Biography - David Low
DAVID LOW, a man who has the esteem and confidence of his friends and
neighbors, and who is a public-spirited citizen resides on section 23,
Oconee Township, Shelby County, where he carries on farming and
stock-raising. He was born in Guilford County, Tenn., April 26, 1831, his
parents being George and Sarah Low, natives of that state. Their marriage
and the birth of all their children took place in North Carolina, but they
removed to Illinois in 1849 and there spent the remainder of their days.
David Low had nine brothers of whom Amsley, Gideon and Simeon were soldiers
in the Union Army, during the Civil War. Joel R., John R., and Daniel R.,
are all living, the former in Iowa and the others in this state. David was a
resident of North Carolina during the war and was conscripted into the
Confederate army. He passed his examination, and was accepted but while
waiting for assignment to his regiment, he and about five hundred others
fled from the camp at night, and breaking through the lines escaped to their
home. He worked upon his farm for about a month and when he saw that the
authorities were on the alert and apprehending the conscript he "took to the
bushes" as he says and remained in concealment from October to Christmas.
During that time he lay on the ground and endured greater hardships and
dangers than he would have encountered in the Confederate service, but he
was thoroughly Union in his sentiments, and preferred to endure all this for
the cause of the Union rather than to lift his hand against the old flag.
About Christmas time Mr. Low engaged to work in the saltpetre works near
Greensboro, N. C. This enterprise failed and he went home and spent one
night, but the second night "hunters" were in pursuit of him and he took to
the woods again. While concealed in the house of a neighbor he was
surrounded and captured by a detachment of the Raleigh guard. He was sent to
Raleigh and seven days later to Kingston, N. C., where he remained from
April 2 to May 4. By this time he thought he knew enough of military affairs
and persuaded thirteen of his comrades to join with him in taking "French
leave."
These refugees took to the woods once more, and were so closely pursued by
soldiers on horseback as to be obliged to take refuge in a swamp. They sat
in mud and water nearly to their necks from 2 p. m. until dark and the
pursuers passed within ten feet of them. Two of the party were recaptured
and the others escaped to their respective homes. Mr. Low had to remain in
hiding until the close of the war. He spent one winter in a cave, going
occasionally to the home of some Union family to get food, and then
returning to his dreary abode. He spent his time in the cave in making
combs, baskets and trinkets, selling them to Union people for food and
clothing, he would sell a fine comb of his manufacture for ten cents in
silver or $10 in Confederate script. He was recaptured but made his escape
at great peril. His sufferings and privations were incomparably greater than
those of many enlisted men, being in constant peril from armed and open
enemies as well as from secret foes. It is not strange that he would feel
that his escape from bodily injury was miraculous, he was unable to get
through the line with his family and would not go and leave them. He lost
all his property, amounting to a number of thousand dollars in stock and
money.
The lady whose union with our subject brought to her such great trials,
during this period of hardship and suffering, became his wife, September 13,
1857, in Guilford County, N. C., which was her native county as she was born
there February 26, 1836. Her name before marriage was Rosannah Pike, and her
parents were natives of the same State with herself.
To Mr. and Mrs. Low eight children were born, namely: Sara R., born
September 23, 1852, who married Daul Neice in Oconee Township, and after
giving birth to one child died October 28, 1888; George William, born
September 20, 1860, married Sallie Marifield and resides on a farm near
Rosemond, Ill.: Turley H., born May 26, 1863, is unmarried and lives at
home; Joel D., born January 10, 1866, is married and resides in Pana, Ill.;
Melinda S., born October 29, 1867, is married and resides in Oconee
Township: Melissa born May 25, 1871, after the removal of the family to the
North, and Mary E., born August 17, 1874, are at home with their parents, as
is also John H. A., born September 6, 1877.
It was about eighteen years ago when Mr. Low removed to Christian County,
Ill., and nine years since he purchased the farm on which he now lives. He
has a timbered farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres, about one-half of
which is under improvement. Upon this there is about fourteen acres in
orchard and considerable attention is paid to the raising of small fruit. He
has a good house and a comfortable home.
Mr. Low has been instrumental in securing the organization of a school
district for the accommodation of the children in this comparatively new
country, and a pleasant school-house is situated on a corner of his farm. He
has always voted the Republican ticket. He is not a member of any church
though heartily in accord with all Christian endeavors. His wife and
children are members of the Baptist Church. He raises sorghum and
manufactures molasses each year, and makes maple sugar and syrup in its
season, devoting considerable time and money to the improvement and
operation of this business. He has a centrifugal machine for separating and
drying sorghum sugar which he hopes to make a success. He is a citizen who
endeavors to do right as he sees the right, and will not be coerced into
doing wrong by any human power. This characteristic was evinced by his
attitude toward the confederate power.
Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 485-486.
