HON. R. P. LOWE

LOWE, CARLETON, BELKNAP, GERSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/7/2020 at 14:03:20

HON. R. P. LOWE, - The public services and honorable record of this distinguished citizen of Lee County are a part of its heritage to be transmitted to future generations, and to this end we have kindly furnished with some of the leading facts of his life, and take great pleasure in preparing them for these pages.

Ralph Philip Lowe is a native of Warren County, Ohio, where he was born on the 24th of November, 1805. His early life was spent on his father’s farm, during which he received his preparatory education, which fitted him to enter Miami University, from which he graduated in 1829. Immediately thereafter he emigrated to Montgomery Alabama, and after teaching school six months, entered upon the study of law with Hon. John Campbell, afterwards one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was admitted to the bar in Alabama, and practised his profession there four years, when he returned to Ohio, and practised a few years in Dayton, in that state, with his brother, P. P. Lowe, Esq. He was married in 1837, to Miss Phoebe Carleton, of Dayton, Ohio.

Being fond of border life, he visited Iowa the following year, with a view to settlement, and liking the country, purchased a farm near Muscatine on which he settled in 1839, and remained there ten years, farming and practising law jointly.

The first winter after his removal he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of the Territory, over which Hon. Joseph Williams presided. He was afterwards appointed Major General of the Second Division of Iowa Militia, by Governor Chambers, and was elected from Muscatine County to the first convention called to frame a constitution for the State.

In 1844, he was nominated by the Whig party for the delegacy to Congress, and canvassed the Territory with General Augustus C. Dodge, his Democratic opponent, who was elected, the Territory being largely Democratic.

In 1849, he removed to Keokuk, and opened a law office. In 1852 he was elected District Judge of the First Judicial District, which position he held till the spring of 1857, when he resigned on account of inadequacy of salary. In the fall of the same year he was nominated, unsolicited, as candidate for the office of Governor by the Republican party and elected over his Democratic opponent Hon Benjamin Samuels, of Dubuque, by a majority of over 2,200.

In the fall of 1859, he was elected one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Iowa, it being the first election of members of that court by the people. He was afterwards elected to a second term of that office, and for two years in each term was Chief Justice. Finding the salary quite inadequate to support his family, in 1838 he returned to the practice of law, in which he is still engaged, both in the Federal and State Courts.

Judge Lowe is at present holding the Office of Chief Assistant United States District Attorney for the District of Iowa, appointed by the Department of Justice at Washington. He is also Chairman of the Board of Visitors to the Insane Hospitals of the State, appointed by the Governor; and under the authority of the Legislature has been assigned the duty of collecting the five per cent. Upon the military locations of land in the State, a claim amounting annually to $800,000.

On this subject Judge Lowe has prepared and published in pamphlet form an able appeal to Congress, setting forth that the lands given by the government to the soldiers, on the sales of which the five per cent, is claimed, were not a “bounty,” as has commonly been supposed, but in fact and law a “contract,” given them as part of the consideration for their enlistment and services, and that, as such, the general government ought to pay it to the States. The judge defends this position with marked ability, and should he be able to collect the five per cent., of which there is little doubt, he will confer a great favor on the States concerned.

Judge Lowe is a man of acknowledged abilities as a lawyer and statesman, and his distinguished public services as a citizen of Iowa and of Lee County are recognized by hosts of appreciating friends. Though past the prime of life, he is yet hale and vigorous, possessing a remarkably active organization and great powers of endurance. His intellect is quick and incisive as well as comprehensive, his temperament animated, and his style and address forcible and impressive. As a speaker and writer he is clear and argumentative, arranging his subjects systematically, and clothing his ideas in appropriate words, of which he seems to have a ready command.

Gen. Belknap, now Secretary of War, began his legal practice in this city in the office of Judge Lowe, and was for a time his law partner. The present firm is Lowe & Gerson, the latter having lately entered into copartnership with Judge Lowe.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer