. For nearly a year previous to the operation he had been suffering from the most excruciating pains in the back, shoulders and arms, the most powerful opiates failing to give him any relief. This operation only gave him temporary relief, and he has since been treated for his malady at several private hospitals. He belonged to the progressive element of Greensburg, and aided materially in her growth by the  number of fine business blocks he erected.