Author: joelowry1982

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Family on Ohio Avenue

joelowry1982 Maternal, Witt, Wordless Wednesday
This photo was taken around 1990 on Ohio Avenue in Youngstown. My grandmother Barb Witt, my uncle Chris Witt, my parents and my sister Caroline all posed at a family get-together. I don’t recall the occasion, however. I’m also not 100% certain of the location. This was either in front of an apartment my grandmother was living at or a block over in front of the home of Mary Catherine and Irving Sanders, first cousin’s 2x removed (but affectionately called aunt and uncle by family). Aunt Mary Catherine provided this photo.

Source:
Patrick, Rebecca, Joseph and Caroline Lowry, Barbara Witt and Christopher Witt, photograph, taken on Ohio Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio. digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2014 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Joseph Lowry, [address for private use], Sterling, VA. Six individuals standing in front of door. Provenance is Mary Catherine Sanders to Joseph Lowry.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Flirting

joelowry1982 Paternal, Wordless Wednesday
I can only imagine what’s going on here! This is my grandfather Chuck Lowry flirting with Alberta McHenry. Alberta was my grandfather’s high school sweetheart. She was a 1943 Ursuline High School graduated; my grandfather was a 1942 grad. I have numerous photos of the two of them together. They started dating around 1942 and split up around 1945, before he started dating my grandmother. While it’s a little weird to think of my grandfather with someone other than my grandmother, we have to remember that most of us dated other people before finding the love of our lives. With Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, some of today’s short-lived romances will be even better documented than those from 60 years ago that exist as just a few 3×3 Kodak prints.

Treasure Chest Thursday – Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906 – 1924

joelowry1982 Bahle, Death Certificate, Paternal, Pepperney, Treasure Chest Thursday

Is it mean to say I am glad so many of my ancestors died in Pennsylvania between 1906 and 1924? While tragic perhaps, it’s fortunate that these records have recently been made available through Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com releases new record groups all the time. Some are indexed, meaning searchable by name, while others are simply images which require manually looking through sometimes thousands of scanned images to find the one you need.

“Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906 – 1924” was released this week and contains thousands of death certificates not otherwise easily obtained. I have numerous ancestors who lived in Pennsylvania in this time period, including Pepperneys and Bahles. I did a quick surname search for Pepperney and found six records, all of relatives. This includes two for children I did not know previously existed. Suddenly, thanks to Ancestry.com’s reach and my subscription fee, I had access to the death certificates for:

  • Margaret Buhl Pepperney (21 Apr 1851 – 23 Feb 1923) who is my 3rd great grandmother
  • Grace Rosina Kreller Pepperney (1876 – 22 Jan 1911) is the wife of my 2nd great grand uncle and Margaret’s daughter-in-law
  • Lawrence A Pepperney Sr. (1883 – 13 Sep 1920) is my 2nd great grand uncle who was tragically struck by a train while working on the railroad
  • Stella Sophia Pepperney (1889 – 1919) who died during the Spanish flu epidemic
  • Infant Pepperney (16 Apr 1915) was stillborn. I was not aware of this child until I searched this record group
  • William A Pepperney (1919 – 31 Mar 1921) is my 3rd cousin, 1x removed and is another child I was not aware of. I perhaps should have been as I imagine he is listed in the 1920 census, but he is distant enough that I had not checked that record yet for his family.
And that’s no doubt all of the family records suddenly available. A search of Bahle, the surname of George Peter Pepperney’s wife, Mary Anna, turns up 15 records. Bahle and Pepperney are both relatively unique names, so I can be more confident in the results than if I had searched Smith. However, I have not done as much research on the Bahle family so while I see some family death certificates, there are some I am not sure of.
Death certificate of my 3rd great grandmother Henrietta Schnauffer
Access to these death records is just one way I am able to piece together our family history. Unfortunately, not everything is found as easily as these and not everything is online. The documents available online through Ancestry.com, Familysearch.com, and other genealogical websites is a small fraction of the genealogical documents out there. Finding others requires countless hours of research in libraries, archives and courthouses. Still, I am excited when a new collection is released online saving me and other researchers those countless hours of searching.
Sources

“Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906 – 1924,” index and images, Ancestry.com, accessed 30 Apr 2014, Margaret Pepperney, 1923; citing reference Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/.

“Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906 – 1924” index and images, Ancestry.com, accessed 30 Apr 2014, Henrietta Bahle, 1921; citing reference Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/.

