Lowry

The Last Will and Testament of Bridget Conley Lowry (1825-1904)

joelowry1982 1900s, Conley, Lowry, Paternal , , , , ,

Probate Court-August 6th 1904
Estate of Bridget Lowry
Deceased

The first part of Bridget Lowry’s last will and testament
The second page of Mary Lowry’s last will and testament, from the pages of the Columbiana County register of wills.

Be it remembered that heretofore to wit: August 6th 1904 came Michael Lowry Jr. and filed in the probate court of Columbiana County, Ohio. The last will and testament of Bridget Lowry, deceased, together with an application to admit the same to probate and a waiver of notice, which will, application and waiver are as follows, to wit:

In the name of the Beloved Father of all. Amen: I, Bridget Lowry of the City of Leetonia, Columbiana County, Ohio, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish, and declare this to be my last will and testament.

First: My wish is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as after my death as possible.

Second: I give and bequeathe to my beloved son Michael Lowry a life interest in and to the following described property: situated in the village of Leetonia, County of Columbiana, Ohio and known as being North end of [Grancel] East part of lot No. 725 (New number) in the village of Leetonia, Ohio, and which is of a depth of Eighty (80) feet from North boundary of said lot No. 725 in said Village of Leetonia, Ohio. also a life interest in the following described piece of property situated in the Village of Leetonia in the County of Columbiana in the State of Ohio, being known as Lot No. 722 [ed: 712?] as n ew numbered in the town plat of Leetonia formerly known as sub lot No. 15 in lot No. 11 in said village. And after the death of the said Michael Lowry, I give and bequeathe to the said children of Michael Lowry, to wit Maggie Lowry, Anastasia Lowry, Edward Lowry, Charles Lowry, and Raymond Lowry, both of the above described pieces of property, each to take share and share alike.

Third: I give and bequeathe to my beloved husband, Michael Lowry, a life interest in and to the following described property, situated in the township of Salem, County of Columbiana and state of Ohio, and known as being lots numbers 22,23 in John Clapsaddles second addition to Leetonia (New Nos. 934 and 935) and after the death of my husband, I give and bequeath the said property in fee simple to my beloved children Michael Lowry, Edward Lowry, Margaret Lowry, and Ann Connors each to take share and share alike.

Fourth: It is my wish that the following described property be sold after my death and the proceeds be devoted toward the payment of my funeral expenses, said property being described as follows. To wit: situated in Salem Township, Columbiana County, and State – and known as being lots No. 14 and 15 in John Betz’s second addition of lots in Leetonia and in order that said property may be sold with as little expense as possible. I authorize and impower my executor herein to make all necessary deeds and papers for said transfer.

Fifth: It is my wish and I hereby command my children and grandchildren to give to the pastor of St. Patricks Church of Leetonia, Ohio, the sum of twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars to be used for the purpose of celebrating Mass for the repose of my soul.

Sixth: I hereby appoint and nominate my beloved son, Michael Lowry executor of my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand 1st day of August A.D. 1902.
Bridget X Lowry
Her Mark

Source:

Columbiana County, Ohio, Record of Wills, Last will and testament of Bridget Lowry, pg. 69, 6 Aug 1904; “Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-27622-28206-36?cc=1992421&wc=S24N-3TP:266278701,268149001 : accessed 9 Mar 2025), Wills 1903-1905 vol 19-20, image 395 of 658.

Memories of Ice Cream with Grandpa

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal , , , ,

I don’t know if there’s a genetic trait that would show a love of ice cream, but if there is, the Lowrys have it. Maybe it started with my grandfather Chuck Lowry who owned a custard stand starting in the 1940s.

