Daniel Low

Birth: February 13, 1842.

Death: February 3, 1911.

Burial Location: Sylvan Avenue, Lot 1766, Grave 1.

Daniel Low was born in Salem. He was the son of Richard and Margaret Brown Low. Educated in Salem public schools, he was a member of the last class to graduate from Salem English High School. He then worked as a jeweler’s apprentice. Daniel married Elizabeth Jane Stevens in 1866. They lived at 365 Essex St. The couple had two children, Seth born in 1865 and Florence born in 1875. After the Civil War ended, Daniel Low opened his first store, on the corner of Essex and Central Street.

This was a success; seven years later he moved his store to a larger space on Washington Street, the site of the former First Church. Daniel Low and Company quickly became nationally and internationally known due to its very successful mail order business; the store’s catalog was called the Daniel Low Yearbook. Adding to the company’s success was the purchase of colonial reproduction collections of Nevins Company and R. Harris Company of Washington DC. The company produced the first souvenir witch spoons and also became famous for this Salem item, popular with tourists and today with collectors.

Daniel Low died in his store of a heart attack on February 3, 1911. His son Seth took over the management of the company. After Seth died in 1939, Florence Low Kelsey managed the company until her own death in 1969.

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Sources Consulted:

• AmericanSilversmiths.org
• Find a Grave.
• HistoricIpswich.net
• Salem Links and Lore.
• “Sudden Death of Daniel Low in His Store Yesterday” Salem Evening News –February 3, 1911