John Lowe Jr. arrived in Key West from the Bahamas as an infant and received little formal education. As a child, he went to sea with his father and earned his ship master's license at the remarkable age of thirteen. Two years later, at fifteen, he began working as a clerk for his brother-in-law, William Curry, whose business evolved from Browne & Curry into William Curry's Sons. During the thirty years Lowe worked for Curry, the company flourished, and Curry became Florida's first millionaire.

His home at 620 Southard Street remains one of Key West's most treasured historic residences, reflecting the prosperity and influence he brought to the island community.