Husband Hon. Walter Lowrie 1 2 3 4
AKA: Hon. Walter B. Lowrie 5
Born: 10 Dec 1784 - Edinburgh, Scotland 3
Christened:
Died: 14 Dec 1868 - New York City, NY 3
Buried:
Father: John Lowrie (Abt 1748-1840) 4 6 7 8 9 10
Mother: Catharine Cameron (Abt 1756-1837) 3 10
Marriage: 1808
Other Spouse: Mary K. Childs ( - ) 11
Wife Amelia McPherrin 4 11 12 13
AKA: Jane McPherrin 1
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1832 11
Buried:
Father: Rev. John McPherrin (1757-1822) 1 12 13 14
Mother: Mary Stevenson ( - ) 13 15 16
Children
1 M Rev. John Cameron Lowrie, D.D., LL.D. 2 4 10 11
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1895
Buried:
2 M Matthew S. Lowrie 2 11
AKA: Matthew G. Lowrie 4 10
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1895
Buried:
3 F Mary Lowrie 2 11 17
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1895
Buried:
Spouse: Samuel Baird ( - ) 2 4 11
4 F Eliza Lowrie 11 17
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1895
Buried:
5 M Rev. Walter Macon Lowrie 2 4 10 11 13
Born:
Christened:
Died: 19 Aug 1847 - China 2 4 13
Buried:
6 M Jonathan Roberts Lowrie 2 4 11 17 18
Born: 17 Feb 1823 - Butler Co, PA 18
Christened:
Died: 10 Dec 1885 18
Buried:
Spouse: Mary A. Lyon (1824-1863) 19
Marr: 15 Feb 1848 - Pennsylvania Furnace, Huntingdon Co, PA 18
Spouse: Matilda N. Nassua ( - ) 20
Marr: 1867 20
7 M Rev. Reuben Post Lowrie 2 4 11 21
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1893 - China
Buried:
8 M Henry M. Lowrie 11 17
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1895
Buried:
9 F [Unk] Lowrie 22
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William A. McClurg ( - ) 22
10 M Robert J. Lowrie 4
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Hon. Walter Lowrie
He grew up on his father's farm, enjoying nothing more in the way of education than the home instruction of winter nights, and an occasional quarter's schooling. His parents were devout Presbyterians, and the young man had careful religious training. At an early age, he entered upon a course of study, with the ministry in view, and pursued the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages with great diligence, under the Rev. John McPherrin, of Butler. He came to Butler originally as a teacher, in 1807. A number of years later, his older brother, Matthew, and himself, opened a store in the village, which was conducted most of the time by clerks, Matthew never being actively engaged in the business, and the duties of public life soon absorbing all of Walter Lowrie's attention. In 1811, he was elected to the Senate of the State of Pennsylvania, a position to which he was repeatedly re-elected. In 1818, he was elected to the Senate of the United States, and served in that body with ability and distinction for six years. This period was one of great interest in the history of our country, owing to the importance of the measures then agitated, and the prominence of the men who were then guiding the affairs of the nation. Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Randolph, Benton, and many others scarcely less illustrious as statesmen and thinkers, were members of the Senate, and their powers were exerted in the discussion of the Missouri compromise and other great national themes. Among these eminent Senators, Walter Lowrie "occupied a position of honorable prominence. His great integrity won their confidence, whilst his peculiar sagacity and practical judgment led them to seek his advice and rely upon his opinions. * * * He was regarded by the Senators who knew him best as an authority upon all questions of political history and constitutional law. During the discussion of the Missouri compromise, he made a speech, which is described as one of great power and force of argument, in which he took strong grounds against the extension of slavery, and uttered his strong protest against the establishment of slave labor upon a single foot of free territory." The writer continues: "His influence in the Senate was not only that of a statesman, but also of a Christian." He was one of the founders of the Congressional prayer-meeting, "which has ever since mingled the influences of prayer and faith with the councils of the nation." He was also one of the founders of the Congressional Temperance Society, and was for a long time a member of the Executive Committee of the American Colonization Society, and member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. At the expiration of his term of service as Senator, he was elected, in 1824, Secretary of the Senate, an office which he held for twelve years. This honorable and lucrative position he relinquished in 1836, to become Secretary of the then small, obscure and almost powerless Board of Foreign Missions, which he afterward was the chief instrument in building to its present condition of stupendous importance. It is seldom that such an example of obedience to the dictates of duty is afforded as was set before the people in this action of Senator Lowrie's. He relinquished a happy home, a position of ease and large emolument, the society of a large circle of eminent men, with whom he was on terms of the utmost intimacy, for a life in humble quarters, among strangers, in a city with which he was unfamiliar, and to assume an arduous position, the remuneration of which was scarcely sufficient to sustain him. He brought the strength of great earnestness of purpose to his new field of action, and became the efficient head of a great missionary work. His labors only terminated with his death. His eldest son, Rev. John C. Lowrie; his third son, Rev. Walter M. Lowrie; and his fourth son, Rev. Reuben Lowrie, all became zealous laborers in the missionary field. The two last named fell as martyrs in the cause, Walter M. being murdered by Chinese pirates in 1847, and Reuben falling a victim to overwork and the enervating climate of India. [HBC 1883, 172]
