Allison Lowman
SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: ALLISON, LOWMAN, LYTLE, MULLIKIN, ROBINSON, STILL
ALLISON LOWMAN. This prosperous and enterprising farmer of Scott Township came to this vicinity in the winter of 1883, and has lived here since that time. His homestead, which is pleasantly located on section 14, consist of 80 acres of good land with first class improvements, where he has operated successfully, and by his upright course as a business man and industry as a farmer, has gained for himself a good position socially and financially, and is esteemed a valued factor of society.
The parents of our subject, John and Mary (ALLISON) LOWMAN, were born, reared and married in Indiana County, Pa., where the father died about 1881. The mother still survives, and continues to live in the Keystone State. The parental family included seven children, of whom Allison of our sketch was the oldest. He was born in the same county as his parents, on the 28th of October, 1837. He remained under the home roof until twenty one years of age, and was soon afterward married, locating on his father's farm, where he remained until 1862. In July of that year, the Civil War being then in progress, he became a member of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, and served faithfully as a soldier until the preservation of the Union was fully assured. He was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Pa., and returning to his native county, resumed the peaceful vocation of a farmer's life on the old homestead, where he continued until starting for the West.
The marriage of Allison Lowman with Miss Sarah LYTLE was celebrated in Indiana County, Pa., Dec. 18, 1858. Mrs. L. is the daughter of John and Mary (ROBINSON) LYTLE, both natives of Pennsylvania. They located in Indiana County after their marriage, became the parents of fifteen children, and there passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. L. was born in that county on the 1st of May, 1838. The children of our subject and his wife, eight in number, are as follows: Inez J., Alice M., Belle A., Elizabeth E., John L., Mary A., Samuel L. and Cora. Inez J. became the wife of Chalmers STITT, a farmer of Scott Township; Alice died in Indiana County, Pa., when but nine years old, while on a visit to her grandfather; Belle is the wife of Joseph MULLIKIN, and resides in Scott Township. Mr. Lowman has held offices of Road Commissioner, School Director and Constable. Socially he is a member of Champaign Post No. 140, G. A. R. Politically, he is a true Republican, and with his excellent wife a member in good standing of the Methodist Church.
In March, 1869, after Mr. L. became a resident of Scott Township, and was living three-fourths of a mile south of Bondville, on a small tract of land where he erected a new house, and which he had occupied but five days, about eleven o'clock at night a terrific storm of wind and rain burst upon them and the entire house with its contents was blown to the four winds. Mr. and Mrs. Lowman with their three children were landed in the garden without serious injury, but as may be supposed, badly frightened. Mr. L., clad in only a shirt and overcoat, set out on horseback to find shelter for his family, but the night was so dark that he became bewildered on the prairie and lost his way. He finally gave the reins to his faithful horse, which carried him all right to the residence of a Mr. Foster, who returned with him and assisted in the search for the wife and children. They twice passed the place where the house had stood before they could locate it, on account of the darkness. They finally found the stable where he had placed his family for shelter, and it was four o'clock in the morning before he had them comfortably housed in the dwelling of Mr. Foster.