I grew up on the north side of Youngstown, just two blocks from the Dairy Queen at Belmont Avenue and Tod Lane, across from North Side Pool. DQ was always a favorite. Grandpa would, with little to no notice, come pick my sisters and I up and we would pile into his Buick for a trip up the street. Usually my cousins around the corner were already in the car, so it was grandpa and six grandkids (with not enough seatbelts) for the 2 minute ride. He liked to keep things simple. The options were a banana cone, vanilla cone, or a dilly bar. No flurries, Blizzards, or sundaes. We’d get our treats and hang around Dairy Queen or pile back in for the trip home to eat in the driveway. I loved going to that (now closed) DQ on a summer evening. With the pool across the street, there was always a buzz there. I’ve told my wife and parents probably 100 times that there’s no place like that where I live now in Northern Virginia that even comes close.

My uncle Chuck shared a funny story of ice cream with his dad, who, for sake of the story, I should note was diabetic.

I went to 607 from NYC on one trip, and after about five minutes I got the “C’mon, let’s go for a ride.” Of course, after a couple stops, he wanted to go to Handel’s.

“You shouldn’t be eating that stuff.”

“Oh no, the doctor checks my numbers all the time and they are good. He says a cone every week or ten days is no problem, and I haven’t been there for at least two weeks now.”

Of course, I gave in. Later that day, Kathy came by. She talked to dad for a while, and then she came out to the kitchen, where I was fixing dinner. She said, “I feel bad because I let daddy talk me into taking him to Handel’s yesterday.”

He should have been a con man!

I’ll leave the stories there while I get some ice cream from the freezer.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – The Amigos

joelowry1982 1910s, Lowry, McSweeney, Paternal, Wordless Wednesday

Joe – Chas – Eddie – Ode [?]

These boys were prowling the mean streets of Salem, Ohio, around 1917 when this image was made. Three of them are known, Joe McSweeney, Chas Lowry, and his brother Eddie Lowry. The man on the right is unknown, with the inscription reading something similar to Ode. McSweeney was Chas and Eddie’s brother-in-law and their sister Anastasia’s husband.

Source:
Joe – Chas- Eddie – Ode [?], photograph, taken in Salem, Ohio, around 1917; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2015 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary Lowry, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio; Four men wearing 1910’s era clothing standing with their hands in their pockets; Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary Lowry.

G.I.’s at Billings Get Typing Course

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Military, Newspapers

This newspaper clipping was among a collection of documents from my grandfather Chuck Lowry’s time in the Army. He is shown taking a typing class at Billings General Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Billings was an Army hospital where he spent nearly a year recovering from wounds sustained near Brest, France in August 1944.

Although I had the clipping, I didn’t know the newspaper or date of publication. I popped over to Newspapers.com and searched “Cleo Frazier” to see if I could get a hit. I got about 1,500. I narrowed it down to 1945 and only had to scan about 50 before I located the article in the Indianapolis News from September 5, 1945. Even with the war now over, Pfc. Charles J. Lowry is still in the Army recovering. Not only that, but I learned what he was doing on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. during what I can imagine was a mundane routine at the hospital.

Of interest was Miss Cleo Frazier. Through the same search, I discovered she was a teacher at a local high school volunteering her time in the hospital. In 1937, she was in China when they were invaded by Japan. She left Shanghai three days before it was bombed, speaking of her experience before a meeting of the Business and Professional Womens Club in Indianapolis.

Sources:

“G.I.’s at Billings Get Typing Course,” The Indianapolis News, 5 September 1945, pg 12, col 1; digital images, (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 Aug 2023), Newspapers.com.

“Miss Frazier to Speak,” The Indianapolis News, 30 September 1945, pg 10, col 1; digital images, (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 Aug 2023), Newspapers.com.

“Manual Teacher Kept Busy,” newspaper clipping, unknown date and newspaper; personal collection of Joe Lowry, address for personal use.

Census Sunday: The 1950 U.S. Census has been released!

joelowry1982 1950s, Census Sunday, Lowry, Paternal

Federal law protects information collected in the United States Census for 72 years. How they came to that number is unknown, but it does mean that on April 1, 2022, the 1950 U.S. Census was released to the public. Each census occurs on a day, and the 1950 Census occurred on April 1, 1950. Even if the enumerator visited a house on April 4, the information collected was supposed to reflect April 1. If they visited on the 4th, and a newborn was born on April 2, they shouldn’t be included.