Another Branch To My Family Tree

joelowry1982 A message from the blogger..., Maternal, Paternal
You haven’t seen much from the blog this month, but that’s because the Lowry family has been super busy taking care of its newest member. Brendan Francis Lowry was born to Eileen and I on April 16 at 10:55 p.m. at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Ashburn, Virginia. He tipped the scales at 9lbs, 5 oz. and was 21 inches long. Both mom and baby are fantastically healthy. Brendan is even just two ounces shy of his birth weight after just 10 days. He’s going to be quite the bruiser!
Many people have asked Eileen and I how we chose his name, a STRONG Irish one at that. It was not an easy process. Most people know that we weren’t certain whether we were having a boy or a girl. It made things twice as hard as we needed to come up with both boy and girl names. We both were partial to Irish names but looked online and in name books for some time before we settled on our choices. Frankly, we just liked the way Brendan sounded. Once we started saying it, “Brendan Lowry… Brendan Lowry…,” we really liked it. Our girls name is still a secret to most; it’s being reserved for a future daughter. As for his middle name, Francis is a family name. It was Eileen’s father’s middle name and a name shared by my great grandfather Francis Witt and his son, my great uncle.
Except when he’s hungry, Brendan is the most content, chill child I’ve ever seen. He loves to be held and rocked, enjoys a good nap (as evidenced by most of these photos) and has what I assume to be a deep appreciation for Bruce Springsteen. Everyday is a new adventure. Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and thoughts. We couldn’t be more in love with this child.

 

I hope to resume to my normal blogging schedule in the coming weeks. First I need to catch up on sleep…

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – A look at the new baby Lowry!

joelowry1982 Lowry, Maternal, Paternal, Wordless Wednesday
So first, an admission. The subject of this post is only to help drive traffic to my site. Surely a ruse, but if are reading this, it worked. There is not yet a new Lowry in my family, but we are days, hours or minutes away we hope.
This photo was taken in November 1988 shortly after my sister Colleen was born. I was six years old and Caroline five. This photo was taken in the den of our house on Dennick Ave. Colleen is hanging out in a bouncy chair that today would probably be suspect with safety inspectors. At least it has some type of strap to keep her locked in. I’m sporting my favorite Mickey Mouse pajamas and holding ‘Pillow’ (Pillow still exists, albeit in a poorer form). And as Colleen reminded me in the comments, Caroline’s beloved doll Jennifer Maggie is on the couch. Three siblings, two treasured items from our childhood, one photo. I’ve recently started to rewatch one of my favorite childhood shows, The Wonder Years, so I will close this post with this…
Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you’re in diapers, the next day you’re gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place, a town, a house, like a lot of houses. A yard like a lot of other yards. On a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back… with wonder.
*End Scene*

Census Sunday – 1920 U.S. Census for Michael Lowry and Family

joelowry1982 Census Sunday, Lowry, McSweeney, Paternal
The Fourteenth Census of the United States (1920) found the Lowrys living in Leetonia, Ohio. The previous seventy years took the Lowry family from Westmeath, Ireland to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to Salem and then Leetonia, Ohio. After 1920, we would further find ourselves in Youngstown and then spread across the United States to major metropolitans like Houston, New York and Washington. But in 1920, we are in Leetonia with four generations under one roof starting with 80-year old Michael Lowry Sr. down to his great grandchild, the 1-year old Joseph McSweeney.

State: Ohio
County: Columbiana
Enumeration District: 137
Sheet No.: 4B
City/Township: Salem Township, Leetonia Village
Address: 184

Lowry Jr., Michael, head, house Owned, Free without Mortgage, male, white, 49 years old, married, able to read and write, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ireland (native tongue Irish), mother born in Ireland (native tongue Irish), is able to speak English. Trade or occupation listed as ‘none’.

”, Annie, wife, female, white, 50 years old, married, immigrated in 1873, Naturalized in 1877, able to read and write, born in Bavaria (Ger) (native tongue German), father born in Bavaria (native tongue German), mother born in German (native tongue German), is able to speak English. Trade or occupation listed as ‘none’.

”, Edward, son, male, white, 23 years old, single, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Bavaria (Ger) (native tongue German), able to speak English, machinist in a machine shop.

”, Charles, son, male, white, 20 years old, single, has not attended school since Sept. 1, 1919, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Bavaria (Ger) (native tongue German), able to speak English, chemist in a steel plant.

”, Raymond, son, male, white, 17 years old, single, has not attended school since Sept. 1, 1919, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Bavaria (Ger) (native tongue German), able to speak English, apprentice in a machine shop.

”, Helen, daughter, female, white, 13 years old, single, has attended school since Sept. 1, 1919, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Bavaria (Ger) (native tongue German), able to speak English, not employed.

