My Genealogy Hound

William M. Lowry, planter, Helena, Ark. One of the foremost men among the agriculturists of Phillips County, is he whose name appears above, and who has borne an influential part in promoting the various interests of the county. He was originally from Louisana, his birth occurring at Milliken’s Bend, September 20, 1832, and is the son of Alfred J. and Cleora C. (Hynes) Lowry, natives, respectively, of Frankfort and Bardstown, Ky. The father died at Milliken’s Bend, La., in 1872, when fifty-five years of age, and the mother died in 1864 at the age of forty-two years. They were married in Bardstown, Ky., and later moved to Natchez, Miss., where they remained two years, going thence to Milliken’s Bend, La. The mother died while on a visit to Louisville. The father was a graduate of St. Joseph College, Bardstown, and was a planter by occupation, raising annually from 600 to 1,000 bales of cotton. He was a member of the lower house of the legislature while residing in Louisiana, and served in that capacity for four years. He was a Mason and held an office in the Grand Lodge of the State, was a Whig at one time, but during the latter part of his life was a Democrat. Mrs. Lowry was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their family consisted of eight children, six of whom lived to maturity, and five of whom are living at the present time, viz.: Mrs, S. D. Tompkins (now residing in Helena), William M., Mrs. Caroline Polk (wife of Col. Cadwallader Polk, of Phillips County), F. M. (wholesale merchant at St. Louis, Mo.), Mrs. C. C. (now residing at Helena). One son, A. J. Lowry, contracted consumption during the war, and died one year after peace was declared. He was aid-de-camp to Col. Cadwallader Polk. William M. Lowry received his education at Bardstown, Ky., and remained there until three months before graduating, when he was compelled to leave St. Joseph’s College, at that place on account of ill health. He went from there to New Orleans, La., where he was engaged in planting for three years, after which he returned to his father’s old plantation in that State. In 1869 he came to Phillips County, and is now the owner of 520 acres of land, with 480 acres under cultivation. He was in the Confederate service a short time during the war, but was discharged on account of disability. He lost $100,000 in two years after the war, and consequently was obliged to begin over again. He has been quite successful since that time, and is one of the first cotton growers in the county. He has reared an interesting family of children, three sons attending college at Bardstown, Ky., and two daughters attending at Fayetteville, Ark. His marriage occurred in 1860, to Miss Artana Majoun, of Bayou Sarah, La., and the fruits of this union have been eight children, five now living: Bruce (carrying on the home plantation), Alfred J. (in the employ of D. H. Crebs, of Helena), Sam T. (is in the employ of J. W. Clopton, cotton broker of Helena), Jennie (at home) and Annie T. (at home). Mr. Lowry is a member of the Catholic and his wife a member, of the Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in his political opinion, and is one of the most enterprising citizens of the county, always manifesting public spirit in worthy movements.