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EARLY HISTORY OF LOWDEN

    The earliest inhabitants of this land were the Sac and Fox Indians, originally part of the Algonquin tribe. They were pushed down this way by French fur traders who tried to exterminate them. Many of our earliest settlers remember the Indians south of town bartering for hog meat or appearing at their door in search of the white man's flour. Some of our local people have fine collections of Indian artifacts gleaned from the hills south of Lowden.

     When the area known as the Black Hawk purchase was opened for settlement in 1834, many European immigrants, particularly of German, Irish or Scotch descent, or people from the states of Illinois and Ohio came to this area by covered wagon, oxcart, on horseback or even on foot. The Mississippi River was a fearful menice to them as they approached it and the makeshift ferries in use at various spots along the river were a test of their bravery. Small settlements were made in a line between Clinton and Cedar Rapids. The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad had started to lay a track between these two towns when their funds became exhausted and winter was approaching. A settlement grew at this halfway point and that was the beginning of Lowden! A turntable was devised to enable the wood burning locomotive to turn around and push the cars back to Clinton. A sawmill operated by a treadmill cut the chunks of wood for engine fuel. On July 4, 1858, the villagers staged a big free dinner at the railroad woodhouse, celebrating the completion of the railroad this far.

     Some of the early settlers were the Parr brothers, Wm Van Horne, James Henry, John & Thomas Shearer, the latter giving the village the name of Lowden (Louden) after his native town of Loudenville, Ohio.

     These early people told of enduring bitter cold, much sickness and nightly forages of wolves. Two of the settlers, Shearer and Van Horne gave 12 acres of land for the village site. These acres lay in both Springfield and Massillon township but a later adjustment was made so that the town would be entirely in Springfield township.

     All activity centered around the railroad. Eating houses and sleeping quarters for railroad people were constructed. Early records tell us that Wm. Dugan built the first home in the village. Lumber was hauled from the Wapsi River by Henry Heiner, in his new wagon. He was told to unload the lumber at a stake driven in the tall grass where the stockyards are now located. At that time, the pile of lumber was “entirely hidden by the tall prairie grass, such was its growth in its wild state.” Other pioneers came, including the Petersens, Burwells and Philip Schneider family, who came by ox team and sleigh, and obtained land at $1.25 per acre.

     A grist mill was located at Toronto, on the Wapsi River. Those who couldn't get grain to the mill ground it on the ground with planks and stones.

     Farming at that time was quite primitive. The all important tool was the axe, other farm implements being a simple plow, scythe, fork, and spade. August Petersen bought the first McCormick hand reaper in 1855 and cut his own and his neighbor's grain. Money was scarce so bartering and exchange of goods and help was the rule.

     In 1855, 61 residents drew up the articles of incorporation and the first municipal election was held. Wm McCarvey was elected the first mayor and . . .

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. . . LOWDEN was officially put down as the new spelling of the town. Some of the town's first businesses were Dugan's General Store, an elevator operated by a Mr Rorick, C. H. Northrop's Hardware store, Wm. J. Hahn's Drug Store, C. H. Hanson – wagon maker, Samuel Hobaugh – blacksmith, Barney McCabe – saloon and Jim Reid – carpenter. Later enterprises were a sash and door factory, cigar factory and feather cleaning business.

     A pump house, water supply tank and overhead coal chute were now added to the railroad. The railroad continued to be the center of interest. A park with flowers provided a place where townspeople could sit near the track and watch the train come – the big event of the day! A dray service enabled merchandise to be taken by horse and cart from the railroad to various business places. Huge trunkloads of sample merchandise would be taken off the train, hauled to the stores for inspection and then returned the next day.

     Early mail was brought by pony express and later by stagecoach from the terminus of the track to Tipton. Snow and ice often completely covered fences so that winter travel was sometimes impossible, bu the trip had to be made once a week. Sometimes what appeared to be fenceposts were actually farm chimneys sticking out of a snowdrift, the farmer having to tunnel his way out of the one story cabin.

