Wiley V. Lowe Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1566-1567 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WILEY V. LOWE.—We are pleased to make specific mention of the East 
Sioux Falls granite quarries, of which the firm of Lowe & Handley are 
the proprietors, the subject of this sketch being the senior member of 
the firm. They conduct a large and important business, as contractors 
for the celebrated Sioux Falls granite and make a specialty of paving 
blocks, building and dimension stone, etc., and are contractors for 
street paving and architectural work. 

	Mr. Lowe is a native of the beautiful city of Wheeling, West 
Virginia, where he was born on the 13th of August, 1865, the family name 
having been identified with the annals of the southern section of the 
Union for many years. He is a son of Wiley V. and Margaret (Miller) 
Lowe, and his father was engaged in farming near Wheeling until 1867, 
when he removed with his family to Wenona, Marshall county, Illinois, 
where he engaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to Gaylord, 
Smith county, Kansas, while about 1879 he located in Creston, Iowa, 
where he engaged in farming, becoming one of the prominent farmers of 
that section. He died in 1890, and the mother is now living at Creston, 
Iowa. 

	The subject of this sketch was but two years of age at the time of 
his parents' removal to Illinois, and in the public schools of Wenona he 
secured his rudimentary educational training, while later he continued 
to attend the public schools in Kansas and Iowa. At the age of seventeen 
years Mr. Lowe entered the Northwestern Commercial College at Stanberry, 
Missouri, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1885, after 
which he returned to his home, in Creston, Iowa, where he secured a 
position as bookkeeper in the local office of a mining company, while 
later he was similarly engaged for a short time at Chariton, that state. 
In the fall of 1889 he came to East Sioux Falls as bookkeeper for the 
East Sioux Falls Granite Company, the predecessor of the firm of which 
he is now a member, and in 1895 he became associated with William 
Handley in the purchase of the business, organizing at the time the 
present firm of Lowe & Handley, and having since continued to 
successfully operate their valuable quarries, while the business has 
shown a continual increase in scope and importance during the 
intervening years. 

	Mr. Lowe gives an unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party, 
and in 1892 he was appointed postmaster of East Sioux Falls, by Hon. 
John Wannamaker, who was then postmaster-general, while during the 
intervening years the subject has continued to fill this office. He has 
held various local offices, including that of city auditor and member of 
the board of education, while he is also a notary public. Fraternally he 
holds membership in Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks, in Sioux Falls. 

	The marriage of Mr. Lowe was solemnized in Stanberry, Missouri, on 
the 1st of July, 1887, when he was united to Miss Oma I. Shisler, who 
was born in Stanberry, Missouri, being a daughter of T. J. and Vassie 
Shisler, who are now residents of Stanberry. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have two 
children, Delmer C. and J. Virgil.