Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Knightstown who occupies a more enviable standing than does John W. Lowry, not alone on account of the success he has achieved in life, but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the fair degree of success which is today his.
John Walter Lowry, who is the present postmaster of Knightstown, Henry county, Indiana, was born in this city on the 4th of April, 1855, and is the son of George S. and Ruth A. (Scott) Lowry, both now deceased. George S. Lowry and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is third in the order of birth. The boyhood days of John Walter Lowry were spent in the locality of his birth, and he received the advantages of a fair common school training. As soon as old enough he commenced working for his father as a stock shipper. The latter was extensively engaged in this business, being the only stock dealer within a radius of fifteen miles. When he was nineteen years old the subject was taken into partnership by his father and from that time forward his life was a busy and active one. They bought live stock all over this section of the state and shipped mainly to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York. In addition to this line of business the subject was also engaged in the meat trade. For some years Mr. Lowry performed the duties of bookkeeper in a commission house at Pittsburg, being at the same time enabled to attend to the sales of their stock in that city. However he was usually on the road. They did a large business in their line and ever maintained a high reputation for honor and fair dealing.
John Walter Lowry has ever since attaining his majority taken a keen and active interest in political affairs, being an earnest and uncompromising Republican, and formed many warm political friendships, among them that of the Hon. James E. Watson, member of congress from this district. On the 6th of October, 1900, Mr. Lowry received the appointment as postmaster of Knightstown and entered at once upon the active duties of the office. Knightstown is a third-class postoffice, the receipts of the office averaging upwards of five thousand dollars and the business requiring the services of seven employes. Knightstown is also the headquarters for three rural delivery routes. The establishment of the rural delivery system has caused the suspension of one postoffice in this vicinity, that at Snyder.
On the 19th day of November, 1878, at Winchester, Indiana, John Walter Lowry was united in marriage with Miss Addie M. Maulsby. This union was a happy one and was blessed by the birth of a son, Charles W., who is now deputy postmaster under his father. The faithful wife and loving mother passed into the shadows on the 4th of November, 1900, dying of consumption after an illness of two years.
Fraternally Mr. Lowry is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor of the local lodge, having also served as representative to the grand lodge. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episeopal church. By a life of strenuous endeavor and right living Mr. Lowry has earned and retained the sincere regard of the citizens among whom he has resided for so many years.
Source: "Biographical Memoirs of Henry County, Indiana"; B.F. Bowen & Co., Logansport, Ind., 1902,pg. 630-631
It affords the biographer particular pleasure to trace the life history of the gentleman whose name heads these paragraphs, a gentleman who in all the varied walks of life has proven himself worthy of the highest respect. As long as history endures will the people of the United States acknowledge their indebtedness to those brave heroes, who, between 1861 and 1865, fought for the preservation of the Union and the honor of the starry banner which has never been trailed in the dust of defeat in a single war in which the country has been engaged. Among those who wore the blue and risked their lives for their country's sake was Thomas I. Howren, now a retired citizen of New Castle, Henry county, Indiana.
Mr. Howren was born in Guilford, North Carolina, on the 14th of November, 1838. When thirteen years old he was brought to Indiana by his mother and his grandfather, Thomas Gilbreth. They settled at Greensboro, Henry county, where Thomas Gilbreth followed his trade, that of wagonmaking, until his death in 1864, at the age of eighty-two years. The subject's mother lived there also until her death in March, 1878, when almost seventy years old. Her four children were as follows: Mary Margaret became the wife of Thomas Swain and resided at Greensboro until her death, at the age of thirty years; Thomas I., the subject of this review; Sarah married Jabez Bowan, resided at Greensboro and died there in middle life; Irene became the wife of W. H. Macy, ex-sheriff of Henry county (see his sketch elsewhere in this volume), and is living at New Castle.
Thomas I. Howren, remained with his grandfather and engaged in farmwork by the month until the sounds of the terrible conflict in the southland convinced him that he was needed in the defense of Old Glory. Accordingly, in August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Gen. Grose's regiment. He served faithfully in the ranks, participating in all the marches, skirmishes and battles in which his regiment participated until the battle at Wild Cat, Kentucky, October 17, 1862. This was at the time of Gen. Bragg's retreat from Louisville. Mr. Howren was detailed on the advance guard and approaching close to Bragg's rear guard were engaged in a decisive action with the latter, which lasted about an hour before the rebels retreated. During this engagement the subject received a terrible musket ball wound in the left thigh. He was carried to the hospital at Danville, Kentucky, where he remained until Marlh 10, 1863, when he was discharged. Up to this time and for a year afterward he was unable to walk at all, and when he later commenced the use of crutches had to continue their use for over a year, and has at times since had to return to their use, at other times getting along with the aid of a cane.
After his return home and partial restoration to health Mr. Howren learned the trade of shoemaking and worked at it for ten or twelve years at Greensboro. He was then elected to the office of treasurer of Henry county in 1876, and, removing to New Castle for two years faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties of that responsible office. Upon the expiration of his term of office he returned to Greensboro and later tried farming in Hancock county, but a year later he went back to Greensboro, and in 1892 moved to Knightstown, where he resided until May, 1902, at which time he moved to the city of New Castle, where he now resides. He retained his Hancock county farm until 1901, when he disposed of it, and bought what was known as the Thomas Mullen farm, two and one-half miles east of New Castle.
Mr. Howren has been twice married. In 1871, at Knightstown, he was united in marriage with Miss Anne Woods, the daughter of John Woods, a farmer then living in Knightstown. Sixteen years later she died at Greensboro, leaving one daughter, Effie May. The latter became the wife of Wrighter R. Steel, of New Castle (see his sketch elsewhere in this volume). Mr. Howren's second marriage was in 1889, at Knightstown, to Mrs. Mary Berry, nee Lowrey, daughter of George Lowrey, who is engaged in the butchering business at Knightstown. She was born and reared in Knightstown and she is the mother of one son, Fred L. Howren, born July 27, 1892.
Politically Mr. Howren is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and has served as delegate to several state conventions of his party. Fraternally he maintains friendly relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Jerry Mason Post, G. A. R., at Knightstown. He is very faithful in his attendance upon all reunions, of his old regiment. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having joined that order at Greensboro in 1876. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. During his entire life he has proved faithful to the trusts reposed in him. In Henry county, where he is so widely known, his friends are numbered among its best citizens, a fact which indicates that his career has been an honorable and upright one. He has many pleasant qualities, and is a genial companion, enjoying the regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact.
Source: "Biographical Memoirs of Henry County, Indiana"; B.F. Bowen & Co., Logansport, Ind., 1902, pg. 481-483
