Decades

Photo of the Day – January 25, 2015

joelowry1982 1990s, Maternal, POTD, Witt
If I had to guess, I would place this photo in the summer of 1991. In the photo are grandmother Barb Viti and five of her grandchildren, (l to r) Mark Witt in her arms (I presume based on the age and others in the photo), Christian Witt, Melanie Witt, Michelle Dockry and Danny Witt. This may have been taken at the home of my uncle Charlie Witt near Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Can someone confirm that for me?
Source:
Barbara Wolford Witt Viti, Mark Witt, Christian Witt, Melanie Witt, Michelle Dockry and Daniel Witt., photograph, taken at unknown location, in about 1991; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Marie Dockry, [address for private use], Austintown, Ohio. Grandmother holding one grandchild and surrounded by four more. Provenance is Marie Dockry to Joseph Lowry.

Photo of the Day – January 24, 2015

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD

This is a fun photo of my grandfather as an infant sitting on a blanket looking curiously at the kitten next to him. As he was born in November 1924, I believe this photo was taken in late winter/early spring 1925 based on the snowsuit-like outfit he’s wearing. If he was any older, he could double as Ralphie’s brother in ‘A Christmas Story.’

Source:
Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), photograph, taken at unknown location in 1925; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Infant sitting on blanket with dark colored cat. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 23, 2015

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD
Helen Lowry was my great grand aunt, the youngest sibling of my great grandfather Charles E. Lowry. She was born in Salem, Ohio in 1906 and in 1929 married Lawrence Murphy. She lived most, if not all of her life in the Salem area and died in 1991. This photo probably dates to the early 1920s. Helen would have been in her mid to late teens.

Source:
Helen Lowry Murphy (1906-1991), photograph, taken at unknown location in early 1920s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Posed portrait of a young woman in a dark top and short hair. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 22, 2015

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal, Pepperney, POTD

My grandfather Chuck Lowry was home on leave from the Army in mid-June 1944. After being drafted, he completed basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida and was given approximately two weeks off before he was to report to Fort Meade, Maryland. While on leave, I believe he traveled from Youngstown to Leetonia, Ohio to visit with his grandfather and aunts Eleanor and Katherine Pepperney. I believe this photo was taken in their backyard. He reported to Fort Meade on June 30, 1944.

Source:
Eleanor Pepperney (1912-1951), Charles Lowry (1924-2007), and Katherine Pepperney (1910-1978), photograph, taken at unknown location, possibly Leetonia, Ohio, in 1944; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. One man in service uniform and two woman standing in backyard. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 21, 2015

joelowry1982 1990s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD
This is all of my first cousins except two, who were not yet born when this photo was taken. In the back are Kelly and JP Heydle, Laura Lowry, me, my sister Caroline, Michael Lowry, and Katie Lowry. On the slide are James Lowry, Sara Lowry, Jeannie and Jen Kroynovich, my sister Colleen and Kaitlyn Lowry. It took me typing this caption to realize that we are all arranged in order of age. The youngest person in this picture, Kaitlyn, is 23 years old, making this photo about 20 years old.

Source:

The Lowry cousins, photograph, taken at unknown location around 1994; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Thirteen children standing on and around a slide. Provenance is Mary McCaffrey to Joe Lowry.

Photo of the Day – January 20, 2015

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal, Pepperney, POTD
Someone took a quick snap of my great grandmother Margaret Pepperney Lowry as she was standing on the sidewalk. I believe this was taken in the mid-1940s. I’ll need to check with my dad where he thinks this may have been taken. I would also love to know more about the car. If you can identify the make and model, please leave a comment!

Source:
Mary Pepperney Lowry (1902-1980), photograph, taken at unknown location in mid-1940s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Family of three standing in the backyard. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 19, 2015

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal, Pepperney, POTD
This is such a cute family moment, not too different from what Eileen and I have had recently with Brendan. It looks to me that my grandpa Chuck Lowry is about seven or eight months old and my great grandmother is trying to get him to laugh. (As I can’t see that person’s face, I’m going to assume it’s her.) Great grandpa is having a good laugh at the moment. This candid is a nice change or pace from the staged shots I have so many of.

Source:
Charles Lowry (1924-2007), Charles Lowry (1899-1975) and Margaret Pepperney Lowry (1902-1980), photograph, taken at unknown location around 1925; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Family of three standing in the backyard. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Death Certificate of Elisabeth Louise Kreher Witt

joelowry1982 1930s, Death Certificate, Kreher, Maternal, Witt
Click to enlarge.
Elizabeth Louise Kreher Witt, or as it appears on the above, Mrs. Elizabeth Witt, is my 3rd great grandmother. She was born on 22 March 1840 in Herman Township, Butler, Pennsylvania and died at the age of 89 (or specifically, 89 years, 9 months and 15 days) on 13 January 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her husband Martin preceded her in death by nine years.
From this death certificate, we know that her father was Chris Kreher and her mother was Anna Hause, both born in Germany. She died from arteriosclerosis, having been under a doctor’s care for the last few days of her life. Her son Martin Witt served as the informant of her death and McCabe Brothers Funeral Home handled the arrangements. (They remain a Pittsburgh-area funeral home however their location at 3520 Butler Street is no more.) Elizabeth was buried on 15 January 1930 at Mount Carmel Cemetery in the Penn Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Source:
“Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906 – 1963,” index and images, Ancestry.com, accessed 18 Jan 2015, Elizabeth Witt, 1930; 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/.

Photo of the Day – January 18, 2015

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD
Once again I have a mystery to solve. I know the little boy on the left is my grandfather Chuck Lowry. He was probably two or three years old at the time; the bobbed hair certainly places this photo before the summer of 1928 when my great grandparents had it cut in favor of a more traditional hairstyle for a little boy. 
The mystery is in identifying the two girls in the photo. I have no idea who they might be. Obviously they are older than my grandfather. Perhaps they are neighbors or cousins? I will add them to the list of people I want to identify. The longer I do this Photo of the Day project, the longer that list grows.

Source:
Charles Lowry (1924-2007) and two unknown girls, photograph, taken at unknown location around 1927; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Three children standing on the steps of a home; two girls wearing hats. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 17, 2015

joelowry1982 1980s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD

My grandparents Chuck and Jean Lowry loved to travel, which was easier said than done with 11 children. Once their kids were older, they often traveled with friends to Florida. I don’t know exactly where this photo was taken, but the trees and horse statue don’t make me think Florida. I’m going to have to ask around to figure this one out. I’m guessing this was taken in the early 1980s.

Source:
Charles (1924-2007) and Jean (1924-1987) Lowry, photograph, taken at unknown location in early 1980s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Pat Lowry, [address for private use], Poland, Ohio. Couple standing in front of shrubbery, horse statue and white Colonial structure. Provenance is Charles Lowry to Patrick Lowry.