Jesse William Lowry

• Son of Abner Lowry, Jr. and Arlisha Jane Funk
• Birth: August 08, 1884in Sterling, Sanpete, Ut
• Death: June 01, 1941 (56) in Lava Hot Springs, McCammon, Bannock, ID

Married

• Married: Eliza Stutznegger, Daughter of "John" Johannes Sturznegger and Katharina Barbara Ramsauer on September 26 1906 in Sanpete, Utah, United States.

Biography of Jesse William Lowry Part 1 Written by His son Glen Vernon Lowry

Jesse was born August 8, 1884, in Sterling (a small town about seven miles south of Manti) Utah. He was the sixth child of ten born to Abner Lowry Jr., and Arlisha Jane Funk. He had two brothers and seven sisters. Two children (one boy and one girl) passed away in infancy. Jesse's ancestry includes the following:

1) John Lowry, early Mormon Pioneer, born in Tennessee. Joined the church in Missouri, later went to Nauvoo, Illinois, and then across the plains to Utah with John Taylor Company. He was the first Bishop of the second ward, Salt Lake City, and shortly after was called by Brigham Young to go to Sanpete County and settle there.

2) Thomas Rogers and Henry Sampson of the "Mayflower." Thomas Rogers signed the Mayflower Compact. Henry Sampson was too young to sign.

3) Michael Reasor Jr. (born 1760) served under George Washington in the American Revolution. (See history of Michael Reasor family)

Jesse's Life History is detailed in the following time frames:

1) As a child--1884 through 1898 Jesse helped in the family farm, a dairy that was owned for a few years. His dad also had built two saw mills in the area, both of which were destroyed by fire. He was able to go to school a few winters and received formal schooling equivalent to the third or fourth grade. One story Jesse talks about of his youth was his first pair of shoes. His parents had just bought him this pair of shoes, which he wanted very much. One day he took them off to run in a race, laying them by the side of the road. A group of Indians came over the hill. The boys were frightened and ran off. When Jesse returned later, the shoes could not be found. The Indians had taken them and so Jesse was barefoot again.

2) As a youth 1899 through 1904 When he was fifteen, Jesse had an opportunity to learn the barber trade by being an apprentice under his brother-in-law, James Edwards, who had married Louisa Jane, his oldest sister. This apprenticeship took place in Richfield, Utah. After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Manti, Utah, and opened a barbershop of his own. This was a fun loving time for Jesse and he gave us the following incidents: a) The first train in Manti had arrived and it was a time of excitement and quite a few people had gathered to watch this steam giant. The engineer blew the whistle and let off steam and then Jesse, who had a strong voice, hollered out "Look out he's going to turn around." And of course people scattered in all directions. b) This incident took place also at the time the first train had arrived. Much publicity had gone out to the area and to some places where it was difficult to get into town often. In the afternoon, a bearded fellow entered the barber shop and asked for a shave. He looked at the barber chair and was unsure of how to get into the chair. Jesse quickly instructed him to get into the chair on his knees with his chin over the head rest and went ahead and gave him a shave in that position. Needless to say, Jesse was always a little worried that this customer would return and beat him up. Having a little money now from the shop, Jesse had an opportunity to expand his interest into two areas of recreation that he loved all his life and that was fishing and hunting, and he became very skilled in these two areas.

3) Courting Days 1904-1906 in Manti, Utah Jesse's sister Ada tells us that he courted Eliza Stutznegger, for three years until they were married on Septembeer 26, 1906, at the home of Eliza's parents. During this time he had lived in Manti North Ward and had gone to church with Eliza in the South Ward. They lived in the South Ward after they were married and Jesse soon got a recommend and they went to the Manti Temple on December 5, 1906, and received their endowments and were sealed. While courting, Jesse would oft times hire horses and take Eliza for horseback rides in the canyon. She made a riding habit with a long full split skirt so she could ride straddle, because women still rode side saddle. Other times he rented a white top buggy and horses and took her and other couples, Ada and boy friend, and Jennie Carlsen and her friend for rides and picnics. They did a lot of dancing in Manti and also went to neighboring towns to dance. Eliza describes Jesse as a nice looking, clean shaven, kinda bashful at first, young man who showed her lots of good times.

4) Early Married Life in Manti and Sterling 1907-1911 Jesse and Eliza's first child was born June 11, 1907, and named Leland Jesse. The following year on September 23, 1908, Leland passed away with a summer flu. Phyllis was born January 23, 1909, in Manti, and then on December 21, 1910, Velma was born. For the first few years, Jesse barbered in Manti and then in 1910, just before Velma was born he became very ill with typhoid fever. The family then moved in with his parents on the farm in Sterling. His brother Dee took over the barber shop. When Jesse recovered, he worked on the farm, but there was very little money at that time. Finally in desperation, Jesse loaded his furniture in a rail box car and moved to Idaho.

5) A Growing Family in McCammon, Idaho 1912-1926. When leaving Sterling, Utah, in the spring, Jesse had planned to open a barber shop in Rigby, Idaho, the home town of two of Eliza's brothers (Jack and Fred). On his way to Rigby, he stopped to see his two uncles (Earnest and Will) in McCammon. These two uncles persuaded him to open a barber shop in McCammon instead of Rigby. Jesse's first barber shop in McCammon was located on a street overlooking the Union Pacific Depot and rail tracks. This building also housed a drug store. Upstairs were two living quarters, one for Jesse and family and one for Hy Green and family (the operater of the drug store). My mother, Eliza, related to me that after the shop was made ready for opening, that she and dad checked the family finances and found only one dime left, which was then used to buy a loaf of bread.

The barber shop was a success from the start, and provided a good living until the great depression in 1929. In addition to the barber business, Jesse had a laundry agency, and also clothes were picked up to be cleaned in Pocatello at the Troy Laundry. Deliveries and pick ups were made once a week. Jesse, also sold suits and overcoats from samples shown, and made to measure. Eliza, made many quilts, using the outdated samples as coverings for the quilts. A few years after the shop opened a large bathtub was installed with hot and cold running water, one of the first in McCammon. Cost of hair cuts started out at 35 cents but soon went to 50 cents. a shave was 25 cents. Use of the tub was 25 cents, and shoe shine 10 cents. In about 1923 the barber shop was moved a block west on Main Street next to Becks Pool Hall and across the street from the Big Store. After living in the upstairs quarters above the shop for a few years, the family rented a small home about a mile south of the shop. This house burned down, and then Jesse purchased a home with one half acre of land across from the then Mormon Church Amusement Hall, which was used for Church meetings and town recreations. This home was purchased from his Uncle Earnest. The family lived in this home until Jesse's death. This home was beautifully landscaped with shade trees, flowers, shrubs, and also well utilized in having ample room for fruit trees, garden, berry bushes, chicken house, and even a place for one cow. It had a garage with the entrance from the alley. Under the garage was storage for fruit bottles and a root cellar and potato storage.

Jesse, enjoyed full participation in community service. He belonged to the town council, was the mayor, managed the local baseball team for years, was on the school board, and was a great fan of all local sport events. He was a long time fan of the Philly Athletics, and loved the World Series, especially after getting a small radio for his barber shop. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was an expert pool player, and trap shooter. He also enjoyed playing Solo, and Pinocle at the pool hall when not busy in the shop. His political party choice was Republican and in depression times was still with the Republican party even when most of the town changed to Democratic Party. One of his great thrills in this political party occurred when he once attended a rally in Pocatello and had the privilege of meeting Senator Borah. He not only met him, but had him ride with him from the meeting house to the restaurant.