Lowry

Military Monday – Basic Training Graduation Photos

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal

My grandfather Chuck Lowry graduated in 1944 as one of 800,000 new soldiers to complete Army Basic Training at Camp Blanding in Jacksonville, Florida. As is common still today, graduates of ‘basic’ take a formal portrait. It’s a chance to show off for parents and loved ones far away in a sharp looking Army uniform. Sadly, it’s the same photo we often see in the newspaper when a soldier is killed in action. My grandfather survived (barely) his combat experience in Northern France but had these two photos taken at Camp Blanding.

In this set of photos, he is shown wearing the uniform of a recruit private. His uniform includes the patch of the Army Training Command as well as the Marksmanship Qualification Badge, including Sharpshooter qualifications with a rifle, carbine and one additional weapon that can’t be read. He would go on to earn the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, campaign medals for the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater (with one service star) and American Campaign and the World War II Victory Medal.

Four Generations Once Again

joelowry1982 2010s, Four Generations, Lowry, Maternal, Paternal, Witt
I love photos showing four generations of my family. There are quite a few collecting on the blog here, here, here, here, and here. This is another taken two weeks ago at the baptism of my son. My grandmother Barb Viti is holding her great grandson Brendan Lowry with my mom and me on either side. I will feature Brendan’s baptism in an upcoming blog post.

Click to enlarge

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Eddie Lowry, Sr.

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal, Wordless Wednesday
Click to enlarge
Edward Martin ‘Eddie’ Lowry, Sr. is the brother of my great grandfather Charles Edward Lowry. He was born in Leetonia, Ohio on 8 Dec 1896 and died in Canton, Ohio on 17 May 1978. He married and had three children. He looks quite dapper in this clearly professional portrait, with the flowing necktie, pocket square and lit cigarette. I believe this image was taken in the early 1920’s. This was in a small collection of Lowry family photos I received from Aunt Mary, who inherited it from my grandfather, Eddie’s nephew Chuck.

Mystery Monday – Who Is Edna?

joelowry1982 Lowry, Mystery Monday, Paternal, Pepperney, Reiber
Update 3/14/2015:
While searching Ancestry.com, I discovered a picture of Edna Reiber on her wedding day. The picture is of a low quality and from a bit of a distance, but the similarities are enough that I believe it to be her. Edna Reiber is the sister-in-law of my 2nd great grand aunt Philamena Pepperney Reiber.
Original post:
This photo is from a collection of Lowry and Pepperney photos dating between 1915 and 1930. While the name ‘Edna’ is written across the top and bottom (more faintly), it’s not clear who Edna is. I have three Edna’s documented in my family tree and they are all on my maternal side, while the photo collection is on my paternal side. Perhaps over time I will find another Edna tucked in a branch somewhere.
Source:
Possibly Edna Reiber Ferry (1905-1986), photograph, taken unknown location probably in the mid/late 1920s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Portrait of woman with hair pulled back, white collar on blouse. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Census Sunday – 1860 U.S. Census for Michael Lowry and Family

joelowry1982 Census Sunday, Lowry, Paternal
The 1860 Census record for my 3rd great grandfather Michael Lowry is the oldest confirmed record I have of him. I also have an 1854 naturalization record for a Michael Lowry, but can’t confirm that it belongs to my Michael. In 1860, he was living as a coal miner in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Carbon Township is located in southern Huntingdon County, which itself is located in south central Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate any record prior to 1860 for Michael, which have to exist in some form as he is by this time already 30-years old and married with three children. At least two additional children would be born to Michael and his wife Bridget, including my second great grandfather Michael Jr.

State: Pennsylvania
County: Huntingdon
Township: Carbon Twp.
Enumeration District: 26
Enumerated by: E.L. Everhart, Asst. Marshal

Post Office: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Page 11

Dwelling-houses numbered in the order of visitation – 63

Families numbered in the order of visitation – 70
Michael Lowry, age 30, Male, Coal miner, no real estate or personal estate value, born in Ireland, not married within the year, did not attend school within the year, not a person over 20 years of age who cannot read or write
Bridget. ” , age 34, Female, born in Ireland, not married within the year, did not attend school within the year, is a person over 20 years of age who cannot read or write
Mary C. ” , age 6, Female, born in Pennsylvania, not married within the year, did not attend school within the year, person over 20 years of age who cannot read or write
Edward      ” , age 5, Male, born in Pennsylvania, not married within the year, did attend school within the year, not a person over 20 years of age who cannot read or write
Anna E  ” , age 3, Female, born in Pennsylvania, not married within the year, did attend school within the year, not a person over 20 years of age who cannot read or write

Source:
Michael household, 1860 U.S. census, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Carbon Township, page 327, dwelling 63, family 70; National Archives micropublication M653_1115. Page: 89; Image: 93. Ancestry.com; Link. Accessed 25 May 2014.

(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.