Grandfather Thomas Lee Lowe

Thomas Lee Lowe

Thomas Lee Lowe - Othello

My paternal Grandfather, Thomas Lee Lowe, was born September 6, 1887, in North Carolina. I did not have the privilege to meet my Grandfather, as he passed away September 17, 1947, when my own father was 18 years old. Grandfather Lowe holds a special place in my heart as he loved and married my wonderful Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor, and together they raised a fine man, my father, William Thomas Lowe and a good woman, my aunt, Norma Lee Lowe.

Thomas' Great-grandfather was an important Confederate soldier, Lt. Col. Thomas Lafayette Lowe, July 28, 1831. He was an officer in Company C: 28th Regiment. Thomas Lafayette Lowe married Dorcas Anna Coulter and together they had three children: Thomas Lee (1/9/1855), Ottis L. (2/13/1859) and Willie Ellen (1/11/1861). Lt. Col Thomas Lafayette Lowe died on the battlefield, near Richmond VA, June 11, 1862.
His sketch is listed in the "The Catawba Soldier of the Civil War." p. 173

Ottis L. Lowe, father of Thomas Lee Lowe

Grandfather Lowe's parents were Ottis L. Lowe and Laura Alice Robinson. (Ottis died at the age of 34, 6 weeks after the birth of his daughter Annie, leaving his wife and 4 children.)

Thomas Lee, Annie Laura, Laura Alice, Ottis Augustus and John Coulter

Their children were:
John Coulter -12/28/1884
Thomas Lee - 9/6/1887
Ottis Augustus - 8/5/1891
Annie Laura - 8/12/1893

Thomas Lee Lowe, about 13 years old

Even though Thomas' father had passed away, he had many uncles, cousins, aunts, and grandparents in the tightly knit Lowe and Robinson families. They lived in the area of Hickory, Startown, Newton and Lincolnton, N.C.

Brother John C., Tom Lowe, Brother Gus

Tom Lowe, John C. Lowe, Henry Robinson, O. Gus Lowe - St. Maries Idaho

Fun photo of Grandfather Lowe, his two brothers, John C. and O. Gus and their uncle, Henry Robinson.

Unknown, Tom Lowe, Curley Brinton in St. Marie's ID

Left - Tom Lowe, Unknown, Curley Brinton in St. Maries, ID

                                                        Tom Lowe with friends in St. Maries, ID.

 Thomas Lowe on the right

Grandfather Thomas Lowe served in the Navy based in San Diego, CA, from 1917-1918.  World War I Armistice was declared, November 11, 1918.  Tom Lowe was discharged at Bremerton, WA, December 1918.

 Thomas Lee Lowe - Train Engineer

Tom Lowe, middle row left, Logging Engine - St. Maries, ID, 1910 - 1916

Thomas Lowe - Engineer - Logging Train - center right, leaning on the front of the engine

Thomas Lowe driving

Thomas Lowe - second from left, note that the person far right is a lady

Thomas Lowe - Engineer - center

  

 Thomas Lowe - Engineer

      So how did Thomas Lowe, train engineer based in St. Maries, ID and Lillian Taylor, teacher in Kittitas, WA meet? When Lillian's family moved from the Hyak, WA area to Kittitas WA, Lillian began teaching in the Kittitas Valley. Her younger brother, Dudley, brought Tom to the Taylor family home to meet his family. Tom had fed Dud canned pineapple when they met, so Dud thought, "This man is worth knowing." [based on notes from his daughter Norma Lee Lowe Mathies]
 

     Evidently Grandma Lillian felt the same. Thomas Lee Lowe and Lillian Lee Taylor married July 2, 1927 and their first child (my father, William Thomas) was born, in 1928, in Ellensburg, WA. They moved to St. Maries, ID, where their daughter (Norma Lee) was born, then to Othello, WA, to Kittitas, WA and back to Othello, WA. Each of these towns was on the train road where Grandfather Lowe was an engineer.


     Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P RR). It was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. In the 1890s, the Milwaukee's directors felt that they had to extend the railroad to the Pacific in order to remain competitive with other roads. A survey in 1901 estimated costs to build to the Pacific Northwest as $45 million. In 1905, the board approved the Pacific Extension, now estimated at $60 million.   
     Construction began in 1906 and was completed in 1909. The route chosen was to be 18 miles shorter than the shortest competitor's, as well as better grades than some. It was an expensive route, however, since the Milwaukee, receiving few land grants, had to buy most of the land or acquire smaller railroads. In addition, the two main mountain ranges that had to be crossed (the Rockies and the Cascades) required major civil engineering works and the use of additional locomotive power. The completion of 2,300 miles of railroad through some of the most varied topography in the nation in only three years was a major feat.
     The Milwaukee soon found that operation of steam locomotives over the mountain passes was difficult, with winter temperatures that reached -40 °F. Electrification seemed to be the answer, especially with abundant hydroelectric power in the mountains.
     In 1917, the board approved the construction of a separate electrified district between Othello and Tacoma, WA, extended to Seattle in 1927.
     The electrification was successful from an engineering and operational standpoint, but the cost of building increased the debt load and reduced revenues which brought the road to bankruptcy in 1925.
     In 1927, the road launched its second edition of the Olympian as a premier luxury limited passenger train and opened its first railroad-owned tourist hotel, The Gallatin Gateway Inn in Montana. The railroad was re-organized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company in January 1928 and officially adopted the familiar trade name The Milwaukee Road." http://www.slahs.org/history/railroad/bugline.htm

Three years after World War I Armistice - Marshall Ferdinand Foch visited the USA

Tom Lowe, second from the right, in Navy uniform - 1921 - photo by Gravelle at St. Marie's, Idaho

This photo above was posted in the Seattle Post Intelligencer - November 1, 1921.
Titled - "Service Men in Uniform Drive Foch's Special - Engineer, Conductor, Firemen, Brakemen and Baggageman, All Veterans of World War
     The Foch special drew into the Milwaukee depot on time to the very second, a triumph of trainmanship that seven former service men, making up the crew from St. Maries, Ida, to Seattle, achieved in spite of snow, rain, a rock on the track and some other enforced delays.

     The Milwaukee officials determined upon the handling of the train by former service men as the prettiest kind of a tribute to pay the marshal. The men were collected from the company's service from various points between Spokane and Deer Lodge, Mont.

     All men wore their service uniforms.

     When the steam engine hooked on at Georgetown, the entire crew went back to the marshal's car to be presented.

     The engineer in charge of Engine No. 561, which drew Marshal Foch's train on the last lap of the journey from Black River, was Tom McCaull of Seattle.

     The fireman was Tom Lowe, also a member of the Spokane post of the Legion, and who was in the naval aviation service.

     The baggageman was Joe Healey, a member of the Powell County Post of the Legion at Deer Lodge, Mont., and a fireman, first-class, in the navy during the war, on the U.S.S. Princess Matoka.

     The conductor was Lieut. W.E. Cummins of the Missoula, Mont. post, and was with the Thirty-first Engineers during the war.

     The brakemen were Private J.P. Bevins of Benewah Post, No. 5, St. Maries, with the transportation corps during the war; Private August T. Shirley, with the transportation corps during the war and a member of the Spokane Legion and Private William R. Theiss of the Twenty-eighth Engineers, also a member of the Spokane Legion post.

     Among Milwaukee officials who accompanied the Foch special from Spokane to Seattle in Vice President H.B. Earling's [of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway] private car were James R. Veitch, assistant traffic manager and A.P. Chapman Jr., assistant general passenger agent."

Photo Montage for Post Intelligencer by Walter P. Miller - November 29, 1921

The above photo montage is of Field Marshall Ferdinand Foch of France, later Field Marshall of the UK and Poland, plus the group of American service men who handled the train from Black River to Seattle. Marshall Foch was accompanied by (left to right) Frank D'Olier - the past national commander of the American Legion, Dr. Paul Andre - his physician, Foch, Capt Rene M. l'Hopital - his aide, and General Desticker - chief of staff.

Grandfather Thomas Lowe is on the far right of the seven Americans, in naval uniform.

Grandfather Lowe and me

When I began this blog I stated that some of the puzzle pieces would be difficult to discern the shape  and to find the fit. In starting this page for my Grandfather, Thomas Lee Lowe, I felt uncertain, definitely unsure, searching for a man I did not know. Since reading about Grandpa Lowe, and his family, learning more about the train company he worked for, and asking questions of family, I've come to a peaceful knowledge of who he was and of how much he touched and enriched the lives of family and friends.

Thomas Lowe in the center

For train buffs, I have included every train photo I have in Grandpa's collection. Input on the various engines, trains, stations, etc. would be much appreciated.

Grandfather Jesse Wall Terry

Jesse Wall Terry, Sr.

