From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Nicholas O. Lowrey was born August 25, 1850, died August 10, 1897 near Wilmer, Texas. He came from Tennessee with his father, James B. Lowrey in 1859. He was married to Mary Lou Brown on January 30, 1879 by Dr. Pangborn at the Pangborn home in Hutchins, Texas. Mary Lou was born February 2, 1861, died December 12, 1891 at the Lowrey home on East Pleasant Run Road, north of Wilmer, Texas and east of Lancaster, Texas. (Now the Lowrey-Hurst home.)
Her parents were Thos. H. Brown, born December 14, 1839, died May 24, 1876; and Martha Jane Chapman Brown born March 9, 1838, died July 1929. Martha Jane was born in Putnam County, Indiana, came to Texas in 1847. The Brown and Chapman families were also early pioneer families settling in this area.
The children were: Flora Martha Lowrey, James B.; Thomas Nicholas; Rex V.; Dudley (infant); twins, Mary Lou and Mary Lee.
In 1884, the title to the 124 acres were conveyed to Nick from his father, James B. Nick paid $2480.00 for the property. He and Mary Lou had been living on the farm several years before he purchased it. He continued in the footsteps of his father – farming, cattle raising and acquiring more land. In 1891, only nineteen days after giving birth to twins, Mary Lou died. Nick never married again and continued to raise his children on the homestead property. In 1897, after a long drought, a thunderstorm moved into the area. Nick and a crew were gathering a crop but came into the barn to seek refuge from the storm. Lightning struck the barn killing Nick, his son Rex, only eleven years old, and a field hand, Mr. Wright. A horse and mule standing nearby were also killed. The barn was only slightly damaged and for many years there was a discolored area on the wall near where they were standing and squatting when the tragedy struck.
Since Mary Lou had died in 1891 and now Nick in 1897, there were five minors left as orphans. James B. Lowrey, their grandfather, was appointed guardian of the estate. Nick had planned for his estate to be divided equally among his children when they became of age. Thus in 1901 the court directed James B. Lowrey to distribute the estate, according one-fifth to each child. Thus Flora Lowrey, the first born daughter, became the owner of the homestead property. (Texas Historical Site Marker information: Lowrey-Hurst Home.)
Note: More detailed family genealogy may be found in Lowrey and Allied Families by John Simeon Hurst, Jr. published 1983, and Hurst and Allied Families by same author, published 1984.
By Helen Hurst, Lancaster
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