When the census was released on Archives.gov, they made available the individual sheets that were used to collect the data, also known as Form P1: 1950 Census of Population and Housing. It includes, among other things, a person’s address, name, age, race, sex, work status, occupation, and type of industry they worked. For many Baby Boomers born immediately after World War II, this is the first time they will appear in the census.

1950 U.S. Census for my uncle Chuck Lowry, my grandparents Chuck and Jean Lowry, and his parents, Charles and Mary Lowry (lines 22-26).

Enumeration District 100-16 in Ohio included the streets of Hanley, Zents, and Thornton, between Wick and Logan on Youngstown’s North Side. This district of just a few streets led to the creation of 21 pages of data by an enumerator who walked each street and spoke with a household member.

In 1950, my grandfather Chuck Lowry lived at 1437 Wick Ave with his wife Jean and their son, Charles. This was his first appearance in a census. Next door, at 1439 Wick, was Chuck’s parents, Charles E and Mary Lowry. They both lived next door to the McGoverns, at 1435, who would be lifelong friends. Interestingly, around the corner at 46 Hanley was the family of Clarence Lowry, but they are of no relation.

State: Ohio
County: Mahoning
Incorporated Place or Township: Youngstown
E.D. Number: 100-16
Date Sheet Started: April 1
Enumerators Signature: Howard Dilley
Checked By: R.E. Myelott on Apr 6, 1950
Sheet No. 3

Line 22
1427 Thornton
Dwelling 24
Not a farm and not on 3 or more acres

Lowry, Charles J, head, white, male, 25 years old, married, born in Ohio; works 40 hours a week as a special delivery messenger for the Post Office. Government employee.

” Mary J, wife, white, female, 25 years old, married, born in Ohio; keeping house, not working, not looking for work, does not have a job outside the home

” Charles J, son, white, male, Nov [born in Nov, meaning he was only 6 months old], never married, born in Ohio.

Line 25
1429 Thornton
Dwelling 25
Not a farm and not on 3 or more acres

Lowry, Charles E, head, white, male, 50 years old, married, born in Ohio; works as an analyst in the rolling steel mill. Private sector employee.

” Mary, wife, white, female, 47 years old, married, born in Pennsylvania; keeping house, not working, not looking for work, does not have a job outside the home

Source:

1950 U.S. Federal Census, Mahoning County, Youngstown, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 100-16, sheet 3, dwelling 24 and 25, households of Charles J. Lowry (24) and Charles E. Lowry (25); digital image, Archives.gov (https://1950census.archives.gov/ : accessed 1 Apr 2022).

Census Sunday – 1900 U.S. Census for Michael Lowry Jr. and Family

joelowry1982 1910s, Census Sunday, Lowry, Paternal
Michael_LowryJr_1910_USCensus_Ancestry
The 1910 Census record for Michael Lowry, Jr. and his family shows a family that was busy with school while the father worked in the coal mine. My great great grandfather Michael was 45 years old in 1910, working at least part time in the mine. He was out of work for 20 weeks in the preceeding year, but we don’t know is that was due to the unreliable work availability or perhaps a strike action that kept the men out of the mines. Mike’s wife, Annie, kept the home with six children. The oldest girls, Margaret and Anastasia, no doubt helped tend to the little ones. Otherwise, the family was busy with schoolwork. The five oldest were all in school, while the youngest, 4-year old Helen, was still at home.

State: Ohio
County: Columbiana
Township: Salem
Name of Incorporated Place: Leetonia
Ward of the City: North Precinct
Enumerated by me on the 16th of April
Thomas P. Samson, Enumerator

Supervisor’s District: 17
Enumeration District: 50
Sheet No. 3B

Dwelling No. 87
Family No. 84

Address: W. Main Street (no house number written)

Lowrey, Michael, head, male, white, 45 years old, 1st marriage, married 20 years. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ireland. Mother born in Ireland. Speaks English. Works as a coal miner. Is not out of work; out of work 20 weeks in 1909. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Owns the home, but has a mortgage.