     In the midst of hardships, early pioneers didn't forget God, and they soon were determined to get some form of worship started. German Zion Evangelical Church was organized in a grove 3 ˝ miles south of town in 1859. The Reverend Mr Haerdtle held services in the grove till 1877 when an “Elegant” church was built in Lowden at a cost of $2,000. Services were in the German language. This church also had a day school with an attendance of 49 and tuition was 50˘ per month.

     The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1881. They built a $4,000 church in the same year with the Rev. H. Englebrecht as the first pastor. Later they too built a day school.

     The Methodist held services in a school southeast of the village. The Rev. Mr Gilbruth was their first pastor. In `86`, a Methodist Church was erected in Lowden. The building was torn down in 1923.

     Miss Hilda Monroe was the first public school teacher, having her classes in a tiny farm building in 1859 and the years following. Larger public school buildings were erected in 1874, 1909 and 1957, the latter two still being used as a lower elementary and a middle school, respectively.

     A creamery was built, surrounded by pasture land where village people could keep the family cow for a small fee and milk her in the creamery yard twice a day.

     Later history also records a shoemaker's shop, horse buying station, ice business, jeweler, goldsmith, saddlery business and photographer.

     Lowden also had its share of notoriety which was every bit as exciting as a modern TV drama. In Springfield township, along the Yankee Run, stood an old cabin which served as a hangout for a notorious group of counterfeiters and horse thieves. The outlaws were ordered to leave the country, but they defied the warning. In 1857, after more than a year of harassment, local Lowden citizens decided to mob their hangout. When the ringleader attempted to escape he was shot. Two horse thieves were hanged on a gallows rigged up on an elm tree 1 ˝ miles south of Lowden.

     Two important events took place when in 1871 President Grant came through . . .

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. . . town in his private train. The band was out to greet him as the train stopped and he greeted the local citizenry. In August, 1923, President Harding's funeral train come through Lowden very slowly. Members of the local Legion unit were at the station with colors.

     Many people also remember the sad spectacle of hospital trains carrying wounded men to Shick Hospital in Clinton after World War II.

     Lowden has had several tragic incidents. In 1869 a disastrous fire destroyed 9 businesses and dwellings, including the block were Freund's Store is located. In 1878, nearly two blocks, 19 buildings in all, were destroyed by fire. This also was in the business section. Fire struck again in 1903, when five buildings on the southeast corner of block three were burned. This was in the area of the present E and A Cafe.

     One other near tragedy occurred at one of Lowden's traditional 4th of July celebrations. A great program of fireworks had been set up for the evening including shooting stars, spinning wheels and Roman candles. People came from miles around and a huge crowd was assembled, eager to see the spectacle. But something went amiss and the whole works went off in one huge blast, sending people screaming in all directions. Luckily, no one was hurt.

     The community was proud of its opera house known as Germania Hall. Advertised in 1880 as the finest hall in the state, fully equipped with staging, scenery and velvet curtains. Many dances, traveling medicine shows and masquerades were held here. The lower part housed a saloon and restaurant. In 1916 the name was changed to Liberty Hall.

     In 1881 Lowden got is first physician, Dr Erhart. He was succeeded by a number of other fine doctors.

     Our first newspaper, published by Geo. Mueller, made its appearance in 1902.

     A savings bank was opened in 1913 through the efforts of Petersen brothers, and who can forget Freund's Store, advertised as “Cedar County's largest department store?”

     There are the service organizations, the new post office, the new bank complex, law facilities, furniture store, the new fire station, Memorial Park, honoring our service men, the 3/30 Golf and Country Club, new Lutheran Church, retirement apartments, and many innovations of which we can be proud. There were dedicated people behind each of those efforts. And so, as we face a new century, we look to the present generation to carry on as the future builders of our community, as their fathers did years ago, with courage, ingenuity and foresight. So will America maintain its strength, because as her individual communities are, so will our country be.

               MRS CARL “JEANETTE” RUPRECHT
               (Compiled and given by her at Lowden's celebration of America's Bicentennial in Aug. “76)

    Editor's Note: Additional Lowden facts can be found in the Lowden Centennial History Book published in 1957.