The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-04-20
A Biographical Sketch Of the
Late j. A. W. Lowry.

a B10gTapn1cA Sketcn OF the
Late ]. A. w. Lowry.
The Passing Away Of the Name Of a
Prominent Bossisr Family.
Much has been written about the
late J. A. W. Lowry in the way Of
coincidence and as marks of respect
to the memory OF his honored name,
yet little has been said in print as to
his life and character. Having known
the deceased for over forty years; in
timately associated with him from
carly boyhood up to his untimely end,
and knowing as well or better than
most any one else his many charac-
teristics, as a boy and man, the
writer feels authorized to contribute
this short biographical sketch to the
public.
It is sad to think that through the
death of the Hon. ]. A. w. Lowry
passes away the last member Of
family that has figured SO prominent
" in the affairs of Bossier parish
from its organization in February,
1843, to the demise of our lamented
friend, March 20, 1899. He was the
last of this family that bore the name
of Lowry (save his estimable wife
who survives him); thus We may say
that he was the last Of the Lowries
in Bossier, because with his death
the name Of Lowry, which has been
SO prominent in this parish for about
sixty years, in social and political
circles, becomes extinct.
The Lowries were among the earl
lest white settlers in North Louisiana,
coming here from Mississippi some
time in the thirties and finally located
in Claiborne parish, near the point
where old Bellevue is, before Bossier
parish was created, and erected the
FIRST dwelling in the town of Bellevue.
r. J. B. Lowry, an uncle, was the
first Sheriff and ex-oficio Tax Collec-
tor of the Parish of Bossier, filling
the position from 1843 to 1916, inclu-
sive. His father, j. A. W. Lowry,
served as clerk of the Police Jury
from 1843 to 1847, and was deputy
Sheriff, &C., under his brother, and
established the first hostelry in Belle
vue for the accommodation of the
public, by building an old fashioned
two-story log house, which still stands
in the old town, having been some
| what remodeled. When this building
was erected the place was then called
Fredonia, but about July, 1843, it
was changed to the more euphonious
name of Bellevue. A maternal uncle,
John Miles, was first Stray Master,
and also served as Constable for sew
eral years.
The subject Of this brief historical
sketch, John Augwstus Way Los0ry,
was born at Bellevue, Bossier parish,
La, January -, l848, in the old log
house referred to, in which he spent
the greater part Of his life with his
widowed mother and family, his
mother dying in 1887. The father
having died December, 1847, one
month before J. A. w. Jr., was born.
His parents were John A. w. and
Sarah A. (Miles) Lowry. The widow
was left with six children to provide
for-three daughters and three sons
j. A. W. being the youngest. His
oldest brother-Edward A. Lowry
was one Of the proprietors Of the firm
of Mitchell & Lowry, who establish
ed the Bossier Times, in Bossier par.
isb, the first number appearing Sept.
II, 1857, which paper was merged,
sometime in 1859, into the Bossier
Banner, W. II. Scanland succeeding
Mitchell & Lowry. His brother was
a gallant soldier, enlisting in the
Caddo Rifles, the first Company leav-