James M Lowe, Memoirs of Georgia, Marion County, 1895

Marion County

Biographies

Marion County GAGenWeb

Trish Elliott-Kashima, County Coordinator

James M Lowe, merchant and capitalist, Buena Vista, Marion County, GA, son of William H and Carrie

(Boswell) Lowe, was born in Crawford county GA in 1839. His paternal grandparents, John and Patience

Lowe, were native North Carolinians, migrated to Georgia in 1780, and settled for life in Jones County. He

was a planter, owned a great many slaves, and during the revolutionary war was a soldier in the patriot army.

Mr Lowe's father was born in 1803 in what is now Jones County (organized in 1807). He was reared a

farmer, and early in life removed to what is now Taylor County. He was a large slave owner, and for a

number of years was a justice of the inferior court. Politically he was an uncompromising democrat, and

in religion a devoted Baptist. Mr Lowe was reared on the farm, and received a good common school

education. In 1860 he read law and was admitted to the bar, but he practiced only a short time. In 1861

he enlisted in Company I, Capt E M Butt, Second Georgia regiment. On the reorganization of the

regiment Capt Butt was promoted to the colonelcy and Mr Lowe was made orderly sergeant. He participated

in the battles of Yorktown, Richmond and Second Manassas. He was wounded at the battle of Richmond,

and was sent home on a furlough, remaining forty days. At the battle of Second Manassas he had a limb

shot off, and returned home. In 1864 he was elected ordinary of the county and by re-election held the

office for twenty five years. Were other evidence lacking this would settle the question of Mr Lowe's

ability, capacity and popularity. Under the firm name of Lowe & Rushin, in 1866, he engaged in a general

merchandise business in Buena Vista, in which, as in everything else he had undertaken, he has been eminently

successful. He was the projector and principal promoter of the Buena Vista & Ellaville railway, was elected

president and continued as such until it was sold to the Central Railway. In 1890 he organized the Buena Vista

Loan and Savings bank, of which he was president until 1894, sustaining to it now the relation of vice-president.

His uniform phenomenal success in these several various public and private offices and businesses evinces great

capacity and unusual planning, financial and executive ability. In 1859 Mr Lowe was married to Miss Eva Rushin,

born in Marion County in 1841, daughter of Joel F and Elizabeth (Brooks) Rushin. Mr Rushin was born in Bibb

county GA , was a farmer and moved to Marion county in 1835. He represented the county in the general

assembly several times. Of the offspring of this marriage five are living: Gussie, who married R h Stokes;

Blanche, who married R H Peacock; Clifford, married W H Lowe; Carrie who married V L McMichael, and

Lucille. Mrs Lowe who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church died in 1885. In 1886 Mr Lowe

contracted a second marriage with Mrs Carrie (nee Evans) Smith, born in Alabama in 1840, daughter of

Thomas Evans. Mr Evans was an early settler in Muscogee county GA, but moved to La Grange, Troup

County GA. He was a general of militia in the Indian war of 1836. His life occupation was farming. Mr

Lowe is a master Mason, and himself and wife are exemplary and useful members of the Methodist church.

Mr Lowe is a public spirited and progressive citizen, and one of the foremost in all movements promising to

add to the general advancement of the community. Politically, financially and socially himself and family