My maternal grandfather, Jesse Wall Terry, also known as Grandpa Terry, was born on March 12, 1900, in Nebraska (likely Antelope County.) He died September 11, 1965; I was 14 years old. This wonderful man made a huge impression in my life. He was kind, gentle, hardworking, talented, creative and musical. In researching his life, I have learned so much about his family and those he touched with his love. Grandpa Terry, this page is dedicated to you. Love you so much!

Jesse Wall Terry

Lewis S. Terry

Lewis S. Terry

Grandpa Jesse Terry's parents were Great-grandfather, Elder Lewis "Lute" Sherman Terry and Great-grandmother, Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Curtis Terry.  They were married in 1883. Lewis S. Terry was a Church of Christ minister. There are numerous notations in the "Wauneta Breeze" newspaper for weddings and funerals that he conducted, both in Wauneta, NE and other nearby towns.

Great-grandmother Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Curtis Terry

Great-grandmother Hattie gave birth to 11 children between 1883 and 1908, nine who survived infancy.

Ora Nelson (1883-1981)
Edna Marion (1885-1955)
Minnie Ethel (1888-1946)
Paul Harlan (1890-1974)
Mark Twain (1893-1893)
Alice Pearl (1895-1969)
Harvey Edgar (1897-1963)
Jesse Wall (1900-1965)
Walter Scott (1902-1903)
Norman Glen (1905-1970)
Claude Burton (1908-1978)

Lewis & Harriet Terry, w/Paul Terry's twins in Wauneta, NE - Aug. 1926

Great-grandfather Lewis and Great-grandmother Hattie celebrated the births of many grandchildren over the years. Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Jesse Terry provided 3 of those grandchildren: "Junior," "Bill," and "Patty." The large extended family enjoyed vacation trips and travel in the Nebraska and Colorado area.

Jesse Wall Terry, baby "Junior" and Ruth Terry c. 1924

Grandpa Jesse Terry married Grandma Ruth Adell Nesmith, June 7, 1922. Their first son is our Uncle, Jesse Wall Terry, Jr., "Junior," who was born August 20, 1923. Uncle Jess passed away in September 2010, in Seattle, WA.

Jesse W. Terry and "Junior" c. 1924

This photo is of Grandpa Jesse Terry and his first born son, "Junior". Other photos in the series seem to show them visiting in Wauneta Nebraska, possibly to introduce baby "Junior" to his grandparents, Lewis and Hattie Terry, and grandparents, Frank and Nellie Nesmith, as well as great-grandparents, Charles and Mantie Bride and various other family members who lived nearby.

Jesse Wall Terry and "Junior" c. 1925

Notice the car off to the side yard. Grandpa Jesse Terry enjoyed driving and traveling around visiting family in Nebraska and Colorado.

Grandpa Jesse was an accomplished musician, playing saxophone, third from the left.

When my sisters and I would visit Grandpa Jesse and Grandma Ruth Terry in Seattle, we would ask Grandpa to please play for us on his saxophone. It was always a pleasure to hear him. He played "by ear," and was very talented.

Grandma Ruth, Mother Patty, Grandpa Jesse Terry c. 1938

Mother Patty and her Dad, Grandpa Terry c. 1939-1941

Our Mom, Patty Terry, with her Dad, our Grandpa Terry c. 1943-45

Jesse and Ruth Terry had three children:

Their first child, Jesse Wall Terry Jr., "Junior" was born in Hollywood, California in 1923.

Their second son, William Bertrand Terry, "Bill" was born in 1928, in Holyoke, CO. Bill and his wife Yvonne, were the parents of 4 children: Stephen, Susan, Linda and Mick.

Our mother, Patricia Terry, "Patty" was born August 2, 1931, Holyoke, CO. She was the third child and only daughter of Grandpa and Grandma Terry. One can imagine that she was the "little princess" in this loving family. Pat and Willie Lowe were the parents of 4 children: Cathy (me), Bobby, Linda and Terri.

I don't have a lot of photos of Grandpa between the birth of his first son and his third child, our mother Patty, growing up. As usually happens in families, one person is the family photographer, and that happened to be Grandpa Terry.

Grandpa was a proficient photographer

Ruth and Jesse Terry, c. 1940

Seattle - Grandpa, our dog Grannie, and baby Cathy (me) 1952

Grandpa and Grandma -1961, I photographed them.

Grandpa Terry enjoyed the outdoors. He was a hunter and loved fishing. On weekends he and Grandma would take drives out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They both enjoyed the beauty of the area where they lived.

Grandpa Terry was a painter by trade. At one time he had his own paint shop in Grants Pass, OR. When I was born he was working in downtown Seattle as a painter for displays in stores such as: Frederick & Nelson, Bon Marche, Nordstroms and others.

