Lowell Mason Maxham (1841–1931) was a recipient of the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for heroism during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

Biography

Lowell Mason Maxham was born on December 6, 1841 in

Carver, Massachusetts Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,645 at the 2020 census. It is named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony. The town features two popular tourist attractions: Edavil ...

. During the Civil War, he joined the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

Taunton, Massachusetts Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County. Taunton is situated on the Taunton River which winds its way through the city on its way to Mount Hope Bay, to the south. At the 2020 cen ...

and was a corporal in Company F, of the

7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry The 7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. It was formed on June 15, 1861, in Taunton. Its original commander was Colonel Darius N. Couch who would eventually be ...

. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at the

Second Battle of Fredericksburg The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights, took place on May 3, 1863, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War. Background Confederate Gen. Rob ...

on May 3, 1863 during VI Corps' seizure of Marye's Heights during the Chancellorsville Campaign. Maxham carried the regiment's colors and despite severe wounds planted them in the rebels' works. He is one of eight recipients of the Medal of Honor to be a member of the

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world. Its charter was granted in March 1638 by the Great and Gen ...

. On August 24, 1896, he received his Medal of Honor alongside his two regimental comrades, James Holehouse and James H. Luther. He married Annette A. King of Raynham (1845-1899) on January 1, 1866. After the war, he became an inventor, patenting designs for an automobile bumper and a

third rail A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...

for trolley cars. Maxham died on February 13, 1931. He is buried in the Mayflower Hill Cemetery in Taunton.

Medal of Honor citation

Legacy

Lowell M. Maxham Elementary School in

is named after him.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Maxham, Lowell M. 1841 births 1931 deaths American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Union Army soldiers People of Massachusetts in the American Civil War People from Carver, Massachusetts People from Taunton, Massachusetts