William R. Low
William R. Low, Police at Sandwich, was born in Hillier, Prince Edward Co., Ont., Jan 30, 1827. He is a son of Charles and Laner (Richardson) Low, who were the parents of 10 children: five of the latter are yet living. Tamar A., second child, is the wife of R.B. Warner, an attorney in Orange, Los Angeles Co., Cal. Charles is a farmer in Sac Co., Iowa. Johnson is a farmer on the family homestead at Shabbona Grove, where the mother is living in advanced age. Wolfred N. is a prominent attorney in Chicago. The father died at Shabbona Grove, Nov. 5, 1863.
Mr. Low is the oldest of his parents’ children. He is a born and bred farmer, to which vocation he was trained in his native county, and in which he was there occupied until the date of his becoming a citizen of the United States. He emigrated to DeKalb Co., IL, in 1856, and became the proprietor by purchase of 40 acres of land at Shabbona Grove. In 1866 he went thence to Plano, IL, in the capacity of employee of the Marsh Harvester Company, then engaged in perfecting their machines in the shops of Lew Stewart. He operated there until January, 1869, when he came to Sandwich and completed the invention of the machine known as the Low, Adams and French Harvester, whose utility has since acquired a wide popularity. He was interested in its manufacture until 1874, and in the autumn of that year he sold his claim in the patents and works to the Sandwich Manufacturing Company and T.L. French, for $25,000, after which he was in no active business until his election to the position of which he is now and has since been the incumbent, whose duties he assumed in the spring of 1882. He is still a landholder of DeKalb County, owning 120 acres of land near Shabbona Grove, also his residence with four lots adjoining, and four acres within the Southern part of the corporation of Sandwich.
Mr. Low entered the Army of the Union during the Civil War enlisting Sept. 2, 1862, at Shabbona, DeKalb County, in Co. E, 105th Reg. Il. Vol. Inf. as a private. He accompanied the command to the seat of war, and was discharged early in the spring of 1863, without having seen active service, on account of ill health.
As a citizen, business man, and in his domestic relations Mr. Low is among the most respected residents of Sandwich. Born to a life of effort, reared in the prosecution of the duties of an agricultural career, and taught the value of self respect by precept and circumstances, his accession to affluence proved no disturbing element in the course of his tranquil, honorable career. He has devoted his means and interest to giving his children solid, substantial education, and although by birth belonging to another nationality, he recognizes no sovereignty but manhood, and acknowledges no human supremacy save that acquired by culture and education.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb Co.
