Son of Granville L. Lowther and Elizabeth Kelly. Grandson of William W. Lowther & Melison Maxwell. Lloyd married Lauretta Thistle in Sistersville, WV 29 Dec 1886. He moved to KS first, then returned to WV to be married, then they both moved to KS. Records of 1884-85 show that L.A. Lowther was principal - salary $70 per month. Two kids: Eugene Thistle Lowther & Kathleen Lowther. Lloyd was school superintendant in Emporia, KS for almost 40 years.
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Note: The Ritchie Co, WV birth records list his birth date as Jan 14, 1857 (Son of G.L. Lowther) which we believe is accurate. However, there is also a Tyler Co, WV birth record listing his birth date as Jan 14, 1856 (son of Granville and Elizabeth Lowther).
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 07 Apr 1880, Wednesday
The following are among recent arrivals at the New McLure House: ... L. A. Lowther, Sistersville ...
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 26 Apr 1882, Wednesday
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
ST. JAMES HOTEL.
L. A. Lowther, Sistersville
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 06 Jul 1882, Thursday
PERSONAL POINTS.
Something About Some of Our Distinguished Visitors
W. A. Loe and L. A. Lowther, both of the Sistersville Independent, R. M. McEldowney, of the Wetzel Democrat, and Mr. Pemberton, of the Moundsville Herald, arrived late last night.
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The Emporia Gazette, 16 Nov 1896, Friday
L. A. Lowther arrived in Emporia arrived in Emporia today and at 9 o'clock took charge of the city schools as superintendent. He did not make any address to the High school students but will spend the first few days in visiting the different grade buildings and getting acquainted with the schools.
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The Daily Register, Wheeling, WV, 30 Dec 1886, Thursday
Fifteen couples of young folks came up from Sistersville yesterday, accompanying Mr. L. A. Lowther and bride, who left on the afternoon P., C. & St. L. train for the far west, where they will reside in the future.
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The West Virginia Daily Oil Review, Sistersville, WV, 24 Oct 1900, Wednesday
Prof. L. A. Lowther, son of Mr. G. L. Lowther, and a well known former resident of this city, is in the city today to visit his parents and other relatives and friends here for a few days. Mr. Lowther has been at Washington, D. C., attending the Teachers National Association, and stopped here on his way home. He like all the old citizens who return to Sistersville after several years' absence are simply amazed at the wonderful changes made in the old town. Mr. Lowther is principal of one of the largest schools in the state of Kansas, and his old friends here are all glad to see him again and to hear of his splendid success in his western home.
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The Chase County [KS] Leader, 10 Jul 1908, Friday
L. A. Lowther returned yesterday from Cleveland, where he has been attending the annual session of the N. E. A. Mr. Lowther has been gone for several weeks. He was called to Sistersville, W. Va., by the serious sickness of his father, but before he arrived his father died. After remaining at his old home a short time and being there for his father's funeral, he stopped on his way home at Cleveland.--Emporia [KS] Gazette
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The Emporia Gazette, 03 Mar 1934, Saturday
An item in the "40 Years Ago" column in the Lawrence Journal-World Friday announced the L. A. Lowther had been chosen as one of five orators for the school of arts for commencement at Kansas university. The five orators were chosen by the faculty. The other four were Kate Riggs, Rose R. Morgan, C. F. Griffin and Arch Hogg.
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Emporia, Kansas, Monday, January 6, 1936
The Emporia Daily Gazette
L.A. LOWTHER IS DEAD
L.A. Lowther, former superintendent of the Emporia city schools, died at 4 o'clock Sunday morning at his home, 617 Exchange. He had been critically sick only since last Tuesday, but had been in failing health for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Interment will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery. The casket will be open at the Sutton Funeral Home this evening and until 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. It will not be open at the church.
The Emporia city schools will be closed Tuesday afternoon. The meeting of the Emporia board of education, scheduled for tonight, has been postponed until Wednesday evening.
TO EMPORIA IN 1896
Mr. Lowther came to Emporia in 1896 to become superintendent of the Emporia city schools. When he resigned last year after 38-½ years of service, he had the longest record of continuous service to one school system of any school head in Kansas.
He is survived by a son, Eugene T. Lowther, of The Gazette; a daughter, Miss Kathleen Lowther, a teacher in Central High School of Oklahoma City; and a grandson, James Eugene Lowther. A half-brother, A.G. Lowther, of Sistersville, W. Va. also survives.
Lloyd A. Lowther was born in Middlebourne, W. Va., January 14, 1857. He was the son of Granville L. Lowther, of Cairo, W. Va., and Elizabeth Kelly Lowther, both of Scotch Irish descent. Granville Lowther was proprietor of a hotel in Middlebourne, and as his young son grew up he became well acquainted with the county superintendent of schools, who lived at the hotel. One day the superintendent said to him: "Why don't you, and some of the other young fellows just out of the public schools, take the teachers' examination? It will do you no harm and will show you exactly where you stand. You will not be obligated to teach unless you wish to do so." Young Lowther, 16 years old, thought the matter over, took the examination, and received a third grade certificate to teach. Still, he didn't think much about teaching.
TEACHES A COUNTRY SCHOOL
An old friend of his father—the two men had been together in the Civil War—lived a few miles out of town, and he said to the elder Lowther, "Why doesn't Lloyd come out and teach our school, since he has a certificate?" So young Lowther, with his certificate in his pocket, walked the 2-½ miles to the country school district, interviewed the school board and was hired to teach the school, four months at a salary of $28 a month. He paid the farmer friend $2.50 a week for board and room, and walked home every Friday evening after school.
