JOHN H. LOWMAN

   John H. Lowman was born in Cass County, Indiana, October 5, 1839, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Williams) Lowman.  He came with his family to Polk County, Iowa in 1854. He was married on January 17, 1861, to Lucinda McCollum, a native of Virginia. They became the parents of eight children; Mary (Mae), Mrs. Jobe Harris; Emery A.; Frank H.; Minnie M., Mrs. William Brown; Estella, Mrs. Charles Lawrence; Guy; Lucy Ethel, Mrs. Clyde Moore; Mrs. Bess Luppold, who is still living in Denver, Colorado in a nursing home; all the others are deceased.

   On August 13, 1861 he enlisted in Co. G. 23rd Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served until July 1865. He participated in the action at Thompson's Hill, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, Milliken's Bend, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort.

   After his discharge from the army he returned to Polk County for a year, then spent a year in Dakota before  returning to Iowa and purchasing the unimproved land in the southeast quarter of Sec. 34, Pleasant Twp. In 1869, the year of his coming, that part of the county was especially wild and unsettled, Griswold and Elliott not being founded until ten years later.  Mr. Lowman erected modern buildings and a desirable residence and increased his holdings to 200 acres.

   John Lowman was the first Justice of the Peace, served as assessor for 24 years. He was a member of the Masons. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lowman were active in the work of the Church of Christ.

   In 1870, John H. Lowman set apart grounds on the southeast quarter of section 34 for burial purposes. This has since been called the Lowman Cemetery. There have been two churches built on the grounds. The first was destroyed by a tornado and the second was torn down as it was no longer used.  An infant daughter of Eli A. and Sarah Guess in January 1871, was the first burial.