BIO: Jonas S. LOWDER, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 210-211.
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  JONAS S. LOWDER, Barree, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born September 
21, 1843, near Milroy, Mifflin county, ten miles east of Lewistown, 
Pa., son of Joel and Catherine (Stein) Lowder. Joel Lowder was a native 
of Centre county, Pa., a son of Michael Lowder, born in 1819. He went 
to Mifflin county, Pa., when a young man. After his marriage at 
Bellefonte, he returned to Mifflin county, and resided there until 
1846. He then removed back to Centre county with his wife and family. 
About nine years later, they removed again, to Franklin township, 
Huntingdon county, near Pennsylvania Furnace. During all these years, 
they had lived on rented farms, but finally they settled in Morris 
township, Huntingdon county, where Mr. Lowder bought a farm of 154 
acres, from B. F. Wallace, on which he resided for many years. He at 
last sold all of the place to his son John, except twelve acres which 
he reserved for quarrying. He owns another farm in Ferguson township, 
Centre county. Some years ago, Joel Lowder relinquished business, and 
is leading a life of well-earned leisure on his place in Morris 
township. Mr. Lowder is a Democrat; he has never sought any public 
office. Mrs. Lowder died in 1881, and is interred at Arch Springs, 
Blair county, Pa. She, as well as her husband, was a member of the 
Presbyterian church. She was very faithful and devoted, and was deeply 
interested in church work, especially in Foreign Missions. She had many 
friends, and was highly esteemed among her acquaintances. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Lowder are: Jonas S.; John, farmer, at Union Furnace, 
Huntingdon county; Daniel B., farmer, Oak Hall, Centre county, Pa.; 
Sarah (Mrs. John A. Crawford), Arch Springs, Blair county, Pa.; Mary, 
(Mrs. Dr. Rothrock), Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pa.; George W., 
bookkeeper for P. R. R. in Pittsburg, Pa.; Lydia (Mrs. George W. 
Bridenbaugh), Tyrone township, Blair county; and David S., clerk in the 
wholesale dry goods house of Hughes & Hacke, Pittsburg, Pa. Joel Lowder 
holds his membership in the Presbyterian church at Arch Springs, Blair 
county.
  Jonas S. Lowder was a pupil in the common schools of his native place 
until he was about fifteen years old. His opportunities for an 
education were but slender; being the eldest of the family, and his 
parents in straitened circumstances, it was his duty to assist them in 
their efforts to gain a livelihood for the family. So, leaving school 
early, he worked with his father on the farm until he was twenty-one. 
He was then for three years engaged in the quarries of Mr. A. G. 
Morris, after which he again worked for his father until the spring of 
1876. That year, the Centennial Exposition year, he passed in 
Philadelphia. He was first engaged as one of the health officers at the 
Grand Exposition Hotel, which contained 1,325 rooms. This engagement 
lasted eight months, after which he was obliged to spend several months 
in Jefferson College Hospital, where he had undergone a surgical 
operation. When discharged from the hospital, Mr. Lowder went home, and 
after a short stay, came to Huntingdon county and bought the place on 
which he now resides; it then contained 81 acres, but he has since 
added considerable tracts of land to the original purchase. He owns 
several tenant houses at the village of Barree Forge.
  Jonas S. Lowder was married, December 6, 1877, to Jennie, daughter of 
Jesse and Mary (McMillan) Fisher. They immediately went to housekeeping 
on the farm which Mr. Lowder had purchased, and have resided there ever 
since. Mr. and Mrs. Lowder are members of the Presbyterian church. In 
politics he is independent, forming his opinions and casting his vote 
according to his best judgment.