My Genealogy Hound

HARRY SNYDER LOWERY, son of Job Thomas and Susan (Snyder) Lowery, was born on a farm near Franklinville, in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1837. He attended the pay school of Hannah Righter, and later the public school of his district, until his sixteenth year, after which , he was employed on the farm of George Dannehower, near Springhouse, in Gwynedd township, for two years. He then entered as an apprentice to the trade of blacksmithing at Bustleton, in Philadelphia county, on September 11, 1854, with Francis C. Michener, with whom he was employed for three and a half years. At twenty-two years of age he completed his apprenticeship and went to Gwynedd, where he was employed by Allen Dannehower. In 1860 he established himself as a blacksmith and horse-shoer at the place where he is still engaged, on the State Road, a short distance above the William Penn hotel at Gwynedd, and directly opposite the old meeting house of the Friends at that place, on the estate of the Acuffs.

Mr. Lowery married, April 1, 1860, Sarah Ann, daughter of George Dewees and Ann (Kemp) Clift, of Bustleton, her parents being farmers in that vicinity. Their children: Ada Augusta, married David H. Lukens, son of Seth and Mary Lukens, of Gwynedd, and had one son Harry Lowery, they residing at North Wales; Lydia Irene, married the Rev. William H. Beyer, of Norristown, and resides at Portland, Pennsylvania, her husband being pastor of the Methodist church at that place; Marion Kemp, married Septimus Cassel Kriebel, of North Wales, they residing at Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Lowery are members of the Methodist church at North Wales, in which they are greatly interested, Mr. Lowery having served as a member of the board of trustees of that church for many years.

In politics Mr. Lowery is a stanch Republican, and has always rendered it the most effective support. Since attaining his majority he has always been an efficient worker at the polls. He served six years as a member of the Montgomery county board of poor directors, and filled the office in the most satisfactory manner. He has been in no sense an office seeker, preferring to attend strictly to his business. On each occasion he was unanimously nominated for the position, and there has never been a more faithful incumbent of the office. Mr. Lowery has also served repeatedly as a member of the township election board, and in other minor positions. None are more highly esteemed in the community than he.

Job T. Lowery (father) received a meager education in the schools of the day, being trained to steady work rather than to the pursuit of learning. He married Susan Snyder, and located in Whitpain township as a farmer, following that occupation all his life. His children: Thomas, married Mary Nixon, of Whitpain township; Mary, married George Dickinson, and lives in Philadelphia; Sarah, married William Trexler, a farmer, of Whitemarsh township; Charlotte married Philip Kuhnley, of Whitpain township; Catharine, married Allen K. Moyer, and resides in Philadelphia; George W., married Amanda Preston, of Whitpain township, and resides at Ambler; Rachel, married Allen Dannehower, of Gwynedd township; Harry S., subject of this sketch; Owen S., lives at North Wales, and is unmarried. Job T. Lowery learned in his early years the trade of plasterer, and was a mechanic of excellent ability. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812.

Harry S. Lowery has been engaged at his present place of business for nearly a half century, and has achieved the reputation of being the best horseshoer in all the country round. He has a large amount of work, and always requires assistance to accommodate his many customers.