John Thomas Lowe was born on February 15th, 1830 at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco (Bahamas). He lived at Key West, Florida at age 17, and was a mariner and a “wrecker”. He married Laura Dorothy Meares in 1853.

In 1860, he and friend Augustus Archer left Key West for Clearwater, Florida before the arrival of Federal occupation forces. Both owned and captained their own ships.

He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25th, 1862 when he was enlisted as a Private in Captain Smith’s Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted 3rd Corporal on August 8th, 1862, and then promoted to 3rd Sergeant on March 1st, 1863.

He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia on February 25th, 1864, and was assigned to serve in CSS Savannah on March 3rd, 1864. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21st, 1864. He was a participant in the capture of USS Waterwitch , and served temporarily in CSS Tallahassee from August 6th through August 26th, 1864.

He served as Pilot in CSS Savannah until December 21st, 1864; he is credited with assisting in firing and scuttling the vessel to deny her capture by General Sherman’s forces at Savannah.

He was paroled at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida in 1865.

In 1883 Capt John Thomas Lowe established a landing at the northwest end of Siesta Road calling it Lowe's Landing. This was the landing for the community called Anona. It received it's name from the Anona sweet apples brought to the area from Key West.

In 1872 settlers and circuit riding preacher Rev. John Wells established the first church service with the first rough board church/schoolhouse being built in 1873 on land donated by Captain John Thomas Lowe. The community of Anona eventually disappeared and became a part of the larger area of Largo.

Lowe drew a Confederate pension. He died at died Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida on August 5th, 1921

John T Lowe