Benjamin Franklin Lowe was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 13 May 1814.  Although his death certificate lists his parents names as Frank and Jane Lowe, extensive research for 25 years has failed to reveal any record of their presence in New England.  Thus, we have no record of his life until 5 June 1843 when, at the age of 29, he married Delia Ebbets at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City.  Following their marriage, Benjamin went into the mercantile business in the city.  The discovery of gold in 1849, however, sparked his imagination.  He recognized that the thousands of miners rushing to the west coast would have needsa that an enterprising merchant could satisfy.
 
He entered into a business arrangement with Delia older brother, Arthur M. Ebbets, and a friend, DeWitt Brown.  The three sailed around the horn to San Francisco, bringing mercantile supplies which they sold -- making $40,000 in profit, which they then invested in property.  They built a four-story building and continued this practice -- B. F. Lowe "commuting" between New York and California to supply the operation with fresh supplies.  This business continued to prosper until 1857, by which time the gold fever had diminished and they dissolved their partnership.
 
During these years, B. F. Lowe was living on both coasts of the continent.  Delia, however, remained back East, raising their four sons.  Following the dissolving of his mercantile business, however, Benjamin brought the rest of his family to San Francisco, and he went into the insurance business.  About 1875 Benjamin and Delia left San Francisco, returning to the East Coast.  They took up residence with his oldest son, William Ebbets Lowe, at his fashionable estate in Plainfield, New Jersey.  Here they spent their retirement years.
 
Delia Ebbets Lowe died at Catskill, New York, on 3 January 1888.  In October, 1890, William Ebbets Lowe was having some repairs done to his Plainfield home and Benjamin F. Lowe was staying at the Grand Union Hotel in New York City during the construction.  He was found dead on the floor of his room the morning of 9 October 1890.  Benjamin and Delia Lowe were buried at Plainfield.  The cemetery there is, unfortunately, badly neglected and if there is any monument standing it is not to be found.