” Annie, wife, female, white, 40 years old, 1st marriage, married 20 years. 6 children born, 6 still living. Born in Germany. Father born in Germany. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes.

” Margaret, daughter, female, white, 18 years old, single. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.

” Anastatia, daughter, female, white, 16 years old, single. Born in Pennsylvania. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.

” Edward, son, male, white, 13 years old. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.

” Charles, son, male, white, 11 years old. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.

” Raymond, son, male, white, 8 years old. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.

” Helen, daughter, female, white, 4 years old. Born in Ohio. Father born in Ohio. Mother born in Germany. Speaks English. Not employed. Can read: No. Can write: No. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: No.

Source:
1910 U.S. Federal Census, Columbiana County, Salem, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 50 sheet 3B, dwelling 87, family 84, household of Michael Lowry; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2022), FHL microfilm 1375175, citing NARA publication  T624_1162.

Photo of the Day – February 13, 2022

joelowry1982 1960s, Lowry, Paternal, POTD
My grandpa Chuck Lowry (1924-2007) with his dear friends, Marion and Bob McDermott. Bob was a captain on the Youngstown Fire Department. Chuck was working for the Post Office. The Lowrys and McDermotts traveled quite a bit together. I have photos of several trips to Florida. I don’t know where this image was taken, but certainly has the feel of a historical site.

The Washingtonville Tavern

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal

lowry_marymccaffrey_pepperneycollection_snip

My Aunt Mary recently passed to my father a collection of family photos. While many were some I have seen before, this image was entirely new and entirely wonderful. On first glance, I didn’t recognize the setting or the vast majority of the men and boys, but two characters stood out. On the far left is my third great grandfather Michael Lowry and next to him stands my second great grandfather, also Michael Lowry in the white shirt and suspenders.

Upon showing the image to my dad and commenting how incredible it was, he stated that Michael (which one we don’t know) owned a tavern in Washingtonville, a small hamlet just a few blocks north of Leetonia in Columbiana County, Ohio.

I’ve searched a number of places to locate more information on this tavern, including studying Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, county directories, a history of Leisy Beer, and newspapers. Nothing about Michael Lowry indicated that he owned a tavern until I showed my dad the picture. I am unable to locate more but I know there’s a story here so I will keep digging!

Source:
The Washingtonville Tavern, photograph, taken in Washingtonville, Columbiana [or possibly Mahoning], Ohio, in early 1900s; digital image, scan of original, scanned in 2017 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Patrick Lowry, [address for private use], Poland, Ohio; Five adult men and four young boys standing in front of tavern with Leisy Beer signs; Provenance is Michael Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey to Patrick Lowry.

Ralph Lowry: A Fisher(y) of Men

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal

In my quest to document the life of Ralph Lowry, my first cousin, 3x removed and the U.S. Government’s chief engineer on many Western dam projects, I found this newspaper article posted above.

In part, it reads that in 1949, a plaque was placed at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery to recognize Ralph’s part in the creation of the fishery. Located about 35 miles from the Shasta Dam project that Ralph also built, the hatchery was created because the dam impacted the ability of the salmon to reach their natural spawning grounds.

Thanks to the power of the internet, I emailed Brett Galyean, the Acting Project Leader who runs the hatchery, to inquire about the plaque. He provided these two photos, showing the plaque next to the flag pole in front of the match hatchery building and a close-up.

My thanks to Brett for the extra effort. Another piece of Lowry history found!

Sources:
“Plaque Honors S.M. Engineer,” The [San Mateo, CA] Times, 22 Dec 1949, pg 7, col 1; digital image, (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 Aug 2016), Newspapers.com

Brett Galyean, Coleman National Fish Hatchery, Anderson, California, [e-mail for private use], to Joseph Lowry, 16 Aug 2016, “Plaque at Coleman Hatchery,” Local Folders: Genealogy : Lowry Genealogy; privately held by Joe Lowry, [e-mail &address for private use], Sterling, VA, 20165.