He was also a magician at fixing broken toys from the discards in the basements of those stores. Grandpa and Grandma's basement was a wonderland for grandchildren. Grandpa had constructed an entire HO train set, with mountains, tunnels, houses, flashing lights, bells and miniature people. Grandma had designed a child-size kitchen with table, chairs, dishes, and all the kitchen needs. Every granddaughter had a personal doll named after her, (I still have my "Cathy" doll) with clothing stitched by Grandma herself. There were books and games, pogo sticks, scooters, doll strollers, erector sets and much, much more. There was also a bedroom downstairs with three child-size beds for when the grandchildren came to visit.

Grandpa nicknamed my sisters and me, "Big, Middle and Little Pickle-Puss". He had a stiff mustache and often gave us whisker-kisses. 

At their house, the brass candy dish was always full with non-pareils. The bird feeder at the kitchen window was the  meeting place for all the neighbor birds. Mail was delivered through a slot in the wall. And there was a collection of board and card games in the buffet for grandchildren.

Beautiful childhood memories for grandchildren. I learned from Grandpa and Grandma Terry how to create them for my own grandchildren.

Family Homes

Lowe and Robinson Home - Catawba Co, N.C. - c. 1900

Great-grandfather Ottis L. Lowe married Great-grandmother Laura Alice Robinson, March 18, 1884.  They had four children: John Coulter, Thomas Lee, Ottis Augustus and Annie Laura. Ottis L. Lowe died on September 28, 1893, 6 weeks after his baby daughter Annie was born. He left Laura widowed with four children.

The photo below is of either the Robinson Family Home or the Lowe Family Home c. 1900. It is located in Catawba County, North Carolina.  The caption shows known members of the family, including Ottis' widow Laura and their four children.

Small girl on right next to Woman w/scarf, Annie & Laura
Small boy, Ottis A., Far right John C. and Thomas Lee Lowe

Grandfather Thomas Lee Lowe married Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor in 1927. Their first born child is William Thomas Lowe, who is my father and father of my sisters, Linda and Terri.


Taylor Home - Marion CO, MO - c. 1890

Great-great-grandfather William Inskip Taylor married Great-great-grandmother Ellen Elizabeth Williams on December 27, 1866. Their children were Leander "Lee" Winston, William "Bill" Patterson, and Lulu(a) Mae. Great-grandfather William Patterson Taylor married Great-grandmother Mary Alice Bates. Their children were Lucius "Lou", Lillian Lee, Ruby Alice, Bates Inskip, William "Bill" Robert and Albert Dudley Taylor. Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor married Grandfather Thomas Lee Lowe.

Farm of William Inskip Taylor, Marion CO, MO, L. to R. William Patterson, Wm. I., Ellen Williams, Lulu Taylor.

Lowe Home - St. Maries, ID - 8/1929 - 7/1930

Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor and Grandfather Thomas Lee Lowe married in 1926(?). Their first born child is my father, William Thomas Lowe. Grandmother Lillian writes on the back of this photo, "House! 2nd & College, St. Maries, Idaho, where we moved Aug. 1929. Norma Lee was born Sept 1929 St. Maries, Idaho & we stayed until July 1 1930 - moving to Othello, Wash. at that time."

Nesmith and Bride Home - Natick, MA - 1898 - 1906

Samantha "Mantie" E. Loker Bride and her mother? Photo dated 1898

Great-great-grandfather Charles A. (C.A.) Bride and Great-great-grandmother Samantha "Mantie" E. Loker Bride built and lived in this home in Natick, MA. They are the parents of Great-grandmother Nellie Bride who married Great-grandfather Frank O. Nesmith. Frank and Nellie are the parents of our grandmother Ruth Nesmith Terry. Ruth was born in this house in Natick, MA on November 10, 1901.

On the back of this photo Ruth wrote, "The house where Ruth Nesmith was born also her grandparents lived CA Bride No Natick Mass When 2 years old she moved to Nebraska by her parents [family]."

In further research I contacted the Natick, MA Historical Society to see if this home is still standing. Their response was the following: "The 1884 Directory of residents lists Charles A. Bride shoemaker, house on North Main, near Pine, North Natick.  In the vital statistics there is a birth of Ruth Adell Nesmith November 10, 1901 parents, Frank O. and Nellie M. In the 1892 real estate assessments Charles Bride on North Main is listed as having a small house valued at 400, 4 1/2 acre land at 600 and unfinished at 1600, (so perhaps he was in the process of building the house that you have a photo of). We cannot say with 100% accuracy that the house is still standing but there is a very good chance that the house is located at 292 North Main Street in Natick."

