The John H. Low Cabin
In November of 1863 an expedition of 140 wagons, each drawn by two or three yokes of oxen, were sent out from Mankato to carry supplies to Fort Thompson, SD on the Missouri River. John H. Low was a "Bull Whacker" (or teamster) on this expedition.
They entered Murray County in what is now the township of Dovray on an old government trail.
The Indian incident had happened in 1862 and now deserted homestead has grown to weeds- just a sea of prairie grass - some lakes and sloughs. Beaver, deer and prairie chickens enticed the men to return in 1864 to trap and hunt - John returned with his brother Bart and two other men.
During this time they passed by a lake they called Bear Lake. A good stand of timber was available and the brothers decided to stake out a homestead. The lake was also called "The Great Oasis". The men erected their cabins from the logs they harvested. (The year was 1866).
The cabin was built on the site of an old Indian Village. Thirteen known tribes had used the clearing 400 years before the white men arrived.
The house itself is constructed of the finest timber logs from the wood which surrounded the clearing.
The building is 20x24 with a true second floor- a big house for its day. Most of the logs were 20 feet long and many were hewn square - the corners were dove - tailed so the building would not spread in any direction - wooden pegs of oak held the doors and windows in position. The lime for plastering (chinking) came from a kiln in Lake Sarah Township, the sand from Bear Lake.
Times were hard, and the settlers worked hard, suffered many hardships, but persevered to make this a good home for their families.
The new settlers began to pour into this territory and many stopped at the Low homes. Shade, water and wood in abundance and the hospitality of the friendly brothers. A small community took farm with Bart Low elected county surveyor and John a Commissioner. Eventually the township was platted and named Lowville in honor of those two hardy pioneers.
The Lowville Township was the location of the American Fur Company established in 1833. Trappers came from an area of 100 miles to sell or trade for groceries, gunpower, knives, dress goods, etc. The lake itself, was popular with trappers and hunters. The Company closed in 1838 and 1912 the lake was drained. Since that time most of the land has been used for agricultural purposes.
Lowville Township was organized in September 1873.
Murray County Historical Society