Samuel O. W. Lowry

SAMUEL O. W. LOWRY, a real estate dealer and general financial operator of the firm of Lowry & Boarts, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was born near the borough of Greensburg, July 4, 1843. Robert Lowry, father of Samuel O. W. Lowry, was born in the North of Ireland, and when he was but nine years of age came to Philadelphia with an uncle, having lost his father in early childhood. He learned the cloth weaver trade in Philadelphia. In 1839 he came to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, having married Nacy Thornton in Philadelphia. She was a native of Ireland, coming to America in her teens. Robert Lowry walked the entire distance from Philadelphia to this county and settled near New Alexandria, where he farmed with Samuel Patterson, of Derry township. Later he moved to Greensburg vicinity, where he farmed and hauled coal from a coal-pit. He died, in May, 1898, aged eighty-three years. Their children were : Mary Jane, born 1838, died May, 1905; she married George Lindsay ; Martha, born 1840, died 1868, married James H. Steel ; Margaret P. born 1842, married Joseph W. Steel, and died about 1900 ; Samuel O. W., born July 4, 1843 ; James N., born 1845, was killed July 10, 1864, at war ; Matilda, born 1847, married William Hice, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania ; Robert C., born 1849, died October 21, 1904, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and was buried at New Alexandria, Pennsylvania ; Agnes, born about 1851, married Rev. T. C. Sproul, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Elizabeth, born 1854, is single and resides at New Alexandria. 

Samuel O. W. Lowry was born July 4, 1843, obtained a good common school education in Westmoreland county, and then learned the trade of harnessmaker and saddler, which he followed for others and for himself for several years. He enlisted in the Union army, February 16, 1864, as a member of Company K, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Richard Coulter, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to the Fifth Army Corps, General G. K. Warren commanding, the Third Division commanded by General Crawford, and Second brigade, General Baxter, commanding. He saw much active service, having participated in nearly all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from the "Wilderness" fight to Lee's surrender at Appomattox, including those great engagements known in Civil war history as Spottsylvania (where his brother was killed), North Ann, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Virginia, and Hatch Run. He was at the grand review in Washington, in 1865, and returned without serious illness or any wounds. He resumed his harness trade a short time and then became a salesman for sewing machines on the road, continuing until 1874. He then embarked in the harness and saddle trade at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and followed that until 1887. He then embarked in the harness and saddle trade at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and followed that until 1887, when he removed to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, engaging in the same business and forming a partnership with E. N. Boats in 1901. He has numerous financial interests, making his a busy life. He is secretary and treasurer of the Greensburg Petroleum, Gas and Mining Company of Burkesville, Kentucky ; also connected with the Eli Sell General Merchandise Company. He is a stockholder and director in the Wilkinsburg Trust Company, besides real estate interests at McKeesport, Pennsylvania. His residence is on a twenty-five acre farm, well improved, adjoining the borough of Greensburg, where he enjoys the comforts of an independent life. Politically Mr. Lowry is a Republican. While a resident in McKeesport he served six years as member of the school board and the same period as member of the common council. He is an elder in the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Greensburg. He is a member of Colonel Samuel Black Post, No.,59, G. A. R., at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, of which he was the commander in 1897. 

Mr. Lowry married , May 11, 1871, M. Emma, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Reed) Patterson, both now deceased. Mrs. Lowry was born July 31, 1849. The children of this union are: Maggie Reed, born January, 1875, married George W. Rogers. Robert J. N., born August, 1878, killed by being thrown from a mail car, of which he was a United States postal clerk, March 18, 1905. He had served seven years in the United States navy department and was in the Spanish-American war. He had only been married two weeks when he lost his life. Thomas C., born June, 1880, still at home and associated with the Greensburg Review ; he was in the navy three years. Nancy T., born 1882, married George L. Pollins. Samuel W., born November 29, 1884, married Mae Randolph, September 1904, and they have Emma Grace, born November 15, 1905. Mary Emma, twin sister of Samuel, born November 29, 1884. Unlike many other prosperous business men Mr. Lowry believes in enjoying the profits of his business in home life and travel. With his wife and children he has made several extended tours through the south and west as far as the Pacific coast. Although sixty-two years of age he is scarcely taken for one of more than fifty-five. It may be added that he is a lover of his home and greatly attached to the children of his household, and it is his rule to present each one of his children with a gold watch upon the day they attain their majority. 

Source Pages 16 thru 18 History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906 
Transcribed May 4, 1999 by Marilynn Wienke for the Westmoreland County History Project 
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

Westmoreland County Genealogy Project Notice:

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any presentation, without prior written permission.