Marion County, West Virginia Biography of SCOTT C. LOWE This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 622-623 SCOTT C. LOWE, who retired from the bench of the Crim- inal Court of Marion County on the 1st of January, 1921, has gained place as one of the leading members of the bar of his native county and as one of its progressive and public-spirited citizens. He was born on the old home- stead farm of the Lowe family in Grant District, Marion County, and the date of his nativity was September 22, 1875. He is a son of the late Robert and Ruhama (Dunham) Lowe, and a lineal descendant of Robert Lowe (I), who was born in England, January 23, 1765, and who came thence to America and first settled in Maryland. In 1808 this an- cestor removed to Virginia and established his residence in that part of Harrison County which is now included in Marion County, West Virginia. He married Elizabeth Swearingen on April 17, 1791, and their son Cephas, grand- father of Judge Lowe of this review, was reared in this county, where, as a young man, he married Eleanor, daugh- ter of Thomas and Ann (Moore) Hughes, of the State of New Jersey, and granddaughter of Thomas Hughes, Sr., who was a native of Wales, whence he went to Scotland, from which latter country he came to America long before the Revolutionary war, and with his father's family, settled on the present site of Rahway, Union County, New Jersey, where his son Thomas was born in 1768. Elizabeth Swearingen, wife of Robert Lowe (I), was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, May 29, 1765 or 1766, and died January 6, 1848. She was a daughter of Charles and Susannah (Stull) Swearingen. Charles, born in about 1735, became lieutenant-colonel in the Revolutionary war. He was a son of Van Swearingen, who was born in Somerset County, Maryland, in about 1692, and married Elizabeth Walker. Van took up land in Washington County, Maryland, after- ward found to be covered by a prior grant (Ringgold's Manor). Having made-improvements on the land and so failing in his title, he leased the land for life and that of his two sons, and it was thus held for eighty-nine years. He lived to be 109 years of age, having lived in three cen- turies. He was one of four song of Thomas Swearingen who was born about 1665, and lived in Somerset County, Maryland, until his death in 1710. Thomas was a son of Garret Van Swearingen, who was born in Beemsterdam, Holland, in 1636. Garret was a younger son of a family belonging to the nobility, and received a liberal education. For the Dutch West Indies Company he was in charge of the ship, Prince Maurice, which carried emigrants and sup- plies, sailing from the port of Amsterdam, December 21, 1656, and arriving at Port Casmir on the Delaware, April 21, 1657. Fort Casmir, afterward called New Castle, was the home of Garret until about 1665, and he here held many positions of trust and honor. He was married at that place in 1659 to Barbarah DeBarrette, a native of Vallenciennes, Prance. New Castle was surrendered to the British in 1664, under Sir Robert Carr, and after the surrender it is said Garret renounced all allegiance to the Dutch authorities. Robert Lowe, son of Cephas, was born in what is now Taylor County, West Virginia. In middle life he pur- chased what was known as Knotts farm, on Booth's Creek, Grant District, Marion County, and there he passed the re- mainder of his life, his death having occurred in June, 1905, in a railroad accident at Watson Station, Marion County. He was a successful farmer, was prominent as a buyer and shipper of live stock, and became the owner of valuable real estate in different parts of Marion County. He was a citizen of influence and served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1875-76. He and his wife were earnest members of the Boothsville Baptist Church. Mrs. Lowe, whose death occurred June 3, 1903, likewise was born in Taylor County, and she was a daughter of James Dunham, whose father, Mordecai Dunham, was the pioneer representative of the family in what is now West Virginia. Judge Lowe was reared on the home farm, and after attending the public schools he continued his studies by entering Salem College, at Salem, Harrison County, in which he prepared for matriculation in the University of West Virginia. In the latter institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in its law depart- ment he was graduated as a member of the class of 1900, his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws being virtually coincident with his admission to the bar of his native state. He immediately initiated the practice of his profession by opening an office in the City of Fairmont, and he served as assistant prosecuting attorney of his native county under Charles Powell. In 1904 he was elected prosecuting attor- ney, and of this office he continued the efficient incumbent until January 1, 1909. In 1914 Judge Lowe was elected to the State Senate, as representative of the Eleventh Sena- torial District, comprising Marion, Monongalia and Taylor. counties, and his characteristically loyal and effective service in the Senate continued until January 1, 1919. In that year he received appointment, through Governor Cornwell, to the bench of the newly created Criminal Court of Marion County, his commission bearing date of April 24, 1919. As the first incumbent on this bench he continued his able administration until January 1, 1921. He is one of the lead- ing members of the Fairmont bar, commands the high re- gard of his professional confreres, and the official positions to which he has been elected indicate fully his hold upon popular confidence and esteem. The judge maintains active membership in the Marion County Bar Association and the West Virginia Bar Association, is affiliated with the Phi Kappa Phi college fraternity, and his Masonic affiliations are here noted: Fairmont Lodge No. 9, A. F. and A. M.; Orient Chapter No. 9, R. A. M.; Crusade Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar; and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In May, 1922, he was elected grand commander of the West Virginia Grand Commandery of Knights Tem- plar. Judge Lowe is president of the Local Council of Boy Scouts, and takes lively interest in the work of this organization. September 17, 1907, recorded the marriage of Judge Lowe and Miss Edna Earl, daughter of Harry and Ida B. (Shiff- lette) Wertz, of Huntington. Mrs. Lowe graduated from Marshall College, at Huntington, and as a member of the class of 1903 received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the State University at Morgantown. Judge and Mrs. Lowe have two children: Scott C., Jr., who was born July 7, 1909, and Robert Wertz, who was born September 4, 1911.