The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-03-28
JOHN w. F LOWREY is
CLAIMED BY DEATH
WELL KNOWN AND HIGHLY
ESTEEMED CITIZEN DIES AT
TER LONG AND USEFUL LIFE.

In the death of Hon. j. w. F. Low
rey, which occurred at the home OF
his son, Mr.. ]. A. Lowrey, on We'd
nesday afternoon few minutes after
one o'clock, Dawson and Terrell coun-
| ty lost pioneer citizen who was
widely known and highly esteemed.
Mr.. Lowrey had been in failing
| health for a number of years, and for
several weeks his condition was critical
and his death was not unexpected. He
retained his mental faculties to the
last and was fully conscious, talking
with his wife and son almost in the
moment of his passing.
Funeral services were held at the
residence Thursday afternoon at 8
O'Clock and were attended by one of
the largest crowds ever seen in Daw-
son on similar occasion-a multitude
of friends from every walk of life.
Handsome floral offerings covered the
casket and were banked in profusion
about the room.
| All the business houses of the city
were closed and the schools of the
county we're suspended during the af-
ternoon out of respect to the deceas-
| ed, many of the teachers and pupils
attending the funeral. His pastor, Rev.
Reese Griffin, of the Methodist church,
was assisted in an impressive service
by Rev. S. F. Lowe, of the Baptist
church, DR.. w. c. Lovett, presiding
elder, and Rev. G. A. Grille, Of the
Presbyterian church. The choir sang
with deep feeling Lead Kindly
| Light" and Jesus, Lover of My
Soul" The pastor paid high tribute
to the life and character of Mr.. Low
rey as citizen, soldier, teacher
and for sixty years a member OF the
| Methodist church, being for a long
period one of the trustees. The min
lister also bore testimony to the de-
velopment of the spiritual life as the
shadows of affliction gathered and OF
steadfast belief in the fundamentals
of the Christian religion.
| A large concourse OF sorrowlng
friends followed the hearse to Cedar
Hill cemetery, where the service was
concluded The pail bearers were w.
S. Dozier, Raymond Dozier T. S.
Martin, J. NJ. Rauch, Alva Joiner, ].
c. Dukes, d. F. English and Earnest
Baldwin
John William Frances Lowrey was
born in Stewart county on August Is,
1888 In his early youth he moved
with his family to Webster county,
where he was married on November
Is, 1858, to Miss Nancy E. Peel. Sew
en- children were born into this home,
several of whom died in early life. Mr..
Lowrey enlisted as a soldier of the
Confederacy in May, 1861, as private
in company K, second Georgia regi-
men, He was honorably discharged in
| July, 1862.
On his return from Virginia after
his discharge he resumed the duties of
teacher which calling he intended to
pursue for the remainder of his life,
but the people of Webster county
elected him to captaincy in the Geor-
gia militia In the spring of 1864 he,
with all the militia of the state, was
called to the front to meet the inva-
sion of Sherman and United States
cavalry who were then devastating
the country through which they pass
ed. With this command (the 18th
| Georgia militia) he remained until
the close OF the war, when he was
again honorab1y discharged. Again he
returned to the school room and de-
voted his time and attention to the
training of the youth of the country
until 1882, when he entered the mer-
camille business. In the year 1909 mis-
fortune overlook him and he was fore
ed to retire. Soon after the people of
Terrell county rallied to his support
and elected him to the superintendent
cy of schools He was twice elected to
this position. once for term of six
years and then to a term OF four
years. In the winter of 1917 his eye
sight failed and he resigned.
Mr.. Lowrey moved to Terrell coun-
ty in 1872. He was associated with
Prof w. H. Allen in the Dawson
school in 1873, on the site where the
large public school building now
stands. He was leading factor in
educational circles and was prominent
" identified with all phases of civic de-
velopment His business ability, enter
prise and public spirit were recogniz-
ed by all, and for his honesty he was
held in the highest esteem.
On Dec. 10, 1885. Mr.. Lowrey was
married to Mrs Victoria Caroline
Shields, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. H.
T. Davenport, of Sumter county, a
helpmeet in every sense of the word.
Very few men had a personal &C
quaintance approximating his, and his
friendships grew stronger with the
years.
Mr.. Lowrey's immediate surviving
relatives are his widow, one son, Mr..
]. A. Lowrey, and one daughter, Mrs.
M II HarDer