Franklin in Franklin County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

The Birthplace of Samuel P. Cowley

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 21, 2017

1. The Birthplace of Samuel P. Cowley Marker

Captions: (middle left) Birthplace of Samuel P. Cowley. After suffering damage from an earthquake, the house was razed in 1962.; (upper right) Legendary lawman Samuel P. Cowley.

Inscription. Samuel Cowley was born in Franklin, Idaho on July 23, 1899 to parents Matthais F. Cowley and Luella Parkinson. He was the fifth son in the family of nine sons and six daughters. The Cowleys lived here until Sam was six years old and the family relocated to Preston.

Sam attended George Washington Law School and then spent five years with the FBI. He advanced quickly within the ranks and was soon promoted to inspector.

Cowley's reputation brought him to the attention of J Edgar Hoover who selected him to hunt down the notorious mobster, John Dillinger. Cowley tracked him down and Dillinger was killed by FBI agents as he was exiting a theatre in Chicago. Director Hoover then assigned Cowley to bring in Public Enemy #1, "Baby Face Nelson". It took Sam six months to corner Nelson. On November 27, 1934 along a country road in Barrington, Illinois, a shootout ended in the death of Baby Face Nelson. Unfortunately, Sam Cowley and another FBI agent were also killed in the gunfight. Sam Cowley always got his man - even at the cost of his own life. J Edgar Hoover said many times that Sam Cowley was "the Bravest Man He Ever Knew".

Erected by Franklin Pioneer Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is November 27, 1934.

Location.

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42° 0.972′ N, 111° 48.252′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Idaho, in Franklin County. Marker is on South State Street (U.S. 91) near Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 South State Street, Franklin ID 83237, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Franklin's Pioneer School House 1860 (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Fort of Franklin (about 700 feet away); Idaho's Oldest Town (approx. 0.2 miles away); Franklin Relic Hall - 1937 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Franklin Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); ZCMI Co-op Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); FCMI Store 1858 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hatch House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Also see . . . Hall of Honor -- FBI. A wide search for (Lester Gillis, aka "Baby Face" Nelson) was underway when word was received in the FBI's Chicago office that he and his associates were spotted driving in Wisconsin. When two agents located Gillis, his wife Helen, and his companion John Paul Chase in a car near Barrington, Illinois, a gun battle ensued. (Submitted on July 15, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 21, 2017

2. The Birthplace of Samuel P. Cowley Marker

Samuel P. Cowley (1899-1934) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown photographer; FBI photo

3. Samuel P. Cowley (1899-1934)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 534 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on November 24, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.