”, Michael Sr., father, male, white, 89 years old, widowed, immigrated in 1849, Naturalized in 186*, born in Ireland (native tongue Irish), father born in Ireland (native tongue Irish), mother born in Ireland (native tongue Irish), is able to speak English. Trade or occupation listed as ‘none’.

McSweeney, Jr., Joseph, grandson, male, white, 1 8/12 years old, single, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania. Trade or occupation listed as ‘none’.

Sources:
“United States Census, 1920,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDLY-931 : accessed 26 Dec 2012), Michael Lowry in household of Michael Lowry, Columbiana, Ohio; citing enumeration district (ED) 137, sheet 4B, family 83, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821356.

Treasure Chest Thursday – The Connection to Ireland

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal, Treasure Chest Thursday
I’ve mentioned numerous times on the blog about the genealogy community reaching out to help one another. Some are willing to help with  headstone photos, research questions, or just offer helpful hints and tricks. Through the magic of Facebook, I received an offer to help find the obituary for my 3rd great grandfather Michael Lowry. Mike has been the subject of much of my recent research, in part because he is my connection to Ireland.
Those who know me know that I have have a deep love of the Emerald Island. I studied at University College Dublin in 2002 and my wife and I spent seven days in Ireland during our honeymoon in 2009. While I am probably more German than Ireland, ethnically speaking, Ireland has always had a deep hold on me. Michael serves as that familial connection to Ireland on the Lowry side of the family. He was born in 1830 and lived his teenage years in the worst of the Irish famine. He left Ireland in 1850 at a time when millions of Irish men, women and children boarded boats for America, Canada, Australia and numerous other countries. Many did not care where they landed, as long as it was away from the oppressive policies of Great Britain that kept Irish Catholics starving and in poverty.
Since I identified Michael about two years ago, I knew he was the connection to Ireland but was not certain in what County he was born. His long sought-after obituary was the answer. A random question to the Columbiana County Genealogy Facebook group and an exchange of messages with a local researcher led to letter in my mailbox a few weeks later with Michael’s obituary.
Four generations of Lowry men just a few months before Michael’s death. Pictured are 98 year old Michael Lowry Sr., Michael Lowry Jr., Charles Lowry ‘Sr’ and Charles Lowry ‘Jr’. My grandfather wasn’t actually a junior because he and his father had different middle names, but he was called Junior when he was a child. Family photo from a collection belonging to my great grandmother Margaret Pepperney Lowry.
Of those details in the obituary, the most important was the location of County Westmeath as his probable place of birth. I say ‘probable’ for two reasons. First, the obituary was probably written with information provided by Michael Jr., who had never lived in or been to Ireland. Second, Michael Sr. lived in the United States for 78 years, which is an awfully long time for details to be forgotten, misremembered, or changed. Still, it’s the only location in Ireland I have and I will certainly use it as a starting block to help narrow further his place of birth. Perhaps I can determine the parish, townland or even the actual location of his home? More detailed research will be needed, including working with Irish records that are 164 years old. This sounds like a fun challenge to me!
County Westmeath.
Source: Wikipedia.
Used under a Creative Commons License.
OLD TIME RESIDENT DEAD
Michael Lowry Passes Away At Home of Son in Salem
Michael Lowry, Sr., 98 years of age, died at the home of his son, Michael Lowry Jr., 156 Roosevelt avenue, Salem, Wednesday evening at 9:30 of infirmities of old age. Mr. Lowry has made his home with his son for the past sixteen years.
Mr. Lowry was born, September 29, 1830 in County Weat’meath, Ireland. He came to American in 1850 and resided in Leetonia for many years prior to going to Salem.
Surviving are one son Michael Lowry, of Salem, and one daughter, Margaret Lanahan, of Ellwood City, Pa. Also 26 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic church, Leetonia, Saturday morning. Internment at Calvary Cemetery.

Source:
Michael Lowry obituary, Leetonia Reporter, Leetonia, Ohio, June 22, 1928, unknown page and volume, number 25.

Military Monday – The Photo Flip

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal
Sometime in 1944, my grandfather stood in front of a door in his Army service uniform and posed for a photo. I have no idea of the location (other than a street number of 227), date or photographer. While looking at the photo, I noticed that the address on the door was inverted. That, in addition to the dark exposure, led me to do some ‘fixin.’
Click to enlarge
The new photo is properly aligned, while leaving the cardboard frame as it. I’ve also lightened the photo just a bit to make it more clear.

Click to enlarge
Some may think I am altering a piece history, but I do believe that some minor alterations to damaged or poorly developed photos can help keep the image truer to what was intended.