Mr. Lowther found he liked teaching, he liked the girls and boys in the school and this teaching venture decided him to prepare himself for the school work, which he had not before considered. He attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown a year, and long about the same time he studied law with a group of young men, and was admitted to the bar in West Virginia in 1883. He came to Cottonwood Falls in September 1884, where for five years he was superintendent of the schools there. During these five years he helped to organize the Cottonwood Falls High School, which later became the Chase County High School. Next, he enrolled in the University of Kansas, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1895. Later, he took post-graduate work at Clark University and the University of Chicago, and in 1931 the College of Emporia bestowed on him the degree of doctor of literature.
GOES BACK TO COTTONWOOD
After graduation from the University of Kansas, Mr. Lowther returned to Cottonwood Falls, where he again was superintendent of the schools, this time for 1-½ years. He resigned to come to Emporia.
The Chase County Leader a few years ago, speaking of Mr. Lowther's work in Cottonwood Falls, said, "The high standing of the Cottonwood Falls schools can be dated from his coming."
Mr. Lowther began his work as superintendent of the Emporia schools in November 1896, succeeding John Detrich, who went from Emporia to Colorado Springs. The Lowther Junior High School building, erected in 1923, is named in Mr. Lowther's honor.
Mr. Lowther married Miss Lauretta Thistle, of Sistersville, W.V., December 29, 1886. Their first year in Emporia the Lowthers lived at the southwest corner of Seventh and Merchant, then bought the house at 617 Exchange which since has been the family home. Mrs. Lowther died March 11, 1934.
SEES EMPORIA SCHOOLS GROW
During his long term of service as head of the Emporia school system, Mr. Lowther saw many changes and improvements in the system. When he took charge of the schools, there were only six teachers in the high school, and 125 pupils. At the time of his resignation the Senior High School faculty numbered 31, and the enrollment was close to 800. The entire enrollment of the city schools when he began his work here was 2,116, with 47 teachers. When he resigned the enrollment was more than 3,000 with 105 teachers.
James Barnett was principal of the high school when Mr. Lowther first became superintendent. The old Stone building stood on the northeast corner of the high school campus, and the late Miss Frances Riggs was principal there. Other school principals were Miss Sadie Andrews, at the Fourth Ward Building, corner of Seventh and Sylvan; Miss Margaret Tytherleigh, now Mrs. George Randolph, at Union school; Harry E. Peach, at Kansas Avenue; the late Miss Mary Smith, at the Third Ward, replaced later by the Maynard; T.S. Gallagher at the Central Avenue; the Late Miss Hannah Bunbury at the Walnut, and Miss Mary McCreary, now Mrs. Harrison Parkman, at Lincoln.
High school teachers, at the time Mr. Lowther began work here, received salaries of $60 to $88 a month and grade teachers received from $47.50 to $52.25. The grade school buildings, which contained four rooms each, two upstairs and two downstairs, were heated with stoves. Some were of frame construction. The courses of study were more limited than they are now. Manual training, home economics and library work are among the new courses added in the high school during Mr. Lowther's administration. Athletics and supervised music, the latter begun under the direction of the late D.O. Jones, were given increased importance. Kindergartens were added to the school system.
MANY NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED
During Mr. Lowther's administration new school buildings replaced old and outgrown ones, the total building operations up to 1929 amounting to $776,000, and purchases of real estate for school purposes totaling $25,500 additional. The following buildings were erected while he was superintendent: Century Grade School, in 1900; Union School, in 1901, replacing the old Union building; Maynard, replacing the Third Ward building; Walnut, replacing the old Walnut School; Senior High School, built in 1912, replacing the Garfield building erected in 1880; Junior High School, built in 1923; Kansas Avenue School, in 1927, replacing old Kansas Avenue; Mary Herbert in 1929, replacing Lincoln School; Riverside, replacing Central Avenue School.
Following Mr. Lowther's announcement last April of his resignation to take effect in July, the schools and the town expressed their appreciation of him and his work in various ways. The members of the faculty club of the city schools and of the board of education, their husbands and wives, gave a dinner in his honor at the Country Club. On another occasion the pupils of the Senior High School paid him honor at a special assembly. The Lowther Junior High School pupils, teachers and building care-takers, at a special assembly service in his honor, presented Mr. Lowther with a life-size Van Dyke portrait study of himself, in appreciation of his 38 years of service. The portrait hangs in the east corridor of the building. Another token of appreciation was a leather-bound book continuing a letter from each teacher in the Emporia school system and one from each member of the board of education, which was prepared and presented to Mr. Lowther.
ACTIVE IN CHURCH WORK
Mr. Lowther was a member of the National Education Association, and in 1914 was elected president of the Kansas State Teachers Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served it as Sunday school superintendent and as a member of the board of trustees for many years. He also was a member of the Masonic bodies in Emporia, of the Scottish Rite consistory in Topeka, and of the Modern Woodmen; the Kansas School Masters Club and of Sigma Xi national honorary society, at the University of Kansas. His local clubs were the Rotary and the Current. He was a member of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, served several years on the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A., and for 25 years was a member of the city library board of trustees.
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FUNERAL OF L.A. LOWTHER
Funeral services for L.A. Lowther who died Sunday, where held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, past of the church, conducted the services. Miss Edna Hoydar, Mrs. Theodore Owen, Floyd Tompkins and Clayton Patterson sang "Abide with Me" and "Crossing the Bar," accompanied at the organ by D.A. Hirschler. Pallbearers were Fred Heath, W.W. Daniels, Rice Brown, A. Kirk Ramy, Ora Rindom, Frank Pennington, Harry E. Peach and Calvin Lambert. Interment was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Out-of-town friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. E.D. Replogle and Sidney Replogle, of Cottonwood Falls, and Roland Boynton, of Topeka.
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Lloyd A L Lowther in the West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938
Name: Lloyd A L Lowther
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Jan 1857
Birth Place: Ritchie, West Virginia
Birth County: Ritchie
Father: G S Lowther
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 1887475
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Note: The Ritchie Co, WV birth records list his birth date as Jan 14, 1857 (Son of G.L. Lowther) which we believe is accurate. However, there is also a Tyler Co, WV birth record listing his birth date as Jan 14, 1856 (son of Granville and Elizabeth Lowther).
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 07 Apr 1880, Wednesday
The following are among recent arrivals at the New McLure House: ... L. A. Lowther, Sistersville ...
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 26 Apr 1882, Wednesday
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
ST. JAMES HOTEL.
L. A. Lowther, Sistersville
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 06 Jul 1882, Thursday
PERSONAL POINTS.
Something About Some of Our Distinguished Visitors
W. A. Loe and L. A. Lowther, both of the Sistersville Independent, R. M. McEldowney, of the Wetzel Democrat, and Mr. Pemberton, of the Moundsville Herald, arrived late last night.
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The Emporia Gazette, 16 Nov 1896, Friday
L. A. Lowther arrived in Emporia arrived in Emporia today and at 9 o'clock took charge of the city schools as superintendent. He did not make any address to the High school students but will spend the first few days in visiting the different grade buildings and getting acquainted with the schools.
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The Daily Register, Wheeling, WV, 30 Dec 1886, Thursday
Fifteen couples of young folks came up from Sistersville yesterday, accompanying Mr. L. A. Lowther and bride, who left on the afternoon P., C. & St. L. train for the far west, where they will reside in the future.
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The West Virginia Daily Oil Review, Sistersville, WV, 24 Oct 1900, Wednesday
Prof. L. A. Lowther, son of Mr. G. L. Lowther, and a well known former resident of this city, is in the city today to visit his parents and other relatives and friends here for a few days. Mr. Lowther has been at Washington, D. C., attending the Teachers National Association, and stopped here on his way home. He like all the old citizens who return to Sistersville after several years' absence are simply amazed at the wonderful changes made in the old town. Mr. Lowther is principal of one of the largest schools in the state of Kansas, and his old friends here are all glad to see him again and to hear of his splendid success in his western home.
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The Chase County [KS] Leader, 10 Jul 1908, Friday
L. A. Lowther returned yesterday from Cleveland, where he has been attending the annual session of the N. E. A. Mr. Lowther has been gone for several weeks. He was called to Sistersville, W. Va., by the serious sickness of his father, but before he arrived his father died. After remaining at his old home a short time and being there for his father's funeral, he stopped on his way home at Cleveland.--Emporia [KS] Gazette
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The Emporia Gazette, 03 Mar 1934, Saturday
An item in the "40 Years Ago" column in the Lawrence Journal-World Friday announced the L. A. Lowther had been chosen as one of five orators for the school of arts for commencement at Kansas university. The five orators were chosen by the faculty. The other four were Kate Riggs, Rose R. Morgan, C. F. Griffin and Arch Hogg.
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Emporia, Kansas, Monday, January 6, 1936
The Emporia Daily Gazette
L.A. LOWTHER IS DEAD
L.A. Lowther, former superintendent of the Emporia city schools, died at 4 o'clock Sunday morning at his home, 617 Exchange. He had been critically sick only since last Tuesday, but had been in failing health for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Interment will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery. The casket will be open at the Sutton Funeral Home this evening and until 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. It will not be open at the church.
The Emporia city schools will be closed Tuesday afternoon. The meeting of the Emporia board of education, scheduled for tonight, has been postponed until Wednesday evening.
TO EMPORIA IN 1896
Mr. Lowther came to Emporia in 1896 to become superintendent of the Emporia city schools. When he resigned last year after 38-½ years of service, he had the longest record of continuous service to one school system of any school head in Kansas.
He is survived by a son, Eugene T. Lowther, of The Gazette; a daughter, Miss Kathleen Lowther, a teacher in Central High School of Oklahoma City; and a grandson, James Eugene Lowther. A half-brother, A.G. Lowther, of Sistersville, W. Va. also survives.
Lloyd A. Lowther was born in Middlebourne, W. Va., January 14, 1857. He was the son of Granville L. Lowther, of Cairo, W. Va., and Elizabeth Kelly Lowther, both of Scotch Irish descent. Granville Lowther was proprietor of a hotel in Middlebourne, and as his young son grew up he became well acquainted with the county superintendent of schools, who lived at the hotel. One day the superintendent said to him: "Why don't you, and some of the other young fellows just out of the public schools, take the teachers' examination? It will do you no harm and will show you exactly where you stand. You will not be obligated to teach unless you wish to do so." Young Lowther, 16 years old, thought the matter over, took the examination, and received a third grade certificate to teach. Still, he didn't think much about teaching.
TEACHES A COUNTRY SCHOOL
An old friend of his father—the two men had been together in the Civil War—lived a few miles out of town, and he said to the elder Lowther, "Why doesn't Lloyd come out and teach our school, since he has a certificate?" So young Lowther, with his certificate in his pocket, walked the 2-½ miles to the country school district, interviewed the school board and was hired to teach the school, four months at a salary of $28 a month. He paid the farmer friend $2.50 a week for board and room, and walked home every Friday evening after school.
Mr. Lowther found he liked teaching, he liked the girls and boys in the school and this teaching venture decided him to prepare himself for the school work, which he had not before considered. He attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown a year, and long about the same time he studied law with a group of young men, and was admitted to the bar in West Virginia in 1883. He came to Cottonwood Falls in September 1884, where for five years he was superintendent of the schools there. During these five years he helped to organize the Cottonwood Falls High School, which later became the Chase County High School. Next, he enrolled in the University of Kansas, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1895. Later, he took post-graduate work at Clark University and the University of Chicago, and in 1931 the College of Emporia bestowed on him the degree of doctor of literature.
GOES BACK TO COTTONWOOD
After graduation from the University of Kansas, Mr. Lowther returned to Cottonwood Falls, where he again was superintendent of the schools, this time for 1-½ years. He resigned to come to Emporia.
The Chase County Leader a few years ago, speaking of Mr. Lowther's work in Cottonwood Falls, said, "The high standing of the Cottonwood Falls schools can be dated from his coming."
Mr. Lowther began his work as superintendent of the Emporia schools in November 1896, succeeding John Detrich, who went from Emporia to Colorado Springs. The Lowther Junior High School building, erected in 1923, is named in Mr. Lowther's honor.
Mr. Lowther married Miss Lauretta Thistle, of Sistersville, W.V., December 29, 1886. Their first year in Emporia the Lowthers lived at the southwest corner of Seventh and Merchant, then bought the house at 617 Exchange which since has been the family home. Mrs. Lowther died March 11, 1934.
SEES EMPORIA SCHOOLS GROW
During his long term of service as head of the Emporia school system, Mr. Lowther saw many changes and improvements in the system. When he took charge of the schools, there were only six teachers in the high school, and 125 pupils. At the time of his resignation the Senior High School faculty numbered 31, and the enrollment was close to 800. The entire enrollment of the city schools when he began his work here was 2,116, with 47 teachers. When he resigned the enrollment was more than 3,000 with 105 teachers.
James Barnett was principal of the high school when Mr. Lowther first became superintendent. The old Stone building stood on the northeast corner of the high school campus, and the late Miss Frances Riggs was principal there. Other school principals were Miss Sadie Andrews, at the Fourth Ward Building, corner of Seventh and Sylvan; Miss Margaret Tytherleigh, now Mrs. George Randolph, at Union school; Harry E. Peach, at Kansas Avenue; the late Miss Mary Smith, at the Third Ward, replaced later by the Maynard; T.S. Gallagher at the Central Avenue; the Late Miss Hannah Bunbury at the Walnut, and Miss Mary McCreary, now Mrs. Harrison Parkman, at Lincoln.
High school teachers, at the time Mr. Lowther began work here, received salaries of $60 to $88 a month and grade teachers received from $47.50 to $52.25. The grade school buildings, which contained four rooms each, two upstairs and two downstairs, were heated with stoves. Some were of frame construction. The courses of study were more limited than they are now. Manual training, home economics and library work are among the new courses added in the high school during Mr. Lowther's administration. Athletics and supervised music, the latter begun under the direction of the late D.O. Jones, were given increased importance. Kindergartens were added to the school system.
MANY NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED
During Mr. Lowther's administration new school buildings replaced old and outgrown ones, the total building operations up to 1929 amounting to $776,000, and purchases of real estate for school purposes totaling $25,500 additional. The following buildings were erected while he was superintendent: Century Grade School, in 1900; Union School, in 1901, replacing the old Union building; Maynard, replacing the Third Ward building; Walnut, replacing the old Walnut School; Senior High School, built in 1912, replacing the Garfield building erected in 1880; Junior High School, built in 1923; Kansas Avenue School, in 1927, replacing old Kansas Avenue; Mary Herbert in 1929, replacing Lincoln School; Riverside, replacing Central Avenue School.
Following Mr. Lowther's announcement last April of his resignation to take effect in July, the schools and the town expressed their appreciation of him and his work in various ways. The members of the faculty club of the city schools and of the board of education, their husbands and wives, gave a dinner in his honor at the Country Club. On another occasion the pupils of the Senior High School paid him honor at a special assembly. The Lowther Junior High School pupils, teachers and building care-takers, at a special assembly service in his honor, presented Mr. Lowther with a life-size Van Dyke portrait study of himself, in appreciation of his 38 years of service. The portrait hangs in the east corridor of the building. Another token of appreciation was a leather-bound book continuing a letter from each teacher in the Emporia school system and one from each member of the board of education, which was prepared and presented to Mr. Lowther.
ACTIVE IN CHURCH WORK
Mr. Lowther was a member of the National Education Association, and in 1914 was elected president of the Kansas State Teachers Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served it as Sunday school superintendent and as a member of the board of trustees for many years. He also was a member of the Masonic bodies in Emporia, of the Scottish Rite consistory in Topeka, and of the Modern Woodmen; the Kansas School Masters Club and of Sigma Xi national honorary society, at the University of Kansas. His local clubs were the Rotary and the Current. He was a member of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, served several years on the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A., and for 25 years was a member of the city library board of trustees.
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FUNERAL OF L.A. LOWTHER
Funeral services for L.A. Lowther who died Sunday, where held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, past of the church, conducted the services. Miss Edna Hoydar, Mrs. Theodore Owen, Floyd Tompkins and Clayton Patterson sang "Abide with Me" and "Crossing the Bar," accompanied at the organ by D.A. Hirschler. Pallbearers were Fred Heath, W.W. Daniels, Rice Brown, A. Kirk Ramy, Ora Rindom, Frank Pennington, Harry E. Peach and Calvin Lambert. Interment was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Out-of-town friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. E.D. Replogle and Sidney Replogle, of Cottonwood Falls, and Roland Boynton, of Topeka.
