John Lowis, Jr., vice-president and director of the Bank of
Medora, and the owner of a finely improved farm in Shipman township,
Macoupin County, is one of the leading and representative citizens of his
locality. He was born in 1852 in the State of Wisconsin, and is a son of
John and Ann (Jackson) Lowis.
The parents of our subject were born
in Westmoreland, England, and both came of agricultural ancestry. They
married in their native shire .and in 1850 came to America. They located
near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where Mr. Lowis worked in the lead mines
until 1858, when they removed to McLeod County, Minnesota, where they
purchased a farm upon which they remained until 1866. They then came to
Macoupin County, Illinois, settling on a farm in section 18, Shipman
township. This farm includes a quarter section of land, and is now the
property of our subject's brother, Charles.
John Lowis accumulated
1,000 acres of land in Christian County, 300 in Macoupin, 200 in Jersey
County and at one time owned 1,500 acres of highly improved real estate.
Mrs. Lowis was the first to pass away, her death occurring in 1891, at the
age of 66 years, and in February, 1896, her husband followed her to the
grave, when in his 74th year. Nine of their 10 children still survive, our
subject being the second in order of birth. The other members of the family
are: George, of Iowa, who has one son, William; Isabella, housekeeper for
her brother in Christian County; Alice A., who married Joseph Offlighter, a
lumber merchant at Palmer, Illinois, and has one child — Hallie; Mary J.,
who married William Kitchell of Christian County, and has 10 children,
namely: Arthur, Nellie, Roy, John, Elizabeth, Verna, Richard, Florence,
Maria and Helen: William, who in partnership with his brother Joseph, owns
770 acres of land in Christian County; Ruth Elizabeth, who married G. R.
Waggoner, a farmer living in section 19, Shipman township, and has five
children— Ruth, Ellis, George, Ralph and Carrie; Joseph D. (in partnership
with his brother William), who married Carrie Pence and has one son, Frank
Ashton; and Charles, living on the homestead farm, who married Lillie
Berkamyer, and has one son, Edwin. Christopher died during the residence of
the family in Minnesota. During the years spent in Minnesota, the family
went through many thrilling experiences, the Indians, being almost
continually troublesome and troops being necessary to protect the settlers.
In 1864 Mr. Lowis enlisted in Company D, Hatch's Battalion, Minnesota Vol.
Cav., at the time of the massacre at New Ulm, and was discharged in the
following February.
John Lowis, our subject, who bears his father's
name, obtained his education entirely in Shipman township, and he remained
at home until he was 29 years of age, operating the land for himself after
his majority. In 1882 he located on his present farm, and since then in
addition to making many substantial improvements, has added 250 acres. His
farming and stock raising operations are carried on in an extensive manner,
his land all adjoining and being favorably located for both farming and
grazing.
On March 9, 1882, Mr. Lowis married Augusta Wilton, who is
a daughter of George Wilton of Shipman township, and they have had a family
of five children, namely: Bertha A., born in December, 1882; Bina Isabelle,
born in November, 1885; Edith, born in 1891; John R., born in 1893; and
Mary, born in June, 1900.
Mr. Lowis has always been deeply
interested in educational matters and has served on the School Board for the
past 16 consecutive years. In politics he is a Republican. With his family
he belongs to the Methodist Church.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 326-328.
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