Honolulu County HI Archives Obituaries.....Lowrey, Frederick J. October 19, 1948
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Unknown Newspaper, October 19, 1948
DEATH COMES PEACEFULLY TO F. J. LOWREY, BUSINESS LEADER

  Death came peacefully early this morning* to Frederick J. Lowrey, one of the 
builders of Hawaii’s modern business structure.
  He died at his home, Niniko, in Nuuanu valley, after months of gradually 
failing health, the day following his birthday.
  He was 90 years old Monday. Of those 90 years, 69 had been spent in Hawaii 
and marked the rise of a youth from modest beginnings to acknowledged eminence 
in the business and civic field of this territory.
  Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Born in Massachusetts
  Mr. Lowrey was born in Pittsfield, Mass., October 18, 1858 bur moved to 
California in 1867 where he was educated and commenced his business career.
  Mr. Lowrey’s sister was the late Mrs. W. R. Castle, and on a visit to 
California in 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Castle suggested that he make a vacation trip 
to Honolulu.
  Mr. Castle said that there was a position open for him with Castle & Cooke 
if he desired to remain in Honolulu.
Came Here at 21
  On Mr. Lowrey’s arrival in November, 1879, when he was 21, the first person 
he met aside from his sister’s family, was C. M. Cooke, who had entered the 
firm of Lewers & Dickson a short time before.
  Mr. Cooke thought Mr. Lowrey more necessary to the interests of Lewers & 
Dickson than to those of Castle & Cooke, and made him an offer to join their 
forces.
  After interviews with S. N. Castle and J. B. Atherton, who were then the 
deciding forces in Castle & Cooke, this was arranged, and Mr. Lowrey cast in 
his lot with Lewers & Dickson, whose destinies then were directed by C. M. 
Cooke and Robert Lewers.
  He began as a bookkeeper and from this humble position, constructed one of 
the leading careers of Hawaii’s business builders of the past half century.
  When the firm was incorporated in 1901 Mr. Lowrey was made president. He 
held that position until his retirement but he had served as a member of the 
board of directors since that time.
Connection of 61 Years
  He was the last member of the partnership of Lewers & Cooke and his death 
terminates an over all connection of nearly 61 years.
  Mr. Lowrey became less active in the business in 1940 and in March of 1941 
relinquished the presidency of the firm to his son Frederick D. The younger 
Mr. Lowrey had become manager and vice president in 1927.
  Mr. Lowrey had been a president of the Oahu Sugar Co., Ltd. and of the Oahu 
Cemetery association. He was a director of American Factors, Ltd.
  He also served as chairman of the board of prison inspectors for many years 
and was a member of the board of health during the plague epidemic in 1900.
  Mr. Lowrey was a former president of the Queen’s hospital and of the 
Hawaiian Board of Missions and served as a captain in the citizen’s guard 
during the revolution of 1895.
Central Union Trustee
  Mr. Lowrey also had been a trustee of the YMCA and YWCA, a trustee of 
Central Union church and a member of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce and the 
Social Science association.
  He belonged to the Pacific, Commercial and Oahu Country clubs.
  The Lowrey town house at Lunalilo and Victoria Sts. Was one of the show 
places of Honolulu of a quarter of a century ago. It was built in 1898 and was 
sold in 1935 to Bishop and Mrs. John McKim.
  The other home where he had lived for many years is far up Nuuanu valley. It 
is known as “Niniko” and the opening of its gardens for periodical visits by 
tourists and kamaainas was always an event of note.
  Mr. Lowrey saw Honolulu change from a village to a city.
  Into its homes have gone millions of feet of lumber and countless tons of 
hardware supplied by his firm.
Many Survivors
  Mr. Lowrey is survived by:
  His son, Frederick D. Lowrey, president of Lewers & Cooke, Ltd., and 
grandchildren, Frederick P. Lowrey, secretary of Lewers & Cooke, Ltd.; Dr. 
John J. Lowrey, an army major; Dwight H. Lowrey, treasurer of Cooke Trust Co., 
Ltd.; Mrs. Harold (Kathleen) Hamlin, of Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Richard 
(Lilian) Powers, of Honolulu, and William R. Lowrey, of Honolulu.
  His son, Sherwood M. Lowrey, retired treasurer of American Factors, Ltd., of 
Hilo, and grandchildren, Mrs. Richard (Jane) Williamson, of Kekaha, Kauai; 
Robert S. Lowrey, of Honolulu; Mrs. Cedric (Cherilla) Weight, of Waipahu, and 
Mrs. James (Martha) Greenwell, of Honolulu.
  His son Alan J. Lowrey, assistant to the president of the Union Oil Co., San 
Francisco, and grandchildren, Mrs. Zadoc (Virginia) W. Brown, of Honolulu; 
Mrs. John A. (Patricia) Hooper, of San Francisco, and Charles F. Lowrey, of 
San Francisco.
  Twenty three great grandchildren also survive.



Additional Comments:
*Written note indicates date is 10-19-1948

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