History - Judge Jacob D. Lowe settles

Judge Jacob D Lowe was an Associate Judge from 1803 to 1824. Also an avid speculator,  he purchased vast amounts of land throughout Warren County, Ohio. In 1812, Judge Lowe was one of the leading members that helped form a new church, known as the First Presbyterian Church of Mason. Being an Early settler to the region and a man of action, in 1814 Judge Lowe laid out and platted a town of 16 lots. This town was named Unity, but locals often referred to the areas as "Lowe's Town". Unity later became part of Mason when it was incorporated.

While practicing law, Judge Lowe resided with his wife at his farmhouse-inn. He and his wife raised six children there until later moving to Dayton Ohio. The Inn was situated on the original route 42, now U.S. Rt 42, between the cities of Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. The farmhouse-inn was a routine stopping place for weary stagecoach travelers. Henry Clay and other distinguished men would often stay at the house while traveling north. At that time,  Rt 42 was the best route from Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to Washington D.C.

In 1820, Postermaster Kirkwood opened the post office of Kirkwood, at the trading post & stagecoach stop of Judge Lowe. Prior to establishing this post office, residents would have to go to Lebanon, Ohio for their mail. Back then, a one-way trip to Lebanon could take a half-day of travel, at best. With that, the Kirkwood name was associated with Judge Lowe's farmhouse-inn, and the Kirkwood Inn was born.

It is also noteworthy to mention that one of Judge Lowe's sons, born on November 27, 1805, in the Mason Farmhouse, went on to auspiciously serve as the Governor of Iowa. Governor Ralph Phillips Lowe was elected Governor of Iowa in 1858. He also held official positions as an elected member of the first Constitutional Convention, District Attorney for the State of Iowa, District Judge for the State of Iowa, Judge of the Supreme Court and the Assistant United States District Attorney.

Today - The Kirkwood Inn

Today, Mr. David and Mrs. Sandra Eves own the land and the buildings located where only a farmhouse once existed. Mr. and Mrs. Eves commissioned Edgewood Designs of Brookville, Indiana, and Architectural Reclamation, Inc to restore the Judge Jacob D Lowe farmhouse-inn. Architectural Reclamation, Inc specialized in preserving the unique character and craftsmanship of historic buildings. Bruce Stewart, of AR, Inc, had this to say about the Kirkwood Farm House - "I have inspected the Judge Lowe House in Mason, Ohio. I think the original part of the structure is approximately 200 years old. This is a very early Warren County Structure. The timber frame structure is braced frame with studs mortised into the top and bottom plates. I've usually seen this type of early timber frame construction along the Ohio river where this area was first settled. I was surprised to see the construction technique in Mason."

The restoration is now complete, and the farmhouse adjacent to the Kirkwood Inn are currently used for private gatherings, much as it was back in the late 1700s to early 1800s. The Kirkwood Inn has 48 nicely appointed guest rooms. Together, they serve today's travelers with the conveniences of modem day, but with preservation of the past. David and Sandy Eves offer a quiet respite for all to enjoy rich with history, and a continued tradition of serving weary travelers.