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Lloyd A L Lowther in the West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938
Name: Lloyd A L Lowther
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Jan 1857
Birth Place: Ritchie, West Virginia
Birth County: Ritchie
Father: G S Lowther
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 1887475
Son of Granville L. Lowther and Elizabeth Kelly. Grandson of William W. Lowther & Melison Maxwell. Lloyd married Lauretta Thistle in Sistersville, WV 29 Dec 1886. He moved to KS first, then returned to WV to be married, then they both moved to KS. Records of 1884-85 show that L.A. Lowther was principal - salary $70 per month. Two kids: Eugene Thistle Lowther & Kathleen Lowther. Lloyd was school superintendant in Emporia, KS for almost 40 years.
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Note: The Ritchie Co, WV birth records list his birth date as Jan 14, 1857 (Son of G.L. Lowther) which we believe is accurate. However, there is also a Tyler Co, WV birth record listing his birth date as Jan 14, 1856 (son of Granville and Elizabeth Lowther).
**************************
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 07 Apr 1880, Wednesday
The following are among recent arrivals at the New McLure House: ... L. A. Lowther, Sistersville ...
**************************
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 26 Apr 1882, Wednesday
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
ST. JAMES HOTEL.
L. A. Lowther, Sistersville
**************************
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 06 Jul 1882, Thursday
PERSONAL POINTS.
Something About Some of Our Distinguished Visitors
W. A. Loe and L. A. Lowther, both of the Sistersville Independent, R. M. McEldowney, of the Wetzel Democrat, and Mr. Pemberton, of the Moundsville Herald, arrived late last night.
**************************
The Emporia Gazette, 16 Nov 1896, Friday
L. A. Lowther arrived in Emporia arrived in Emporia today and at 9 o'clock took charge of the city schools as superintendent. He did not make any address to the High school students but will spend the first few days in visiting the different grade buildings and getting acquainted with the schools.
**************************
The Daily Register, Wheeling, WV, 30 Dec 1886, Thursday
Fifteen couples of young folks came up from Sistersville yesterday, accompanying Mr. L. A. Lowther and bride, who left on the afternoon P., C. & St. L. train for the far west, where they will reside in the future.
**************************
The West Virginia Daily Oil Review, Sistersville, WV, 24 Oct 1900, Wednesday
Prof. L. A. Lowther, son of Mr. G. L. Lowther, and a well known former resident of this city, is in the city today to visit his parents and other relatives and friends here for a few days. Mr. Lowther has been at Washington, D. C., attending the Teachers National Association, and stopped here on his way home. He like all the old citizens who return to Sistersville after several years' absence are simply amazed at the wonderful changes made in the old town. Mr. Lowther is principal of one of the largest schools in the state of Kansas, and his old friends here are all glad to see him again and to hear of his splendid success in his western home.
**************************
The Chase County [KS] Leader, 10 Jul 1908, Friday
L. A. Lowther returned yesterday from Cleveland, where he has been attending the annual session of the N. E. A. Mr. Lowther has been gone for several weeks. He was called to Sistersville, W. Va., by the serious sickness of his father, but before he arrived his father died. After remaining at his old home a short time and being there for his father's funeral, he stopped on his way home at Cleveland.--Emporia [KS] Gazette
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The Emporia Gazette, 03 Mar 1934, Saturday
An item in the "40 Years Ago" column in the Lawrence Journal-World Friday announced the L. A. Lowther had been chosen as one of five orators for the school of arts for commencement at Kansas university. The five orators were chosen by the faculty. The other four were Kate Riggs, Rose R. Morgan, C. F. Griffin and Arch Hogg.
**************************
Emporia, Kansas, Monday, January 6, 1936
The Emporia Daily Gazette
L.A. LOWTHER IS DEAD
L.A. Lowther, former superintendent of the Emporia city schools, died at 4 o'clock Sunday morning at his home, 617 Exchange. He had been critically sick only since last Tuesday, but had been in failing health for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Interment will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery. The casket will be open at the Sutton Funeral Home this evening and until 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. It will not be open at the church.
The Emporia city schools will be closed Tuesday afternoon. The meeting of the Emporia board of education, scheduled for tonight, has been postponed until Wednesday evening.
TO EMPORIA IN 1896
Mr. Lowther came to Emporia in 1896 to become superintendent of the Emporia city schools. When he resigned last year after 38-½ years of service, he had the longest record of continuous service to one school system of any school head in Kansas.
He is survived by a son, Eugene T. Lowther, of The Gazette; a daughter, Miss Kathleen Lowther, a teacher in Central High School of Oklahoma City; and a grandson, James Eugene Lowther. A half-brother, A.G. Lowther, of Sistersville, W. Va. also survives.
Lloyd A. Lowther was born in Middlebourne, W. Va., January 14, 1857. He was the son of Granville L. Lowther, of Cairo, W. Va., and Elizabeth Kelly Lowther, both of Scotch Irish descent. Granville Lowther was proprietor of a hotel in Middlebourne, and as his young son grew up he became well acquainted with the county superintendent of schools, who lived at the hotel. One day the superintendent said to him: "Why don't you, and some of the other young fellows just out of the public schools, take the teachers' examination? It will do you no harm and will show you exactly where you stand. You will not be obligated to teach unless you wish to do so." Young Lowther, 16 years old, thought the matter over, took the examination, and received a third grade certificate to teach. Still, he didn't think much about teaching.
TEACHES A COUNTRY SCHOOL
An old friend of his father—the two men had been together in the Civil War—lived a few miles out of town, and he said to the elder Lowther, "Why doesn't Lloyd come out and teach our school, since he has a certificate?" So young Lowther, with his certificate in his pocket, walked the 2-½ miles to the country school district, interviewed the school board and was hired to teach the school, four months at a salary of $28 a month. He paid the farmer friend $2.50 a week for board and room, and walked home every Friday evening after school.
Mr. Lowther found he liked teaching, he liked the girls and boys in the school and this teaching venture decided him to prepare himself for the school work, which he had not before considered. He attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown a year, and long about the same time he studied law with a group of young men, and was admitted to the bar in West Virginia in 1883. He came to Cottonwood Falls in September 1884, where for five years he was superintendent of the schools there. During these five years he helped to organize the Cottonwood Falls High School, which later became the Chase County High School. Next, he enrolled in the University of Kansas, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1895. Later, he took post-graduate work at Clark University and the University of Chicago, and in 1931 the College of Emporia bestowed on him the degree of doctor of literature.
GOES BACK TO COTTONWOOD
After graduation from the University of Kansas, Mr. Lowther returned to Cottonwood Falls, where he again was superintendent of the schools, this time for 1-½ years. He resigned to come to Emporia.
The Chase County Leader a few years ago, speaking of Mr. Lowther's work in Cottonwood Falls, said, "The high standing of the Cottonwood Falls schools can be dated from his coming."
Mr. Lowther began his work as superintendent of the Emporia schools in November 1896, succeeding John Detrich, who went from Emporia to Colorado Springs. The Lowther Junior High School building, erected in 1923, is named in Mr. Lowther's honor.
Mr. Lowther married Miss Lauretta Thistle, of Sistersville, W.V., December 29, 1886. Their first year in Emporia the Lowthers lived at the southwest corner of Seventh and Merchant, then bought the house at 617 Exchange which since has been the family home. Mrs. Lowther died March 11, 1934.
SEES EMPORIA SCHOOLS GROW
During his long term of service as head of the Emporia school system, Mr. Lowther saw many changes and improvements in the system. When he took charge of the schools, there were only six teachers in the high school, and 125 pupils. At the time of his resignation the Senior High School faculty numbered 31, and the enrollment was close to 800. The entire enrollment of the city schools when he began his work here was 2,116, with 47 teachers. When he resigned the enrollment was more than 3,000 with 105 teachers.
James Barnett was principal of the high school when Mr. Lowther first became superintendent. The old Stone building stood on the northeast corner of the high school campus, and the late Miss Frances Riggs was principal there. Other school principals were Miss Sadie Andrews, at the Fourth Ward Building, corner of Seventh and Sylvan; Miss Margaret Tytherleigh, now Mrs. George Randolph, at Union school; Harry E. Peach, at Kansas Avenue; the late Miss Mary Smith, at the Third Ward, replaced later by the Maynard; T.S. Gallagher at the Central Avenue; the Late Miss Hannah Bunbury at the Walnut, and Miss Mary McCreary, now Mrs. Harrison Parkman, at Lincoln.
High school teachers, at the time Mr. Lowther began work here, received salaries of $60 to $88 a month and grade teachers received from $47.50 to $52.25. The grade school buildings, which contained four rooms each, two upstairs and two downstairs, were heated with stoves. Some were of frame construction. The courses of study were more limited than they are now. Manual training, home economics and library work are among the new courses added in the high school during Mr. Lowther's administration. Athletics and supervised music, the latter begun under the direction of the late D.O. Jones, were given increased importance. Kindergartens were added to the school system.
MANY NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED
During Mr. Lowther's administration new school buildings replaced old and outgrown ones, the total building operations up to 1929 amounting to $776,000, and purchases of real estate for school purposes totaling $25,500 additional. The following buildings were erected while he was superintendent: Century Grade School, in 1900; Union School, in 1901, replacing the old Union building; Maynard, replacing the Third Ward building; Walnut, replacing the old Walnut School; Senior High School, built in 1912, replacing the Garfield building erected in 1880; Junior High School, built in 1923; Kansas Avenue School, in 1927, replacing old Kansas Avenue; Mary Herbert in 1929, replacing Lincoln School; Riverside, replacing Central Avenue School.
Following Mr. Lowther's announcement last April of his resignation to take effect in July, the schools and the town expressed their appreciation of him and his work in various ways. The members of the faculty club of the city schools and of the board of education, their husbands and wives, gave a dinner in his honor at the Country Club. On another occasion the pupils of the Senior High School paid him honor at a special assembly. The Lowther Junior High School pupils, teachers and building care-takers, at a special assembly service in his honor, presented Mr. Lowther with a life-size Van Dyke portrait study of himself, in appreciation of his 38 years of service. The portrait hangs in the east corridor of the building. Another token of appreciation was a leather-bound book continuing a letter from each teacher in the Emporia school system and one from each member of the board of education, which was prepared and presented to Mr. Lowther.
ACTIVE IN CHURCH WORK
Mr. Lowther was a member of the National Education Association, and in 1914 was elected president of the Kansas State Teachers Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served it as Sunday school superintendent and as a member of the board of trustees for many years. He also was a member of the Masonic bodies in Emporia, of the Scottish Rite consistory in Topeka, and of the Modern Woodmen; the Kansas School Masters Club and of Sigma Xi national honorary society, at the University of Kansas. His local clubs were the Rotary and the Current. He was a member of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, served several years on the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A., and for 25 years was a member of the city library board of trustees.
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FUNERAL OF L.A. LOWTHER
Funeral services for L.A. Lowther who died Sunday, where held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, past of the church, conducted the services. Miss Edna Hoydar, Mrs. Theodore Owen, Floyd Tompkins and Clayton Patterson sang "Abide with Me" and "Crossing the Bar," accompanied at the organ by D.A. Hirschler. Pallbearers were Fred Heath, W.W. Daniels, Rice Brown, A. Kirk Ramy, Ora Rindom, Frank Pennington, Harry E. Peach and Calvin Lambert. Interment was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Out-of-town friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. E.D. Replogle and Sidney Replogle, of Cottonwood Falls, and Roland Boynton, of Topeka.