Like so many men of humble origin, after passing his boyhood after the manner of pioneers' sons, he became a distinguished and honorable citizen. He was elected to the Legislature, and from that position he rose to the office of United States Senator, and afterward served as Secretary of the Senate. Later, he became Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and held that position until his death. During his early life here, he operated a saw-mill on the small stream known as Lowrie Run. [HBC 1883, 445]
He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to the United States with his parents in 1792. The family settled in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, whence they removed to what is now Allegheny township, Butler county, in 1797. He was reared upon his father's farm, and his primary education consisted of an occasional term at a subscription school and home in-struction of winter nights. His parents being devout Presbyterians, he was carefully trained in that faith, and at an early age entered upon a course of study with the ministry in view, and pursued the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages under Rev. John McPherrin. In 1807 he came to Butler to engage in teaching, was soon after appointed clerk in the commissioner's office, was later elected a member of the board, and also filled the office of justice of the peace, thus commencing a public career that lasted continuously for nearly thirty years. In the meantime he and his brother, Matthew B., opened a store in Butler, but his public duties gave him little opportunity to devote to the business, which was conducted principally by clerks. In 1811 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legislature, and the following year to the State Senate. He was re-elected to the latter, and served in that body seven years. In 1818, while still a member of the State Senate, he was elected to the United States Senate, and served in that body with ability and distinction for six years. This period was one of great interest in the history of our country. Such distinguished men as Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Randolph and Benton were members of the Senate, and among those eminent statesmen Walter Lowrie occupied a position of honorable prominence. His stanch integrity won their confidence, while his practical judgment led them to seek his advice and rely upon his opinions. He was regarded by the senators who knew him best as an authority upon all questions of political history and constitutional law. During the discussion of the celebrated Missouri Compromise, he made a speech of great power and force of argument, in which he took strong grounds against the extension of slavery, and uttered a vigorous protest against the establishment of slave labor upon a single foot of free territory. His influence in the Senate was not only that of a statesman, but also of a Christian. He was one of the founders of the Congressional Prayer Meeting, as well as of the Congressional Temperance Society. For a long time he was a member of the executive committee of the American Colonization Society, also of the Senate committee on Indian affairs. At the expiration of his senatorial term, in March, 1825, he was elected secretary of the Senate, an office he held for twelve years, resigning it in 1836 to become secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, which, under his vigorous and sagacious policy, was built up from an obscure institution to its subsequent importance and prosperity. He brought to his new field of action the same strength of mind and earnestness of purpose that had characterized his previous career, and became the efficient head of a great missionary work. His labors only terminated with his death, which occurred in New York City, December 14, 1868.
In resigning the secretaryship of the United States Senate, and accepting that of the Board of Foreign Missions, Senator Lowrie exhibited a rare example of obedience to the dictates of duty. He relinquished a home surrounded by every comfort, a position of ease and large emolument, the society of a wide circle of eminent men, with whom he was on terms of the closest intimacy, for a life in humble quarters, in a city with which he was unfamiliar and to assume an arduous position, the remuneration of which was scarcely sufficient to sustain him. Notwithstanding his many and varied talents, he was a modest and unassuming gentleman, whose public career was marked by the same rigid morals and principles that guided his private life. [HBC 1895, 674]
He died January 1, 1868. [PGSI, 401]