Abner Lowry, Sr

History of Abner Lowry Abner Lowry, a son of John and Mary Wilcox Lowry, was born in Lewis County (Marion), Missouri, October 12,1831. At the age of 16, he came west with his parents, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, September, 1847, in President John Taylor's company. John Lowry, Sr., the father, was bom in Tennessee and moved to Lewis County, Missouri, as a young man. Here he met the Mormon elders in 1833 and joined the church. He remained in Missouri until the saints were driven out and then assisted in moving them to Nauvoo, Illinois. The Lowry family remained in Nauvoo until the members of the church were again forced to leave their homes in 1846, and again, John, age 48 and his wife, Mary, age 45, left their home and with their family started for the west. John Lowry., was the first Bishop of the Second Ward in Salt Lake City, being sustained on 22 February 1849. Shortly after this he and his family were called by the Church Authorities to assist in the settling of the San Pete Valley. They settled at Manti and in 1850, John Lowry, Sr., was called to be the first Bishop of this community. Abner was the second child of John and Mary Lowry, and endured all of the persecutions of the early days of the Mormon Church. In 1848, after one year in the Salt Lake Valley, he took one of his father's teams and was sent with a relief party to bring in a company from the plains. Brigham Young was a member of this company. Abner returned again to the Missouri River in 1866 to bring in immigrants. Quoting from the Desert News, 1 May 1866: Slill they come and go - Bishop Moffett of Manti says teams from San Pete and Sevier Counties, some 60 in all, under Captain Abner Lowry, were ready to start from their city for the Missouri. He brought out 250 emigrants — fifty two died on the road from cholera. Again quoting from the Deseret News, October 22,1866: Captain Abner Lowry's train of 60 wagons got into the city Monday a little before noon. This is thc last immigrant train of the season —There was more mortality than ordinary in Captain Lowry's train in consequence of the malignant form of dysentery which affected many on the first part of the joumey across the plains.:" Abner Lowry took part in the Provo War, then in the Walker War where he was a lieutenant and again in the Black Hawk War, holding the rank of Major of the fifth Battalion Cavalry. He took part in the Salina Canyon engagments and other skirmishes with the Indians. Mr. Lowry had lived with the Indians until he knew their language and understood their habits and did much to bring peace between the Indians and the white settlers. He spent some time living with Jim Bridger scouting the west. On 22 November 1852, at Nephi, Utah, Abner married Betsey Louisa Bradley, eldest daughter of George W. and Betsey Krool Bradley. Her father was the first Bishop of Moroni, and a native of New York. Abner Lowry was a farmer and stockman. He moved to Moroni in 1861. He served as Mayor of Moroni for four years and as County Selectman for fourteen years. He was active in church, city, and county affairs as verified by the following quotes from the Deseret News: 16 April 1860- Manti "An organization of a branch of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society was organized 6 Feb 1860. Abner Lowry was elected Marshall of the society." 24 July 1863-Moroni "At 9:00 o'clock an imposing procession was formed by Captain Abner Lowry, Marshall of the day after marching through the principal streets, the procession proceeded to the meeting house and after being seated, they were called to order by Abner Lowry." 13 September 1873- -Salt Lake City Mr. Abner Lowry of Moroni, who has just arrived from that place, reports Indians and white people quiet there, this being the first entirely peaceable season in that valley for several years Moroni got through with small pox in May after having 100 cases. It has been clean gone from there for some months and good health prevails....The addition of two wings to the San Pete Court House is progressing....On the way here, Brother Lowry observed that the small grain crops were chiefly harvested and stacked. Abner Lowry was noted throughout San Pete County as a political speaker and although without formal education, he served as a judge. Betsey Louisa Lowry, Abner's wife, died at Sterling, Utah, 6 December 1881. To Brother and Sister Lowry had been bom 13 children, three of them dying in infancy. She was survived by her husband and 10 children: Mary E., Abner, Jr., George W., Susan L., James W., John H., Melinda, Ernest, Marion A., and Claire. Abner and his wife had also adopted and raised two other children, an Indian girl called Sally and an immigrant orphan named Pete Christensen. Abner survived his wife by 19 years, dying at Freedom, Utah, December 17,1900. He lived the last years of his life with his children. He was loved by his grandchildren for his gentleness and he spent many hours relating stories to them of his experiences with the Indians and singing Indian songs. He and his wife are buried in the Manti City Cemetery. (Submitted by Dolores Middleton) Death: Dec. 17, 1900, Freedom, Sanpete County Utah, USA Burial:, Manti Cemetery, Manti, Sanpete County Utah, USA, Plot: Lot 17 Block 12 Plat A Grave 1 DEATH NOTICE: The Manti Messenger Saturday 22 December 1900 Abner Lowry, Sr., died at his home in Freedom, this county, this week. His remains were brought to this city yesterday for burial and funeral services were held in our Tabernacle. Our acquaintance with deceased was very limited. He leaves sons and daughters, several in number, who are respected citizens of this city and Sterling. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved.