Grosvenor Porter Lowrey Sr (1831 - 1893)

Born 25 Sep 1831 in North Egremont, Egremont, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Laura Frances (Tryon) Lowrey — married 1862 in New York city, New York, United States

Husband of Katherine (Armour) Reed — married 16 Sep 1880 in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 20 Apr 1893 at age 61 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Maranda [send private message]

NOTE ON SPELLING OF SURNAME: This has many variants, but the family themselves spelled it Lowrey. It can sometimes be found as Lowry, Lowery, Lourey, etc.

Biography

Grosvenor was born in 1831 North Egremont, Massachusetts and passed away in 1893 New York city, New York, United States.

His Parents are William Lowrey (or Lourey) & Mary (Unknown)

Grosvenor was a prominent lawyer who worked with many American corporations, including railroads, telegraphs, and Thomas Edison’s electrical enterprises.

Grosvenor P. Lowrey, Electricity: A Popular Electrical Journal, Volumes 4, Number 15, Electricity Newspaper Company, 1893, page 202; ^[1]

• 1st Wife) Laura Frances (Tryon) Lowrey (1836-1879)

Their children are:

1-Francis Porter Lowrey, b 4 Nov 1863 NY

2-Royal Phelps Lowrey, b 22 Jul 1866 Brooklyn, NY

3-Grosvenor Porter Lowrey Jr, b 3 Feb 1871 NY

4-Virginia Kent Lowrey, b 1874 Tarrytown, New York m. Frank Pennington Ball 1894

5-Juliet Tryon Lowrey, b abt 1875 NY

• 2nd wife) Kate (Armour) Reed, married 16 Sep 1880 in Northumberland, Ontario, Canada.^[2]

Their Children are

1-Grace Armour Lowrey (1882-1937)

2-John Douglas Lowrey (1887-1945)

(Letter sent from Gove to his 1st wife Kate-0000480461T.PDF)

He had a number of passports over the years.

• He was issued a passport on 7 Feb 1867.^[3]

• In April 1872 he applies for a passport for himself and his first wife, Laura, to travel abroad. The notary on the application was J. M. or F. M. Tryon.^[4]

• In 1887 he applied for a passport for himself, his second wife Kate and for children Juliet Tryon Lowrey and Grace Armour Lowrey to travel abroad "to reside in Switzerland".^[5]

Death Registration^[6][7]

Burial:Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York, USA
Plot: Section 9 Lowrey plot

Obituary

Grosvenor P. Lowrey.

Grosvenor Porter Lowrey, the well-known corporation lawyer, was stricken with apolplexy shortly after 6 o'clock on Thursday night at his home, 121 Madison avenue, and died at 9:30 o'clock that night. He had been in his usual health during the day and had attended to his business affairs at his office at 3 Broad street up to the usual time of leaving for home. Mr. Lowrey came from an old Dutch family, and was born in North Egremont, Mass., on Sept. 25, 1831. After receiving a common school education in his native town he studied law under Andrew H. Reeder at Lafayette College and was admitted to the bar in 1854. Kansas was made a Territory in 1854, and Mr. Reeder was appointed its first Governor by President Pierce. Mr. Lowrey became Gov. Reeder's private secretary, and accompanied him to Kansas. It was at the beginning of the struggle which resulted in Kansas becoming a free State. Gov. Reeder and Mr. Lowrey were free State men. During the temporary triumph of their opponents they and many other free State men were indicted for treason, and they fled from the State in 1856. Returning to the East, Mr. Lowrey engaged actively in the support of John C. Fremont, then running for the Presidency. During the session of the New York Legislature in 1856=7 he was the Albany correspondent of the New York Evening Post, and in the following spring he settled in this city as a lawyer, entering the firm of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone. Ex-Judge John K. Porter was the head of this firm, and the other members were George Wales Soren and Charles Francis Stone. In 1879 or '80 Judge Porter and Mr. Soren retired and James S. Auerbach and Richard W. Stevenson were admitted, and the firm became Lowrey, Stone & Auerbach. This connection lasted up to Mr. Lowrey's death. Among the great enterprises with which Mr. Lowrey has been connected are the elevated railroads of this city and the Edison companies. He was the counsel for the original Gilbert road, and took the principal part in all the litigation which resulted in the colsolidation of the Manhattan and Metropolitan road. He was an early friend of Edison, and the development of the Edison companies and the litigation of their patent rights has been a great work of his life. He was for years the general counsel of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and was counsel for Wells, Fargo & Co., the United States Express Company, the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and many other corporations. He wrote considerably upon professional subjects. One of his pamphlets, "English Neutrality,: relating to the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers built in English ports, was the first of the inquiries into British responsibility in this matter which led to the award of damages. Mr. Lowery was twice married. His first wife was Laura Tryon, daughter of Frncis Tryon, whom he married in 1862. In 1880 he married Kate Armour, daughter of Chief Justice Armour of the Court of Queen's Bench for Ontario. She survives him, and he leaves seven children—five by his first wife and two by his second. Mr. Lowrey was a member of the Manhattan, the Union League, and the Reform clubs. The news of his death was announced in the United States Circuit Court hesterday by Elihu Root, and the court adjourned in respect to his memory, as did also several of the other courts in session in this city. The funeral will be on Monday from the new Swedenborgian Church in East Thirty-fifth street.^[8]

