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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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N. C. Lowry, retired, Pine Bluff, Ark. Mr. Lowry is a native of Tennessee, born in Henry County, in June, 1823, and is the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Crosswell) Lowry, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The elder Lowry left the land of his nativity when a young man, went to Tennessee, and after his marriage located in Stewart County of that State, where in connection with farming he also followed the teacher’s profession for some time. Later he moved to Memphis, resided there about two years, and in 1840 removed to Arkansas, locating in what is now Drew County, where he closed his eyes to the scenes of this world in the following June. He served in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans, and was also in some of the old Indian wars. He served as sheriff of Henry County, Tenn., for several years, and was a man universally respected. His wife died in July, 1841. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and five became the heads of families. Three are living at the present time: N. C. (subject of this sketch), John R. (who resides in Arkansas), and D. B. (who is a resident of Texas). N. C. Lowry came to Arkansas with his father in 1840 and remained with him until his death. He then commenced learning the blacksmith trade the following winter, and served as an apprentice for three years, after which, or in 1844, he erected a shop and was in active business for about eight years. Finally he sold out and entered a store, where he clerked until the breaking out of the late war, when he entered the Confederate service as a mechanic, serving in that capacity until the close of the war. Afterward he returned to his former business of clerking, which he continued up to the winter of 1888 or 1889. When Mr. Lowry located at Pine Bluff (in 1844) it was then a small village, and the wood near was full of bear and deer. He was married here in 1848 to Miss Christiana Smart, a native of Carroll County, Tenn., but reared principally in Arkansas, and the daughter of Josephus Smart. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were born five sons: Douglas (grown and married), Archie (also married), Jehu (a young man), Charles (a young man), and Henry Neal. Mr. Lowry is a Royal Arch Mason, and has served in several official capacities in the Blue Lodge and Chapter.

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This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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