Eudorus J. Lowrey (1852-1908)

LOWREY, CLARK, CLARKE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/12/2017 at 15:14:45

From Nevada Representative July 24, 1908

Mrs. Josephine Lowrey received advice Wednesday of the death of her son Eudorus J. Lowrey, which occurred at this home at Fresno, California. The news was a great shock; for Mr. Lowrey had always enjoyed exceedingly good health and a letter received early in the week had conveyed no suggestion of illness. Further information is lacking save that the funeral will be held to day. Mr. Lowrey was fifty-six years of age and had been resident of California for many years. He came east to visit his mother last winter when she was seriously ill and spent a week here with her and his brother Henry and sister Miss Alice, this visit affording a brief opportunity for the renewal of acquaintance after long separation. At that time it would have been father from the minds of any of them that he would be the first to go over the river. But it is illustrated once more that human life is very uncertain. Mr. Lowrey leaves a wife and four children.

From Nevada Representative August 3, 1908

EUDORUS J. LOWREY

Fresno, California papers which have been received at the Lowrey home in this city five further notice of the death of Mr. Eudorus J. Lowrey, son of Mrs. Josephine Lowrey, at his home in Fresno on July 22. His death was caused by apoplexy and it came to him without warning and almost without pain. In its obituary the Fresno Republican says:

"In his life Mr. Lowrey stood for all that is decent, clean and honest. Of all who knew him in Fresno not one but speaks in his praise, and those who have been fortunate enough to have been admitted to terms of close intimacy with him, were overcome at their loss of an adviser and friend. His humor never failed, was never bitter, never caustic and he ever had a pleasant word for all with whom he came in contact during the day's business activities. He never found fault and never complained.

"Born in Bloomington, Illinois, 56 years ago, Mr. Lowrey had an adventurous life. As a boy he had expressed his determination to become a railroad engineer, and devoted all his energy toward securing the necessary technical knowledge. He realized his ambition when a young man but soon gave over railroading and accepted an appointment in the United States navy given to him by A. E. Stevenson, afterwards vice president who was a the time congressman from the Mr. Lowrey's district.

"In the service his engineering training and experience were brought more fully into play and he rose to the position of engineer in the Atlantic squadron. He served five years in the navy and then retired and took up the insurance business, covering parts of Kentucky and Illinois. In this enterprise he as associated with Peter M. Conklin. He remained in these states for some time and the old craving for roaming took him again through Jonathan H. Rowell, father of Chester H. Rowell, he secured a reappointment to the navy, and wa assigned to the old cruising frigate, or as it was better known 'corvette' Vandalia stationed then at Honolulu. He was appointed chief engineer of the ship, and while on her visited many of the South Sea islands and several Oriental countries. It was while in Honolulu, through a rather peculiar chain of accidents, that he met the lady who afterwards became his wife.

"Mrs. Lowrey was a Miss Agnes Clark, whose mother was the daughter of a wealthy New York merchant and whose father had for several years held an influential post under the Hawaiian king. She met Mr. Lowrey through a letter of introduction given her by Peter M. Conklin his former business partner. With her mother, Mrs. Lowrey had been paying a visit to her relatives in the East and was on her way back to her island home, when she made the mistake of taking a California excursion train instead of the regular one, as the two were pulling out of the depot in St. Louis. On the excursion train was a party of gentlemen from Illinois which included Judge Graham of Fresno and Mr. Conklin. The two parties occupying the same coach during the seven days' run to California--it took that long in those days, became very good friends, and when Mr. Conklin learned that the Clarks were returning to Honolulu he gave them a letter of introduction to Mr. Lowrey, who at that time was stationed there with his ship. For some months after they reached home Mrs. Clark forgot to forward the letter and even at one time was on the point of destroying it. Once sent, however, it was accompanied by an invitation for Mr. Lowrey to call. Busy with his duties on ship board, the latter let several weeks slip by without doing so, but once he met Miss Clark he became devoted to her and became engaged.

"In 1889 he came to California on leave and visited his old friend, Mr. Conklin here in Fresno. After the visit he resigned his commission in the navy and settled down here in the insurance business with Conklin. Two years later, Mr. Clark brought his family to California and soon after that Miss Clark became the bride of Mr. Lowrey in the Christian church here.

"Mr. Lowrey left the insurance business several years ago and was associated with F. M. Chittenden in the real estate business.

"Besides his widow, Mrs. Lowrey leaves a family of four children, Clara, aged 16 and three sons, Ernest, Frank and Graham, named after Judge Graham, who has been a lifelong friend of Mr. Lowrey and Elmer."