It has assuredly been not uninteresting to observe in the series of biographical sketches appearing in this volume the varying nationality, origin and early environment of men who have made their way to prominence and success. In no better way can we gain a conception of the diverse elements which have entered into our social, professional and commercial life, and which will impart to the future American types features which can not be conjectured at the present time. We have had an American type in the past, we shall have a distinctly national character in the future, but for the present, amalgamation of the varied elements is proceeding, and the final result is yet remote.

The Lowe family is of English origin and was founded in Maryland at a very early date in the history of the country, its representatives having been noted for their longevity. The Doctor's father, John Thomas Lowe, was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, near Parkton, and was there reared upon a farm, but after attaining his majority he left the old homestead and Conducted a bus line for several seasons. Later he went to Baltimore, where he was married, and in 1856 he removed with his family to Butler county, Ohio, making the journey by rail and on a flatboat down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, thence overland to his destination. In Butler county he purchased a farm, upon which he lived for several years, after which, he sold that property and removed to Bethany, Ohio, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred when he was seventy- five years of age. In his political affiliations be was a Democrat. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Lowe, is a native of southern Maryland and now lives near Hamilton, Ohio, at the age of sixty- eight years. By her marriage she became the mother of one son and four daughters, namely: James Harris; Alice Eugenia, wife of John F. Gillespie, who is living near Riley, Ohio; Genevieve, who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Bion Ayers, who lives near Hamilton, Ohio; and one who died in infancy.

Dr. Lowe was only about a year old when he was brought by his parents to Ohio. He remained on the old home farm until seventeen years of age, when he became a student in the schools of Bethany. Later he continued his studies in the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1879, after which he taught for several terms. He was for four terms district principal at Springdale and at Hanging Rock, Ohio. He occupied a similar position in Hartwell, Ohio, and has been superintendent of the schools in Dayton, Kentucky, and principal of one of the ward schools of Covington, that state. His experience as an educator covers a period of about fourteen years, during which time he won marked prestige as a very able representative of his profession.

In the meantime the Doctor had been reading medicine, pursuing his studies under the direction of Dr. C. A. L. Reed, of Cincinnati. In 1886 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, where he was graduated in March, 1888. He then took a post-graduate course of three months in the New York Polyclinic School, after which he located in Cincinnati, but in the spring of 1889 he came to Piqua, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He belongs to the Miami Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and was secretary of the Piqua Medical Society for about eight years. He is a close and earnest student of his profession, doing all in his power to attain perfection in the line of his chosen calling. His knowledge is being continually augmented by extensive reading and investigation, and his efforts have made him one of the best informed practitioners in Miami county. He enjoys a very large and lucrative practice and his patronage is steadily increasing.

The Doctor was united in marriage, in Piqua, to Miss Gussie Jacobs, of this city, and they have one son, Stewart H., who is now four years of age. The Doctor is a Democrat in his political affiliations and has served as a member of the board of health of Piqua for one term of three years. He has also been a member of the board of education for three years, and his labors have been effective in promoting the welfare of the schools. He is recognized as a most active member of the Schmidlapp Free School library committee and drew the plans for the large, new building which is now the home of the library. He has done more than any other man for that institution, which is certainly a credit to the city and is proving of great benefit also. The Doctor is a man of broad humanitarian principles and has been particularly earnest in advocating mental culture, thus fitting one for the important responsibilities which life brings.