LOWRY, (Prof.) Richard P., Ireland, then St. James Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 637.  Edited by Alcée
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Lowry, Prof. Richard P., of Lutcher, St. James parish, was born in the south
of Ireland, Nov. 4, 1871, and is a son of Edward and Catherine (Tobin) Lowry,
both of whom were natives of that vicinity, as were the paternal grandparents,
John and Margaret (O'Brian) Lowry, and the maternal grandparents, Lawrance and
Catherine (Doyle) Tobin.  The paternal great-grandparents were natives of the
north of Ireland, but that branch of the family from which the Lowry family of
Louisiana is descended drifted to the south of Ireland many years ago.  John
Lowry owned and operated coal mines in the vicinity of the family site
throughout his active years, but was finally dominated by the landlords (more
or less synonymous with "trust magnates" in America) and forced out of
business.  Edward Lowry, his son, died at the age of 64 years, and his wife at
the age of 63.  Richard P. is the youngest of 12 children born to his parents. 
He received his early education at the national schools in the vicinity of his
birthplace.  Later he attended the La Salle training college, at Waterford,
Ireland, and thereafter entered Tooting college, which at that time was in the
south of London, but has since been moved to another part of the English
metropolis.  As a student, Richard P. passed 2-1/2 years at the last-named
institution, followed by 1 year as a teacher in the same college.  He then
became a student and teacher at St. Mary's college, St Malo, France, where he
passed 5 years.  At this school his time was largely spent in studying the
French language.  In 1896 he came to America, and during the succeeding year
was engaged in teaching at Rockhill college, Ellicott City, near Baltimore,
Md.  Thereafter he became principal of St. Ann school, Philadelphia, Pa.,
remaining there 4 years, after which he occupied the post of a teacher in St.
John's college, Washington, D. C., 1 year.  In Sept., 1904 he became a teacher
of English at Jefferson college, so remaining 2 years, and during the next 4
years taught in the public schools at Convent, at the same time taking a
science course at Jefferson college, from which he received the degree of B.
S. in 1912.  Meantime, however, in 1910, he had located at Lutcher, as
principal of the high school, and has so remained to this time.  After having
received his degree from Jefferson college, Prof. Lowry attended the summer
school of Louisiana State university, from which he received the teachers' B.
A. degree in 1914.  Politically, Prof. Lowry is an independent.  He is a
member of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus
and Woodmen of the World.  In Dec., 1906, he was married to Corine Keller,
daughter of Prudent Keller, well-known sugar planter of St. James parish. 
Mrs. Lowry's mother's maiden name was Barbeaud.  Six children have been born
to Prof. and Mrs. Lowry, as follow:  (The first child died at birth.) 
Kathleen Agnes,  Edward Stephen,  Margaret Palmere,  Jefferson Joseph and 
Richard Michael.