Will

Estate entered probate 3 Aug 1893 in New York City.

He appointed Charles H. Godfrey, Richard W. Stevenson and Francis P. Lowrey or in case one of these doesn’t accept the appointment, Sherbune B. Eaton as executors and guardians of the property of his minor children.

To son Francis P. Lowrey his law library and all law books, periodicals and pamphlets, including all interest in law books and libraries not his sole property, also by carved table, his library table and all other furniture of his library.

To his second wife Kate Lowrey all other household furniture belonging to him and his pictures.

The will notes that he had already given to his wife Kate Lowrey four hundred and ten shares of the capital stock of the corporation, Number one hundred and twenty” one Madison Avenue the same being of the par value of $41,000. He had also insured his life in her favor to the abount of $10,000. He directed his said executors to set apart, out of his estate, and hold, invest and keep invested for the benefit of his said wife an amount which added to the then reasonable value of his provisions for her heretofore made, would bring the aggregate principal of his provision for her up to $100,000. Upon her death, half of that was to be disposed of in accordance to her will, and the other half to his children living at her death and to the issue then living of his child or children then dead, in equal shares, per stirpes.

Out of the residue of his estate if any he left $10,000 to each of his children living at his death and the like amount to the issue, if any then living, of each child of his then dead, such issue to share what any of child of his would take if then living.

He appointed his wife Kate Lowrey guardian of the persons of their minor children.

Will was dated 4 Aug 1888.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Grosvenor P. Lowrey, Electricity: A Popular Electrical Journal, Volumes 4, Number 15, Electricity Newspaper Company, 1893, page 202; [1]
2. ↑ Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 34 (Ancestry.com)
3. ↑ U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925; Passport Issue Date: 7 Feb 1867 (Ancestry.com)
4. ↑ U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925; Passport Issue Date: 11 Apr 1872 (Ancestry.com)
5. ↑ U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925; Passport Issue Date: Sep 1887 (Ancestry.com)
6. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch ([2] :Grosousor/Grosvenor Porter Lourey/LOWREY, 20 Apr 1893; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,858.
7. ↑ New York City Deaths, 1892-1902; Deaths Reported in April-May-June, 1893; Certificate #: 15317 (Ancestry.com)
8. ↑ The Sun (New York, NY), April 22, 1893, Page 3, Image 3 https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org
9. ↑ New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999; Record of Wills, 1665-1916; Index to Wills, 1662-1923 (New York County); Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (New York County); Probate Place: New York, New York; Wills, Vol 0491-0494, 1893 (Ancestry.com)

• 1870 US Federal Census; Census Place: New York Ward 21 District 17 (2nd Enum), New York, New York; Roll: M593_; Page: ; Image: . (Ancestry.com)

• 1880 US Federal Census; Census Place: Mount Pleasant, Westchester, New York; Roll: 946; Page: 431B; Enumeration District: 108 (Ancestry.com) NOTE: Mother-in-law Sarah Tryon living in household.

• Grosvenor Porter Lowrey's Find a Grave Memorial 72551406

Acknowledgements

Created by: Marie Bonafonte