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Lloyd A L Lowther in the West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938
Name: Lloyd A L Lowther
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Jan 1857
Birth Place: Ritchie, West Virginia
Birth County: Ritchie
Father: G S Lowther
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 1887475
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Note: The Ritchie Co, WV birth records list his birth date as Jan 14, 1857 (Son of G.L. Lowther) which we believe is accurate. However, there is also a Tyler Co, WV birth record listing his birth date as Jan 14, 1856 (son of Granville and Elizabeth Lowther).
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 07 Apr 1880, Wednesday
The following are among recent arrivals at the New McLure House: ... L. A. Lowther, Sistersville ...
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 26 Apr 1882, Wednesday
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
ST. JAMES HOTEL.
L. A. Lowther, Sistersville
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The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 06 Jul 1882, Thursday
PERSONAL POINTS.
Something About Some of Our Distinguished Visitors
W. A. Loe and L. A. Lowther, both of the Sistersville Independent, R. M. McEldowney, of the Wetzel Democrat, and Mr. Pemberton, of the Moundsville Herald, arrived late last night.
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The Emporia Gazette, 16 Nov 1896, Friday
L. A. Lowther arrived in Emporia arrived in Emporia today and at 9 o'clock took charge of the city schools as superintendent. He did not make any address to the High school students but will spend the first few days in visiting the different grade buildings and getting acquainted with the schools.
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The Daily Register, Wheeling, WV, 30 Dec 1886, Thursday
Fifteen couples of young folks came up from Sistersville yesterday, accompanying Mr. L. A. Lowther and bride, who left on the afternoon P., C. & St. L. train for the far west, where they will reside in the future.
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The West Virginia Daily Oil Review, Sistersville, WV, 24 Oct 1900, Wednesday
Prof. L. A. Lowther, son of Mr. G. L. Lowther, and a well known former resident of this city, is in the city today to visit his parents and other relatives and friends here for a few days. Mr. Lowther has been at Washington, D. C., attending the Teachers National Association, and stopped here on his way home. He like all the old citizens who return to Sistersville after several years' absence are simply amazed at the wonderful changes made in the old town. Mr. Lowther is principal of one of the largest schools in the state of Kansas, and his old friends here are all glad to see him again and to hear of his splendid success in his western home.
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The Chase County [KS] Leader, 10 Jul 1908, Friday
L. A. Lowther returned yesterday from Cleveland, where he has been attending the annual session of the N. E. A. Mr. Lowther has been gone for several weeks. He was called to Sistersville, W. Va., by the serious sickness of his father, but before he arrived his father died. After remaining at his old home a short time and being there for his father's funeral, he stopped on his way home at Cleveland.--Emporia [KS] Gazette
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The Emporia Gazette, 03 Mar 1934, Saturday
An item in the "40 Years Ago" column in the Lawrence Journal-World Friday announced the L. A. Lowther had been chosen as one of five orators for the school of arts for commencement at Kansas university. The five orators were chosen by the faculty. The other four were Kate Riggs, Rose R. Morgan, C. F. Griffin and Arch Hogg.
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Emporia, Kansas, Monday, January 6, 1936
The Emporia Daily Gazette
L.A. LOWTHER IS DEAD
L.A. Lowther, former superintendent of the Emporia city schools, died at 4 o'clock Sunday morning at his home, 617 Exchange. He had been critically sick only since last Tuesday, but had been in failing health for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Interment will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery. The casket will be open at the Sutton Funeral Home this evening and until 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. It will not be open at the church.
The Emporia city schools will be closed Tuesday afternoon. The meeting of the Emporia board of education, scheduled for tonight, has been postponed until Wednesday evening.
TO EMPORIA IN 1896
Mr. Lowther came to Emporia in 1896 to become superintendent of the Emporia city schools. When he resigned last year after 38-½ years of service, he had the longest record of continuous service to one school system of any school head in Kansas.
He is survived by a son, Eugene T. Lowther, of The Gazette; a daughter, Miss Kathleen Lowther, a teacher in Central High School of Oklahoma City; and a grandson, James Eugene Lowther. A half-brother, A.G. Lowther, of Sistersville, W. Va. also survives.
Lloyd A. Lowther was born in Middlebourne, W. Va., January 14, 1857. He was the son of Granville L. Lowther, of Cairo, W. Va., and Elizabeth Kelly Lowther, both of Scotch Irish descent. Granville Lowther was proprietor of a hotel in Middlebourne, and as his young son grew up he became well acquainted with the county superintendent of schools, who lived at the hotel. One day the superintendent said to him: "Why don't you, and some of the other young fellows just out of the public schools, take the teachers' examination? It will do you no harm and will show you exactly where you stand. You will not be obligated to teach unless you wish to do so." Young Lowther, 16 years old, thought the matter over, took the examination, and received a third grade certificate to teach. Still, he didn't think much about teaching.
TEACHES A COUNTRY SCHOOL
An old friend of his father—the two men had been together in the Civil War—lived a few miles out of town, and he said to the elder Lowther, "Why doesn't Lloyd come out and teach our school, since he has a certificate?" So young Lowther, with his certificate in his pocket, walked the 2-½ miles to the country school district, interviewed the school board and was hired to teach the school, four months at a salary of $28 a month. He paid the farmer friend $2.50 a week for board and room, and walked home every Friday evening after school.
Mr. Lowther found he liked teaching, he liked the girls and boys in the school and this teaching venture decided him to prepare himself for the school work, which he had not before considered. He attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown a year, and long about the same time he studied law with a group of young men, and was admitted to the bar in West Virginia in 1883. He came to Cottonwood Falls in September 1884, where for five years he was superintendent of the schools there. During these five years he helped to organize the Cottonwood Falls High School, which later became the Chase County High School. Next, he enrolled in the University of Kansas, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1895. Later, he took post-graduate work at Clark University and the University of Chicago, and in 1931 the College of Emporia bestowed on him the degree of doctor of literature.
