James Galloway Lowe was Born April 6, 1858 in Jessup, Luzern, Pennsylvania. He was the 7th of sixteen children and 4th son born to Thomas and Eliza Galloway Lowe.

At six years of age James moved with his parents, 2 sisters and 3 brothers to settle in Franklin, Idaho with his grandmother, Janet Sharp Lowe.

At the age of 13 he worked herding cows for surrounding farmers earning one pound of butter and a bushel of Wheat for each cow. He helped his father in the shingle mill, learning to be a carpenter and builder. At 17 he was cutting trees for logs to be used for the new railroad. The ax slipped, almost severing his big toe at the joint. While his foot was healing he learned to play the violin. His teacher was so impressed by his talent that he made him a member of his orchestra. The little band played at parties, dances, and theaters in surrounding communities.

The hills northeast of Franklin were rich with yellow sandrock that was used in the building of the Logan LDS Temple. James was hired to haul rock by team and wagon to Logan, Utah 20 miles south of Frankin for building the foundation of the LDS Temple.

Sixteen-year-old Eliza Doney was a cook for the quarry crew, and James evidently liked her cooking. On July 8, 1880, they took James's lumber wagon and drove to Salt Lake City where they were married for time and all eternity in the Endowment House.

James worked for the next five months during spare time cutting logs and hauling them to his father's sawmill to be cut into lumber, lathe and shingles. By November he had completed a house on property his father had given him east of Franklin.

Though James had received little formal educatin, he learned, through necessity, to be a farmer, carpenter, musician, mechanic, painter, butcher, and shoe repairman. He could always find work of some kind, and his families were well provided for.

James and Eliza had been married about five years and had three children - Ada, age 4, James LeRoy, age 3, and Lucy, 7 months - when The President of the Franklin Stake of the LDS Church advised James to take another wife. James received approval from Eliza to court 16-year-old Elizabeth Kingsford, and they were married in the Logan Temple April 9, 1885.

James directed the building of a small chapel for his LDS Church, which was consolidated with the Franklin Church in 1910.

In 1888 James was called to serve a mission to spread the Gospel in Scotland, the land of his ancestors. He left his two wives and six children and another on the way in the care of Eliza's older brother and sailed for Scotland. He was only able to stay for five months because he was plagued by poor health, mostly caused by his injured foot. So he returned home and increased his family, providing a house for each on opposite sides of Maple Creek.

James had 13 children by Eliza and 11 children by Elizabeth. The families were very close, and the mothers treated each other's children as their own.

James died of pneumonia on June 8, 1905 at the age of 47. He left his two wives with 20 living children ranging in age from Eliza's 24-year-old daughter Ada, to 10-month-old Glen. Elizabeth's 11th child was born five months after James's death. He was buried in the Franklin Cemetery.

Children of James and Eliza:
Born:
Ada Apr. 14, 1881
James LeRoy Feb. 10, 1882
Lucy Sept. 11, 1884
Reuben Doney Jan. 3, 1886
Lydia Dec. 31, 1888
Rhea Feb. 1, 1890
Lillie Jan. 31, 1892
Scott D. Apr. 14, 1896
Irel Aug. 14, 1896 Jennie Sept. 1, 1898
Nolan Doney May 10, 1900
Acel Levon July 11, 1902
Glen Aug. 11, 1904

Children of James and Elizabeth:
Born:
Oussie Kingsford May 14, 1886
Belvia Apr. 25, 1888
Ivy May 21, 1890
Jessie O Sept. 3, 1892
Don Carlos Dec. 4, 1893
Annie Jan. 16, 1896
Archie Jan. 7, 1897
Erma Mar. 12, 1898
Rulon Mar. 9, 1900
Marie July 9, 1903
Cyril Kingsford Nov. 17, 1905

Most were born in Franklin, Franklin County, Idaho. Elizabeth's 1st five children were born in Coveville, Cache County, Utah.

This history was taken from A PROUD HERITAGE, a brief history of the Lowe family from 1852 to 2000, compiled by Shirley Ann Lund (Lowe) 2000.