LOWDEN, ROBERT HASKELL, who is one of the most substantial farmers and prominent and useful citizens of Cass County, Ill., is the owner of a fine farm of 360 acres of fertile land in township 17, range 9, where, besides general farming, he is extensively engaged in raising Duroc Jersey hogs, draft and road horses, and shorthorn and Aberdeen cattle. He has been farming in the same vicinity for nearly thirty-five years, and besides his large and successful operations in this line, has taken an intelligent and lively interest in the public affairs of Cass County, being now I his second term as county commissioner.

Robert H. Lowden is a native of New Brunswick, and was born at St. Andrews, June 2, 1856, a son of Edward Parkinson and Emma (Castles) Lowden, the father born near Killarney, Ireland, and the mother being of Scottish birth. Both located in New Brunswick when young. For five years Edward P. Lowden served as mate of an ocean sailing vessel, and then applied himself to farming in New Brunswick. This he continued until 1848, going then to Illinois, whence, in 1849, he went to California, by ox and mule team from Rushville. Remaining three years in California, he returned by way of Panama to New Orleans, and up the Mississippi River and back again to New Brunswick. There, in 1854, he was married to Emma Castles. After farming till 1868, he moved to Schuyler County, Ill., and continued farming. He died in 1883, his wife having passed away in 1870. Their children were as follows: Robert H.; Catherine, of Salinas, Cal.; John, of Arizona; and James, of Cass County, Ill.

Robert H. Lowden attended the district schools in his youth and spent one term in the Rushville public schools. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, then worked on farms in Schuyler County until 1877, when he located in Cass County, working for others until 1881. In that year he began farming for himself just south of Philadelphia, Ill., and after remaining there three years, moved to his present place.

Mr. Lowden was married October 6, 1880, in Cass County, by Rev. Granberry Garner, of the Methodist church, to Bertha Grace Darland, a native of Kentucky. She is a daughter of Strother and Mary (Burton) Darland, both born in Kentucky, and died in Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Lowden have the following children: Maude, Mrs. William T. Melvin, of Philadelphia, Ill.; Walter, of Cass County, Ill., married Luella McGoldrich; Mary, Mrs. Nathaniel Wright, of the same address; Ola, Mrs. Benjamin Bell, also of Cass County; and Georgie, at home. In church relationship, Mr. Lowden is a Presbyterian. Politically, he acts with the Democratic party. In 1910 he was elected a county commissioner, and in the fall of 1913, was re-elected. His fraternal affiliations are with M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F., and is considered one of the foremost members of the community in which he lives.