Dr. Samuel Fowler was born in Newburgh, NY, and first came to Hamburg after medical studies in Philadelphia. He established mills, a blacksmith shop, tannery, and a furnace to process ores from mines he owned in Franklin Furnace. He became a noted and respected mineralogist, developed early industrial uses for zinc ore, and discovered the rare mineral Franklinite and its fluorescent qualities that made Franklin minerals famous. He was esteemed as one of the leading scientists in the United States, was elected State Senator in 1827, and served in the House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837. His home and mill stood at this site.