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Descendants of Francis Lowell

Generation No. 2

2. SQUIRE WILLIAM J.² LOWELL (FRANCIS¹) was born 16 Feb 1811 in St Davids, Ontario, and died 16 Mar 1888 in Niagara Falls. He married MARY ZAVITZ 11 Oct 1834 in Yarmouth, daughter of CHRISTIAN ZAVITZ and MARY MCCARTY. She was born 07 Aug 1814 in Welland County, Ont, and died 1900.

Notes for SQUIRE WILLIAM J. LOWELL:
Biographical Sketches from The History Of Welland County Ontario, published 1887

STAMFORD TOWNSHIP AND NIAGARA FALLS VILLAGE

WILLIAM LOWELL, Esq., of Niagara Falls Village, was born February 16th, 1811, at the village of St. Davids, township of Niagara, in the county of Lincoln. His father, Francis Lowell, died when William was but four years old, about the close of the war of 1812 and 1815. Owing to the war and general devastation of homes his mother was left with very limited means, but by industry and economy was enabled to give her son a fair business education. At the age of fourteen he entered the mercantile establishment of John Tannahill, at the town of Niagara, as a clerk, and afterwards served in the same capacity in the then village of St. Catharines. About 1828 he went to London District, returned to his native village in 1831, and through the kindness of an uncle was induced to join in a general store at Drummondville, now Niagara Falls Village, but which, in Mr. Lowell's opinion, should never have lost it's former name. Here he continued in business until 1860, and having been eminently successful, he retired from active mercantile life. His only business at present is dealing in securities. Although he is in his 76th year he is hale and hearty ; the oldest inhabitant of the village. Mr. Lowell married, in 1834, Mary, a daughter of Christian and Mary (McCarty) Zavitz, natives of Buck's County, Pennsylvania, the former of German descent, and the latter descended from the Lancasters of London, England. Mr. Zavitz assisted at building the first mills in the province, and at an early date located at Sugarloaf Hill, Humberstone Township, where he built mills for himself, and where his daughter Mary was born, August 7th, 1814. He afterwards moved to London District, took up a large tract of land, erected mills thereon, and was fairly successful in business. He was generous to a fault, and all were treated hospitably at his house, which was never closed to the needy. The family of Mr. Lowell consisted of five children, four of whom are dead : James Alfred, the only surviving son, is at present living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The father of Mr. Lowell was a native of Massachusetts, who came to Canada previous to, and took part in, the war of 1812, in the ranks of the militia. He was taken prisoner, conveyed to Greenbush, and kept for several weeks closely guarded. Watching for a favorable opportunity, he, with several of his comrades, made their escape, and after much difficulty and delay reached home. Some time previous to the above events he had married Catharine, a daughter of Joseph Clement, an officer of the British army at the time of the revolutionary war, who at it's close came to Canada as a U.E. Loyalist, and was permitted to take up land for services. He was also entitled to his rations and a retiring allowance for the rest of his life. Mr. Lowell has often listened to his mother recount her trials and difficulties during the troublous times of the war of 1812. On one occasion the enemy, having taken possession of St. Davids, burned, among others, the house in which she lived. Nothing was left but flight, to remove herself and two children from danger. She took William on her shoulders and the other in her arms, and started on a journey of seven miles, to the house of Mr. Collard, an old friend. Arriving there she was kindly sheltered and provided for, but fresh troubles arose. The militia to the number of 300 took possession of the buildings, the officers being quartered in the house. The next morning, the main body of troops having left, the officers, being more leisurely in taking their breakfast, were surrounded by a troop of American cavalry, and at the command to surrender laid down their arms. This surprise and capture was made though one Wilcox, who had turned traitor. When the enemy surrounded the house they pointed there weapons to the windows. Mrs. Lowell knew Wilcox at once and begged him not to allow his men to fire into the house, which order he gave at once. On leaving with the officers as prisoners, the troops fired the house, and it was soon reduced to ashes. Again were Mrs. Lowell and her children compelled to hunt fresh quarters. This is but an illustration of the difficulties and hardships endured not only by this family, but by others during that unsettled period, in a country where the means of communication and transportation were of the most meagre kind ; where food and shelter could not be obtained, and where defenceless women and children were subject to be torn to pieces by savage beasts of the forest, or to be killed by the more relentless foe in human shape. In 1844 Mr. Lowell was included in the commission of the peace, and for many years discharged the duties of magistrate very efficiently. He is a Reformer of the old school, and nothing pleases him better than to associate his name with the late Hon. Robert Baldwin. Of late years he has not taken any active part in politics, but always claims and exercises the right of the franchise. Since the foregoing was written, Mr. Lowell has generously offered to build a church for the Presbyterian congregation of his village, wholly with his own means, and the offer has been gratefully accepted by the church."

More About SQUIRE WILLIAM J. LOWELL:
Burial: 19 Mar 1888, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

More About MARY ZAVITZ:
Burial: Unknown, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

Children of WILLIAM LOWELL and MARY ZAVITZ are:

3.	i.		CATHERINE³ LOWELL, b. 1835, Drummond Hill, Upper Canada; d. 1873.
	ii.		SIBELIA E LOWELL, b. 1836; d. 1862.

More About SIBELIA E LOWELL:
Burial: 10 Jan 1862, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

iii.

R. W. LOWELL, b. 1839; d. 1842.

More About R. W. LOWELL:
Burial: Unknown, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

iv.

HERBERT H LOWELL, b. 1843; d. 1866.

Notes for HERBERT H LOWELL:
Verbal Notes to David Seaborn by Catherine (Cass) Lowell Butters Harvey abt 1960:
- three sons of William Lowell died young, one of TB while at Upper Canada College

More About HERBERT H LOWELL:
Burial: 24 Feb 1866, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

JAMES ALFRED LOWELL, b. 21 Apr 1849; d. 1900; m. MARY WHYBRA, 1885; b. 1858; d. Unknown.

Notes for JAMES ALFRED LOWELL:
End of the Lowell Name
Liberal member of the House of Commons for Niagara-Welland riding (abt 1891-1896)

More About JAMES ALFRED LOWELL:
Burial: Unknown, Lowell Monument - Drummond Hill

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