Enos Lowe
Encyclopedia
Enos Lowe was a pioneer doctor and businessman who was among the original founders of Omaha
, Nebraska
and served as president of the Second Iowa Constitutional Convention.
in the county of Guilford
. Along with his brother Jesse
, Lowe's parents were strict Quakers, and his early training in Quaker principles were said to guide his entire life.
Desiring to enter the medical profession, Lowe took a course in medicine at the Ohio Medical College, a medical school now called The Ohio State University College of Medicine and located in Columbus, Ohio
. From there, Lowe moved to Greencastle, Indiana
where he open a medical practice. In addition, Lowe became active in the Indiana Democratic Party
and was elected to the Indiana state legislature.
In 1837 at the age of 33, Lowe moved to the Black Hawk Purchase
, an area of 6 million acres (24,000 km²) in what is now Iowa
that was purchased by the United States federal government five years prior in connection with the Black Hawk War
. There, Lowe began practicing medicine in the relatively new, small frontier village of Burlington, Iowa
. Over the next seven years, his reputation grew and Lowe became widely and favorably known. In 1844, Lowe was chosen a member of the First Constitutional Convention of Iowa
.
At the constitutional convention, Lowe got to know many of the future leaders of Iowa. However, their efforts were unsuccessful and the Constitution framed by the 1844 convention was rejected. Two years later, Lowe was elected to the 1846 Iowa Constitutional Convention. His popularity continued to increase and Lowe was elected to preside over the convention. This time, their effort were successful and the convention enacted the Constitution under which Iowa became a State.
After Lowe presided over the 1846 convention and at the same time a United States Land Office
was established at Iowa City, he was appointed receiver of public money and moved to Iowa City. In 1853 at the age of 49, Lowe was appointed receiver of the United States Land Office at Council Bluffs. Additionally, Lowe and his brother Jesse co-founded the Council Bluffs and Omaha Steam Ferry Company, along with several other partners. The Council Bluffs company platted the town of Omaha, Nebraska
in 1853 and Lowe became one of the founders of the city of Omaha in 1854.
A member of Omaha's Old Settlers' Association
, later Lowe served as the first president of the Omaha Medical Society in 1866. He was also an incorporator of the Platte Valley and Pacific Railway Company, which was instrumental in maintaining Omaha's early prospects as a railroad city, as well as the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph Railroad.
Lowe died on February 13, 1880 in Omaha.
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and served as president of the Second Iowa Constitutional Convention.
Biography
Enos Lowe was born on May 5, 1804 in Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
in the county of Guilford
Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
. Along with his brother Jesse
Jesse Lowe
Jesse Lowe was the first mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, serving for one year from March 5, 1857 to March 2, 1858. An important real estate agent in the early city, Lowe is credited with naming the city after the Omaha Tribe....
, Lowe's parents were strict Quakers, and his early training in Quaker principles were said to guide his entire life.
Desiring to enter the medical profession, Lowe took a course in medicine at the Ohio Medical College, a medical school now called The Ohio State University College of Medicine and located in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. From there, Lowe moved to Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
where he open a medical practice. In addition, Lowe became active in the Indiana Democratic Party
Indiana Democratic Party
The Democratic Party of Indiana is a political party and affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in Indiana. The Indiana Democratic Party also hold three of Indiana's nine Congressional seats...
and was elected to the Indiana state legislature.
In 1837 at the age of 33, Lowe moved to the Black Hawk Purchase
Black Hawk Purchase
The Black Hawk Purchase, sometimes called the Forty-Mile Strip or Scott's Purchase, was a land acquisition made in what is now Iowa by the United States federal government. The land, originally owned by the Sauk, Meskwaki , and Ho-Chunk Native American people, was acquired by treaty following...
, an area of 6 million acres (24,000 km²) in what is now Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
that was purchased by the United States federal government five years prior in connection with the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. There, Lowe began practicing medicine in the relatively new, small frontier village of Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. Over the next seven years, his reputation grew and Lowe became widely and favorably known. In 1844, Lowe was chosen a member of the First Constitutional Convention of Iowa
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
.
At the constitutional convention, Lowe got to know many of the future leaders of Iowa. However, their efforts were unsuccessful and the Constitution framed by the 1844 convention was rejected. Two years later, Lowe was elected to the 1846 Iowa Constitutional Convention. His popularity continued to increase and Lowe was elected to preside over the convention. This time, their effort were successful and the convention enacted the Constitution under which Iowa became a State.
After Lowe presided over the 1846 convention and at the same time a United States Land Office
General Land Office
The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...
was established at Iowa City, he was appointed receiver of public money and moved to Iowa City. In 1853 at the age of 49, Lowe was appointed receiver of the United States Land Office at Council Bluffs. Additionally, Lowe and his brother Jesse co-founded the Council Bluffs and Omaha Steam Ferry Company, along with several other partners. The Council Bluffs company platted the town of Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
in 1853 and Lowe became one of the founders of the city of Omaha in 1854.
A member of Omaha's Old Settlers' Association
Old Settlers' Association
The Old Settlers' Association was founded in 1866 by a group of men in Omaha, Nebraska. Membership in the organization was exclusive to settlers who were in the city before 1858. Omaha was founded in 1854...
, later Lowe served as the first president of the Omaha Medical Society in 1866. He was also an incorporator of the Platte Valley and Pacific Railway Company, which was instrumental in maintaining Omaha's early prospects as a railroad city, as well as the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph Railroad.
Lowe died on February 13, 1880 in Omaha.
External links
- "Horse Heaven", an anecdote of a prank conducted by Lowe from the Nebraska State Historical SocietyNebraska State Historical SocietyThe Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....
website.