Trueworthy Ladd Fowler (1816-1903)

  This obscure gentleman is Trueworthy Ladd Fowler, a fairly prominent 19th-century resident of Pembroke, New Hampshire. Details on his life are quite limited at best, but it is known that he was born in the aforementioned town on December 21, 1816, the last of eleven children born to Benjamin (1769-1832) and Mehitable Ladd Fowler (1776-1853). 
  Trueworthy married on August 29, 1847, to Catherine Lucretia Sargent (1827-1909) and this union eventually produced five children, who are listed as follows: Henry T. (1849-1936), Martin (1851-1853), Adin Gilbert (1855-1910), Charles Martin (born 1855) and Lillia Blanche (born 1860).
  During his long life of nearly 87 years, Fowler occupied several public offices in his native town, including that of a school board member, collector of taxes, selectman (for eleven years), and eventually, town moderator. Fowler also went on to serve as Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors for two terms. From 1844-1895 he served Pembroke as a justice of the peace, totaling 51 years.
   In 1857 the town of Pembroke elected Fowler to the State House of Representatives, where he served one term (1858-1859.) In 1870 he was named a deputy marshal and is listed as helping with that year's census in the towns of Pembroke, Allenstown, Hooksett, and Bow. Later in 1876, Fowler was named as Pembroke's delegate to the New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention.
   In his later years, Fowler became a highly regarded local historian and helped author the two-volume History of Pembroke, N.H.:1730-1895. He died at the age of 86 on March 13, 1903, and was survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Catherine. Both Trueworthy and Catherine were interred in the New North Pembroke Cemetery. The History of Pembroke notes that Fowler was "industrious, intelligent, of positive convictions, good judgment and practical common sense, and conscientiously faithful in the accomplishment of his undertaking."

          This picture of Trueworthy Fowler was discovered in The History of Merrimack and Belknap 
             Counties, New Hampshire, published in 1885.