Paternal

Death Certificate of James A. Rogan

joelowry1982 1930s, Death Certificate, Paternal, Rogan
My 2nd great grandfather James Rogan died on 21 April 1938 at 78 years of age. His death certificate tells a lot about both how he lived and how he died. He was born in Aurora, New York to James Rogan and Esther Callahan. He was a second generation American, as both his father and mother were born in Ireland. His primary occupation was in the steel mills, although what he actually did is not discernible.
The last months of his life were no doubt difficult both for him and his family. He suffered a serious fall on 10 January 1938, which led to a fracture of his right femur (thighbone). The femur is the largest bone in the human body, and it takes significant force to break. Breaks of the femur and the hip to which it connects can have significantly detrimental effects to the lifespan of the elderly, who suddenly lose all mobility. About 10% of people who break their hip die within the first 30 days. That number increases dramatically if there are other complications, including pneumonia, heart trouble, or another acute medical problem. In James’s case, he suffered a pulmonary embolism, no doubt brought on in part by his sudden immobility.
At the time of his death, he was being cared for at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown but was previously living in the home of Catherine Rogan. His final arrangements were handled by D. A. McVean in Youngstown, long considered the Lowry family funeral home. However, he was a long time resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and that is where he is buried.

Click to enlarge.

Source:
“Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21757-24359-29?cc=1307272 : accessed 09 Sep 2014), James Rogan, 1938; citing Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio, reference fn 24019; FHL microfilm 2023561.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Ray

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal, Wordless Wednesday
This is my great grand uncle Raymond F Lowry. He was born on 17 Feb 1902 in Salem, Ohio, the youngest son of Michael and Bridget Lowry. He lived his entire life in Columbiana County, in either Salem or Leetonia. He died in Salem on 2 Mar 1977.
Because of the age of these photos, dating to the early 1920s, many of them did not scan well because the paper had curled or became wavy.

Treasure Chest Thursday – Happy Birthday Dad!

joelowry1982 Lowry, Paternal, Treasure Chest Thursday
August 28, 1957 was perhaps a slow news day, unless you were in Salem, Ohio in which case the paparazzi were probably out in full force covering this event. Does it get any more exciting than when “refreshments were served, and the rest of the afternoon was spent visiting?” 
Today is my dad’s birthday, and he’s now a few years older than six but his birthday still warrants a few inches of ink. You don’t see too many birthday parties for 6-year olds in the newspaper, so this was a great find. When I first shared this, my dad claimed to have never seen it so I’m glad I could dig this out of the family archives.
So happy birthday dad! Here’s to many more!
Source:
“Patrick Lowry Feted on Sixth Birthday,” 28 August 1957, from Salem News; Joe [name removed for privacy reasons] collection, provided by estate of Charles J. Lowry; privately held by Joe [name removed for privacy reasons, address for private use], Sterling, Virginia.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Lowry Men

joelowry1982 1920s, Lowry, Paternal
I have scanned so many photos that sometimes I glance over one that in fact reveals so much or at least is interesting as I try and discover my ancestors. Such is the case of this photo which is only the second unique picture I have showing my great great grandfather Michael Lowry and his father, also Michael Lowry. Based on their age in a newer photo I have of them from 1928, I would date this photo to the early 1920s. Many images in this collection are of the same time period.
The elder Michael was born in County Westmeath, Ireland in 1830. He emigrated to the United States around 1850 and worked most of his life as miner, first in central Pennsylvania and later in Leetonia, Ohio. I continue to search for leads to help me better understand his life. He left Ireland in 1850, at the height of the Irish potato famine. Crammed onto ‘coffin ships’, he probably crossed the Atlantic with a few hundred other souls, some infected with typhus and cholera. He died in 1928. His son Michael was born in 1868 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was also a miner. He died in 1949 in Leetonia after a nearly 12 year illness, probably caused by a stroke.
Source:
Michael Lowry, Sr. (1830 – 1928) and Michael Lowry, Jr., (1868-1949), photograph, taken in Columbiana County, Ohio; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio; Two men wearing hats and sitting on chairs; Provenance is Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey, with prior to Charles unknown.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – 25th Wedding Anniversary

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal, Wordless Wednesday
This photo, very clearly labeled, identifies my great grandparents 25th wedding anniversary. Charles and Margaret Lowry were married on August 22, 1922 in Leetonia, Ohio by Father D.B. Kirby in Saint Patrick Catholic Church. In 1947, they were happily married for 25 years and celebrated with my grandfather and their only son, Chuck, who was 22 years old at the time.

Tombstone Tuesday – John Connor

joelowry1982 Connor, Lowry, Paternal, Tombstone
John A. Connor was my 2nd great grand uncle, and the husband of Anna E Lowry. Anna was one of Michael Lowry’s (1830 – 1928) daughters. John was born in 1858 in Ireland and arrived through New York City on 11 Nov 1873. He married Anna in 1875 and they lived the remainder of their lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Together they had seven children. John died in 1907 and is buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in New Castle. 

We interrupt this broadcast…

joelowry1982 A message from the blogger..., Maternal, Paternal

I’ve been pretty lax posting to the blog lately, and actually I haven’t done much genealogy at all of late. Aside from participating in one webinar and reading a few genealogy articles, I’ve done little to further my own research in the last month. While I have a four month old at home, the current cause of my near abandonment of this hobby is work. My boss recently moved on and a replacement hasn’t been named, so for the last three months I’ve been doing two jobs and will for the foreseeable future.

While I didn’t used to sit at work all day and do genealogy, I did use downtime in the office to sketch out blog posts and ideas for research. I have nearly zero downtime now so it’s a lot harder than it used to be. I love this blog and genealogy in general, so I will certainly find a way to carve out some time to post some new family tidbits. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t see them as often as you used to.

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