My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT P. LOWELL, an enterprising business man and prominent hardware merchant of Brocton, is a son of James W. and Jane (Sellick) Lowell, and was born in the town of Pomfret, June 24, 1847. Mr. Lowell’s ancestors came from Scotland. His grandfather, James Lowell, was born in Connecticut, but came to Chautauqua county, where he bought a farm in Pomfret town, which he tilled until his death in 1856. He was a democrat of the old school and an influential man among his associates.

James W. Lowell was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and, hoping to improve his condition, came to western New York, and settled at Pomfret. He has always been a leading farmer, having good crops and fine stock. Mr. Lowell is a democrat, and still lives on his farm in Pomfret, aged seventy-three years. He married Jane Sellick, and is still living at sixty-five years of age.

Albert P. Lowell was reared on his father’s farm, and secured his education at the public schools and the academy in Fredonia. He prepared for teaching, and upon leaving school followed the pedagogue’s profession for seven years with a remarkable degree of success; but, as many of the best teachers are doing to-day, on account of the meagre remuneration, he decided to enter a business more profitable. A person capable of becoming a first-class teacher can easily make two thousand dollars or more per year in other pursuits. This is discouraging to the instructor who receives but one hundred dollars or less per month, and that for but seven to ten months in the year. In 1872 Mr. Lowell entered a partnership with H. B. Crandall, the firm being Crandall & Lowell, for the manufacture of fruit and berry baskets. This business was profitably and successively continued for fifteen years, during which time they turned out an immense quantity of baskets. In February, 1888, Mr. Lowell decided to open a hardware store, and stocked it with a complete line of shelf and heavy hardware. He still conducts this business, carrying a fine and assorted stock, and enjoys a large and increasing trade, and, like many another, can look back and smile quietly at thoughts of days spent as teacher in the little school-house.

Albert P. Lowell married Emily M. Risley in 1871. She was a daughter of Ira Risley, a farmer in Pomfret, and has one child: Anna S. He is a member of the Methodist church, where he is a steward, and belongs to the Royal Templars of Temperance and the Knights of Pythias. Politically a democrat, he has held the office of justice of the peace, and was the first “No License” excise commissioner of Portland town. Mr. Lowell is a pushing and enterprising man, who has reached the position in the business world he now occupies through his own efforts, and few men are held in higher esteem by their neighbors and acquaintances.