Robert Lowe was born in Brampton, Ontario in 1868 and he spent his boyhood years on a farm. As a young man he migrated west and settled in the Brandon, Manitoba area where he engaged in the livestock business (draying and auctioneering) as well as hold several “public positions of trust”. Upon hearing about the Klondike gold rush, Lowe’s adventuresome spirit tugged and in 1899 he found himself at the foot of the Whitehorse Rapids, where he was heard to say “Let those who will, rush on to the Klondike, this place is good enough for me!”
Lowe’s first business venture was a merchandising outfit on the east side of the river (old Whitehorse), but by 1901 he was back in the livestock business as proprietor of Pioneer Feed & Livery Stables in Whitehorse. Lowe quickly became involved in the new community of Whitehorse where he was fast looked upon as a capable trusting leader. In 1900 British American Corporation was threatening to take up the entire copper belt in concessions which would deprive many claim owners of their rights, and in order to voice their protest to those in power, Lowe traveled all the way to Ottawa, successfully squashing the scheme.
Lowe’s energetic personality and persuasive ways with the bureaucrats soon won him many friends and supporters and in 1902 he was elected by an overwhelming majority to represent Whitehorse in Territorial Council at Dawson. As councilor one of the first things he did was secure funding to build wagon roads to the mines. He also, though unsuccessfully, attempted to secure $100,000 from the feds for the construction of a smelter. Lowe also played an active part in the development of the mines through his cartage business, which hauled equipment and supplies to the mines and ore to the railway station. By 1907 Lowe was co-owner and manager of both the Grafter and the War Eagle Mines.
Lowe’s popularity never waned and he held his position in council until his resignation in 1925. He still holds the record as the Yukon’s most successful politician. In 1922 the bridge across Miles Canyon was dedicated in his honor, as was Lowe Street in downtown Whitehorse sometime later. In 1929 Robert Lowe, the father of Whitehorse, passed away in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
