Laclede Lowe

CROSSLEY, DANFORTH, LOWE, REYNOLDS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/12/2004 at 22:00:11

Laclede Lowe, who was for some time a successful merchant and who more recently has been engaged in farming in this county, is now living retired in Winterset. He is a native of Warren county, Illinois, born on St. Valentine's day in 1852, a son of John and Margaret (Reynolds) Lowe. The father was born in England, May 4, 1802, and was reared upon a farm in that country. When twenty-one years of age he crossed the Atlantic to Nova Scotia and subsequently made his way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not long afterward he removed to Washington county, that state, where he was married in 1836. In 1843 he and his family made the voyage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers to Oquawka, Illinois, and thence to Warren county, that state. He purchased land in Spring Grove township and farmed it until 1874, when he removed to Red Oak, Iowa, where he lived retired until his demise, which occurred in October, 1878. He owned a valuable farm and was successful in its operation. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. His wife was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1812, and was there reared and married. She became one of the pioneer women of Warren county, Illinois, and performed well her part in the development of that region. She passed away in January, 1866, when fifty-four years of age, in the faith of the Disciples church, of which she had long been a devoted member.

Laclede Lowe is the youngest in a family of eight children who reached maturity and passed his boyhood under the parental roof, while his education was acquired in the district schools. When eighteen years of age he assumed charge of the work of the home farm and for four years operated the place. He then bought land and began its operation. He felt the need of a more liberal education, however, and sold some stock, which provided him with funds to attend Monmouth College. Upon leaving that school he began raising stock and also bought stock of others, which he fed and sold at a good profit. In 1882 he disposed of his farm and came to Winterset, where he engaged in the furniture business until 1905. On account of ill health he abandoned merchandising in that year and concentrated his attention upon the cultivation of his land. In 1883 he purchased a small farm near Winterset and he also owns two hundred and forty acres in Lincoln township. In 1914 he sold his stock and rented his farm and has since lived a life free from business cares. He proved successful as a furniture dealer and managed his agricultural interests so as to secure a gratifying addition to his annual income.

On the 1st of September, 1880, Mr. Lowe married Miss Laura Buchanan, who was born in West Virginia and reared there and in Marshall county, Illinois. Her demise occurred on the 29th of June, 1911, and her passing was the occasion of sincere regret to many. She was the mother of two children: Edna J., the wife of Fred Danforth, of Winterset; and Mardie, who is now Mrs. C. C. Crossley, of Harrisonville, Missouri.

Mr. Lowe is an independent republican with liberal tendencies and until 1912 was quite active in local political affairs, although he has never been a candidate for office. He was one of the organizers of the Madison County Bank and until quite recently was a director of that institution. In 1903 he was made secretary of the Business Men's Association of Winterset and he was the prime mover of the first good roads meeting in Madison county and is one of the leaders of the Good Roads Association, realizing fully the great importance of good highways in our modern complex civilization. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge, chapter, commandery and Shrine. He has not spared himself in his efforts to advance the interests of his community along a number of different lines and the ease which he is now enjoying is richly deserved.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915"