GOES BACK TO COTTONWOOD
After graduation from the University of Kansas, Mr. Lowther returned to Cottonwood Falls, where he again was superintendent of the schools, this time for 1-½ years. He resigned to come to Emporia.
The Chase County Leader a few years ago, speaking of Mr. Lowther's work in Cottonwood Falls, said, "The high standing of the Cottonwood Falls schools can be dated from his coming."
Mr. Lowther began his work as superintendent of the Emporia schools in November 1896, succeeding John Detrich, who went from Emporia to Colorado Springs. The Lowther Junior High School building, erected in 1923, is named in Mr. Lowther's honor.
Mr. Lowther married Miss Lauretta Thistle, of Sistersville, W.V., December 29, 1886. Their first year in Emporia the Lowthers lived at the southwest corner of Seventh and Merchant, then bought the house at 617 Exchange which since has been the family home. Mrs. Lowther died March 11, 1934.
SEES EMPORIA SCHOOLS GROW
During his long term of service as head of the Emporia school system, Mr. Lowther saw many changes and improvements in the system. When he took charge of the schools, there were only six teachers in the high school, and 125 pupils. At the time of his resignation the Senior High School faculty numbered 31, and the enrollment was close to 800. The entire enrollment of the city schools when he began his work here was 2,116, with 47 teachers. When he resigned the enrollment was more than 3,000 with 105 teachers.
James Barnett was principal of the high school when Mr. Lowther first became superintendent. The old Stone building stood on the northeast corner of the high school campus, and the late Miss Frances Riggs was principal there. Other school principals were Miss Sadie Andrews, at the Fourth Ward Building, corner of Seventh and Sylvan; Miss Margaret Tytherleigh, now Mrs. George Randolph, at Union school; Harry E. Peach, at Kansas Avenue; the late Miss Mary Smith, at the Third Ward, replaced later by the Maynard; T.S. Gallagher at the Central Avenue; the Late Miss Hannah Bunbury at the Walnut, and Miss Mary McCreary, now Mrs. Harrison Parkman, at Lincoln.
High school teachers, at the time Mr. Lowther began work here, received salaries of $60 to $88 a month and grade teachers received from $47.50 to $52.25. The grade school buildings, which contained four rooms each, two upstairs and two downstairs, were heated with stoves. Some were of frame construction. The courses of study were more limited than they are now. Manual training, home economics and library work are among the new courses added in the high school during Mr. Lowther's administration. Athletics and supervised music, the latter begun under the direction of the late D.O. Jones, were given increased importance. Kindergartens were added to the school system.
MANY NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED
During Mr. Lowther's administration new school buildings replaced old and outgrown ones, the total building operations up to 1929 amounting to $776,000, and purchases of real estate for school purposes totaling $25,500 additional. The following buildings were erected while he was superintendent: Century Grade School, in 1900; Union School, in 1901, replacing the old Union building; Maynard, replacing the Third Ward building; Walnut, replacing the old Walnut School; Senior High School, built in 1912, replacing the Garfield building erected in 1880; Junior High School, built in 1923; Kansas Avenue School, in 1927, replacing old Kansas Avenue; Mary Herbert in 1929, replacing Lincoln School; Riverside, replacing Central Avenue School.
Following Mr. Lowther's announcement last April of his resignation to take effect in July, the schools and the town expressed their appreciation of him and his work in various ways. The members of the faculty club of the city schools and of the board of education, their husbands and wives, gave a dinner in his honor at the Country Club. On another occasion the pupils of the Senior High School paid him honor at a special assembly. The Lowther Junior High School pupils, teachers and building care-takers, at a special assembly service in his honor, presented Mr. Lowther with a life-size Van Dyke portrait study of himself, in appreciation of his 38 years of service. The portrait hangs in the east corridor of the building. Another token of appreciation was a leather-bound book continuing a letter from each teacher in the Emporia school system and one from each member of the board of education, which was prepared and presented to Mr. Lowther.
ACTIVE IN CHURCH WORK
Mr. Lowther was a member of the National Education Association, and in 1914 was elected president of the Kansas State Teachers Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having served it as Sunday school superintendent and as a member of the board of trustees for many years. He also was a member of the Masonic bodies in Emporia, of the Scottish Rite consistory in Topeka, and of the Modern Woodmen; the Kansas School Masters Club and of Sigma Xi national honorary society, at the University of Kansas. His local clubs were the Rotary and the Current. He was a member of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, served several years on the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A., and for 25 years was a member of the city library board of trustees.
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FUNERAL OF L.A. LOWTHER
Funeral services for L.A. Lowther who died Sunday, where held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Orlo Choguill, past of the church, conducted the services. Miss Edna Hoydar, Mrs. Theodore Owen, Floyd Tompkins and Clayton Patterson sang "Abide with Me" and "Crossing the Bar," accompanied at the organ by D.A. Hirschler. Pallbearers were Fred Heath, W.W. Daniels, Rice Brown, A. Kirk Ramy, Ora Rindom, Frank Pennington, Harry E. Peach and Calvin Lambert. Interment was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Out-of-town friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. E.D. Replogle and Sidney Replogle, of Cottonwood Falls, and Roland Boynton, of Topeka.
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Lloyd A L Lowther in the West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938
Name: Lloyd A L Lowther
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Jan 1857
Birth Place: Ritchie, West Virginia
Birth County: Ritchie
Father: G S Lowther
Mother: Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 1887475
