Lowell L. FORBES

FORBES, BLACK, FRAMTON, MILLER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/6/2011 at 21:55:48

Lowell L. Forbes

Lowell L. FORBES, a World war veteran, is a successful member of the Mason City bar, where he has practiced law and looked after an increasing volume of professional and civic interests since the close of the war.

He was born on a farm four miles northwest of Jefferson, in Greene County, Iowa, January 17, 1894, son of John B. and Alice M. (BLACK) FORBES, the former of whom passed away November 13, 1929. The FORBES family came from Aberdeen, Scotland, to American in 1734. The family first lived in Connecticut, then moved west to Ohio, to Indiana, to Illinois and finally to Iowa. Mr. FORBES' uncle, Cassius FORBES, drove a covered wagon from the old home in Indiana to McLean County, Illinois, and in 1882 he and the grandfather of Lowell L. FORBES homesteaded in Madison County, Iowa, later moving to Greene County. This family had representatives in the War of the Revolution, and Lowell L. FORBES by virtue of these ancestors is member of the Sons of the American Revolution. There were also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. There were also representatives of the BLACK family in the war for independence. John B. FORBES and wife had three children, Lowell L., Muriel, wife of H. B. FRAMTON, and Gretchen.

Lowell L. FORBES was educated in the Jefferson High School, graduating in 1911, and continued his education in the Northwestern University at Chicago, University of Michigan, the Iowa State College, and completed his law course at the University of Iowa in June, 1917, being admitted to the bar the same month.

He was one of the first men from the University of Iowa to apply for entrance to the Officers Training Camp at Fort Snelling. However, his application was refused. Later he was drafted and called to the colors September 5, 1917, and at Camp Dodge was assigned to Company D, Three Hundred and Fiftieth Infantry, being made a corporal in October, sergeant in November, first sergeant in April, 1918, and the following month was sent to the Officers Training School at Camp Dodge. From Camp Upton, New York, he went overseas and was on duty on several front line sectors and later on the line of communications to the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. He was given the Croix de Guerre with sliver star and citation by Field Marshal PETAIN of the French army. On September 27, 1918, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. Mr. FORBES embarked for the United States May 20, 1919, and received his honorable discharge at Camp Dodge June 5, 1919.

He has kept in touch with military organizations since the war, and from 1923 to 1929 was captain of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-third Infantry, Iowa National Guard. Captain FORBES is a charter member of the American Legion Post at Mason City, was its commander in 1924 and was first vice commander in 1922-23.

He was honored with the office of vice president of the Cerro Gordo County Bar Association for 1928, and is also a member of the State and American Bar Associations. Captain FORBES in Mason City and was police judge from 1927 to 1930. He is a Republican in politics. He was president of the Community Park Golf Club in 1927-28, having been one of the organizers of the club. He is also a member of the Country Club, is an Elk, member of the Phi Kappa Sigma and Phi Alpha Delta fraternities and the Congregational Church.

He married, August 11, 1919, Miss Mildred MILLER, of Preston, Iowa, daughter of Dr. C. W. and Mrs. MILLER, both of whom reside at Preston. Captain and Mrs. FORBES have three children: Enid, born November 3, 1920; Shirley, born June 25, 1922; and Marilyn, born June 2, 1924.

SOURCE:
HARLAN, Edgar Rubey, LL.B., A.M. A Narrataive History of The People of Iowa: With Special Treatment of Their Chief Enterprises in Education, Religion, Valor, Industry, Business. . . Vol. III. American Historical Society. 1931.

Transcription by Debbie Clough Gerischer for IAGenWeb's History Project