292 N. Main St., Natick, MA

Using the address given to me by the historical society I went to Google Earth and found the house.


Bride Home - Wauneta, NE - c. 1906 - 1938

Home of Charles & Samantha "Mantie" Bride, and Walter & Fern Fox, in Wauneta, NE

Great-great-grandfather Charles and Great-great-grandmother Samantha "Mantie" Bride evidently moved to Wauneta, NE at the same time as their daughter Nellie and son-in-law Frank Nesmith. A newspaper article, in the "Wauneta Breeze," published a poem written by "Mantie" Bride in which it is stated that she and Charles moved to Wauneta in 1906.


Nesmith Home - Wauneta, NE - c. 1906 - 1930

Frank and Nellie, daughters Ruth, Vera and Fern Nesmith home in Wauneta, NE, 1915

 Great-grandfather Frank and Great-grandmother Nellie Nesmith moved from Natick, MA back to Wauneta, NE sometime around 1906. Their second daughter Vera was born in Natick, MA in January 1905, and their third daughter Fern was born in Wauneta, NE, July 1908. At the same time, Nellie's parents, Charles and Mantie Bride also moved to Wauneta. (According to the Natick Historical Society "In 1906, in the Directory of Residents, there was no listing of the Bride family.")

   Many members of the Nesmith family already lived in Wauneta.  Frank's father, Milton W. Nesmith had homesteaded nearby in 1885.  Frank Nesmith owned and ran a large General Store in Wauneta, NE. I found an advertisement in the "Wauneta Breeze" for his General Store dated April 15, 1909. "Nesmith handles two of the best articles in town - Pure Homemade Ice Cream & the Edison Phonograph." (On a future page I will post the photos of Frank Nesmith's Store in Wauneta.)

Frank O. and Nellie A. Nesmith on the front porch of their home in Wauneta, NE

Fern, Vera, Ruth (Terry), Nellie and Frank Nesmith at Home in Wauneta - c. 1925

Terry Home - (possibly Holyoke, CO) - c. 1928

Home of Jesse Sr., Ruth, Jesse Jr., Bill and Patty Terry, possibly in Holyoke, CO

Grandfather Jesse W. Terry and Grandmother Ruth A. Terry lived in this home, (possibly Holyoke, CO) with their sons Junior and Bill, and their baby daughter Patty. Bill was born in 1928 and Patty was born in 1931. Other photos of the home show each of their children playing in the yard. Patty Terry is my mother.

Terry Home - North Seattle, WA - c. 1940's

Front - 7009 23rd N.E., Seattle - Home of Jesse, Ruth, Junior, Bill. Patty Terry is on the front porch.

Back - 7009 23rd N.E., Seattle - Home of Jesse, Ruth, Junior, Bill and Patty Terry

Terry Home - Seattle, WA - late 40's to 1954

4557 7th N.E., Seattle - Home of Terry Family, demolished by Washington state for I-5 thoroughfare

This home in North Seattle was purchased from Grandfather Jesse W. Terry and Grandmother Ruth Terry around 1956 and demolished by the state for Interstate 5.  Go to Google Map Link by highlighting over the coordinates.  47° 39.731'N 122° 19.249'W

Terry Home - Seattle, WA - c. 1954 - 1969

Seattle home of Jesse and Ruth Terry

This was the second Seattle home of Grandmother Ruth and Grandfather Jesse W. Terry, Sr. They were the parents of my mother Pat Terry Lowe. When we were little kids visiting, I well remember that there was carefully pruned shrubbery along the sidewalk that led to the house. Right beside the front door there was a slot in the brick where the mailman left the mail. On the window ledge on the left, kitchen window, Grandma and Grandpa had a tray of bird seed and it was always busy with small birds. If you walked around back there was a big yard with a holly bush.

The basement was the best part of the house. Grandma and Grandpa had created a children's play-land downstairs. Grandpa Terry was a painter and worked in large department stores downtown, painting their big window displays. He brought home all the misfit and broken toys, repaired them and had them ready for visiting grandchildren. There was a toy train set, erector sets, dolls, doll clothes, doll strollers, kitchen items, small size chairs and tables and three beds for overnights. All of our mother's Nancy Drew Mystery books were in the book shelf upstairs and I read every one while visiting there. We loved going to the Terry's home.