From the collections at the Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum. Reprinted with permission from The Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum and the Leavenworth Times. Donated by Debra Graden.

A Bit of History Regarding the Little Village Nine Miles Northwest of This City, On the Santa Fe Railroad.

The writer has in his possession a letter written by an old resident of Leavenworth county in which appears the statement that the village of Lowemont, in this county, was so named because of its situation on a low mountain or mound. This is only partly true. the latter syllable of the name, "mont," is derived from the Latin term "montis," meaning mountain, but the first part of the name, "Lowe," was given in honor of the late Capt. Percival G. Lowe, of Leavenworth.

Capt. Lowe, at one time in the early days, owned a fine cattle ranch, the present James Hegarty farm, on the high ridge on which the village is situated, and was instrumental, together with the late Henry C. Squired and other live stock and grain farmers in having a shipping station established on the branch of the Santa Fe railroad, commonly known as the "Pollywog." This station was given the name of Lowemont in honor of its principal promoter. A general store was later established at the place by the late David F. Herley, known as "Bob" Herley. This store, which is still being operated, I believe, by Joseph Gallagher, was the outgrowth of the historic old Herley store at the Eight Mile House, a short distance southeast of its present location.

Capt. Lowe was one of the outstanding figures in the early history of this section, and his experiences are most entertainingly narrated in a volume which he published some year ago under the title of "Five years A Dragoon," being mainly an account of his experiences in the Mexican War, but containing much other valuable western history. E. W. Howe has said that the book is one of the most interesting he has read and that the author's descriptions of Fort Leavenworth and Weston in the early days are valuable contributions to history. Frederick Remington, noted western artist and authority on frontier life, declared it was a great document and the best kind of history of the period which has left little copy. The book, which is now out of print, and scarce, is eagerly sought by book collectors, and commands a high price.

Capt. Lowe assisted Major Ogden in laying out the famous old military road in 1850. The road passed the present site of Lowemont, and the party camped at the old Prather spring near there while making the survey. Capt. Lowe once told the writer that he never dreamed then that he would some day own a farm near there, and that a village named in his honor would spring up there. He first came to Fort Leavenworth during the Mexican War as a recruit for the First Dragoons. Later he engaged in freighting across the plains and had a most interesting frontier experience. In later years he was prominent in civil and business affairs in Leavenworth.