Col. Samuel D. Lowe was the son of James Washington Lowe (b. 1810, d. 1882) and Abigail Shelton Lowe. He was the grandson of Thomas Low (no "e" on the end of the last name), who died in 1829.

Col. Lowe came from a large family. He had a sisters Mary Lowe Mundy, Lucinda (died young), and Roxana (died in childhood). He had brothers John, Marcus, Meacon, Milton, Sidney Houston, William, Tullis, James, Edward, and George. (14 total children of John Washington and Abigail Lowe).

He was a merchant at Iron Station, Lincoln Co., NC, 1870-1873. He was still in Lincoln Co., NC in 1880. At some point, he moved to Texas, and later to Virginia.

There is a photograph of Samuel on his horse (he was in a mounted infantry troop at the time...the Veteran Reserves perhaps?) at the American Legion Building in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC.

He died 5-30-1891 at Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, VA.