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Home > Books > Lowings Of Michigan > Ch. 03 : William Riley Lowing

Ch. 03 : William Riley Lowing
05.08.2010

Lowing Family History

Updated by Bruce Sheridan Lowing

Chapter 3: William Riley Lowing

William Riley Lowing was born at Hoosick, New York, March 2, 1815. He was one year old when the family moved to East Gainesville, New York. Their home was a two-room shack with a loft above. A fireplace was used both for cooking and heating. Their furniture was handmade, and of the crudest workmanship, with barely enough benches to accommodate the family. There was but one bed, so the children slept on cornhusk mattresses in the loft.

Their schoolhouse was a short distance away and was built of logs; even the seats and desks were shaved logs. The yard was full of logs and stumps, upon which the children played at recess. William went to school steadily between the ages of five and ten and only intermittently thereafter. He was kept home to help his father as soon as he was tall enough. He assisted in the brickyard, and also made deliveries of pottery using an ox-cart. He often worked for other farmers, bringing home his pay to assist in the support of the family. When he became older he was adept with the sickle and easily gained work in that field.

William was very fond of horses, and became a good judge of them. While working for a farmer, who was raising purebred stock he met Charles Whitehead. Charles had ridden over from Burford, Canada, and purchased several of these horses for his father. He liked William and invited him to accompany him back to his home to assist him with the horses. William had a wonderful personality, was a very handsome man, and could tell amusing stories. He made friends rapidly and was admired by every one.

On arrival in Canada, he worked on the farm of Charles' father, Col. George Whitehead, mostly caring for the horses. The Whiteheads had left the U.S. during the American Revolution, and finally settled in Burford as Tories. They fought in the War of 1812-1814, where George became a Colonel and was granted large tracts of land and 120 pounds, in pay from the Canadian Government. The Colonel had two sons, George (2811) and Charles (2812), and a daughter Mary Ann (75), who was born July 10th, 1820.

The four spent much time riding and soon it was noticed that Mary Ann was most attracted to her brother's friend. The Colonel did not believe William suitable and immediately fired him. When the courtship continued, the family moved to Woodstock. William followed them and Mary Ann and William eloped May 14,1838. The father was very angry, but did help them become established.

William, in spite of his magnetic personality, did not find successful work in Canada. He tried many things from merchandizing, political jobs and ended by being an innkeeper. Six children were born to them while in Canada. George Whitehead married, and his wife died in childbirth, leaving a baby girl, Naomi (332). He gave her to his sister, Mary Ann and left for the gold fields of California. Naomi remained with the family until she married.

In 1844, his younger brother James who had lived one year in Michigan joined William. He married Emily Bower of Burford in 1845, and their first four children were born there. In 1855, both William and James, with their families left Burford to join their families now living in Michigan. William hoped to find work, while James moved on the land he had purchased before leaving Michigan. The two families took the stagecoach to Detroit, and reached Georgetown by way of Kalamazoo, the plank road to Grand Rapids, and a steamboat to the Ohio Mills Landing. William was immediately employed by his bother Stephen to raft his logs to Grand Haven.

Mary Ann found it difficult to adjust to the changed family life. She had never known pioneer life and was surprised at the roughness of the lumberjacks. She tried to cook for the boarding house, but lost money for them because she cooked so extravagantly. She lost favor with William's mother because she dressed the girls in lace edged panties, and put ribbons on their hair. Mary Ann could do no differently, they had only the clothes they brought with them from Canada. She had been trained to sew and could do it beautifully, even though she did not know how to make soap from ashes, or sugar from sap, or any of the other things that Lavina taught her daughters to do as a matter of course.

While the family was living at Haire's Landing, Willie was born, but died at the age of six months. Their next move was into a log cabin at the bend of the road near Haire's School. This cabin was little more than a hovel. Two rooms with a loft reached by a ladder. The main room held the one bed, as well as the cooking and eating area; the other room was used as a summer kitchen, and held kindling and wood in the winter. It was a cold house; they battled chilblains on ague according to the time of the year. The Colonel was dead so they had help from her family in Canada, their clothes wore out and there was no money for replacements, and they were all homesick for the comforts they had known in Canada. William and his family were late arrivals in Michigan, the rest of the family had pioneered there earlier, and were beginning to reap some benefits from their toil.

In the log cabin the last baby, a boy whom they named Marion was born. Mary Ann died at his birth, on April 4,1859. She is buried in the Haire Cemetery. The small wooden marker placed on her grave has been gone for many years. A tree now grown tall, is the only way the family can locate the area where she lies buried in that old abandoned cemetery. The family has no picture of Mary Ann.

For a time William tried to keep his daughters with him, by hiring housekeepers, also he tried to keep them at the Boarding House with him, but both proved unsatisfactory, so the children were distributed among the relatives and friends. Julia, the oldest was married and kept the baby until she went to Pike's Peak on a gold hunt.

For several years after Mary Ann's death William lived at Stephen Lowing's boarding house. Here he met and married Maria Cressy Orton (76), they rowed a boat to Grandville to have the ceremony performed. They moved into the logging camp at Ohio Mills, where both Maria and William worked for several years, where they saved enough money to buy eighty acres of land south of the Canada Hill School. Mary and Marian lived with them for some time. Maria had two children by her first husband, and two were born to them, Dora and Edgar. Dora died in early childhood.

William's last years were comfortable years. They had their farm, fruit trees and a fine garden. In the winter he hauled wood to Grand Rapids to sell.

The Georgetown Grange was organized June 4th, 1874. Although he was not a charter member, he joined April 21, 1877, and immediately became their master, holding the office until 1880. He made a fine officer, and was noted for his witty, clever and impromptu talks. He was "Uncle William" to everyone.

Maria Orton Lowing died November 1894.

William Riley Lowing died March 28, 1895. They are buried in the Georgetown Cemetery.

  1. EVA LAVINA LOWING (131), the first child born to William R. Lowing and Mary Ann (Whitehead) Lowing, was born in 1839 at Burford, Canada. She lived but a few months.
  2. JULIA ANN (LOWING) EMBODY (132), was born in Burford, Canada in 1840. The history of Julia, the madcap girl of the family, abounds in stories of her pranks and practical jokes. She enlivened the guests at her father's inn in Burford by her tricks, her play-acting and her mimicking. She teased her maiden aunts, and when there was any disruption of the staid family life, they were known to say "that Julia" so often, that finally her sisters gave her that name.

    She was fifteen at the time of her arrival in Michigan in 1855. Her peppy, loving nature made her many friends. She brought fun into the lives of the pioneers and had many admirers among the woodsmen. One purchased a ring for her, but told his friends he would not offer it to her unless she promised to marry him, for he said, "I do not trust that Julia." Julia heard of this, and when he arrived and showed her the ring, she calmly reached out, took it and put it on her finger, said "Good night", and went to bed.

    When Obe and Mike Embody (149) came into the woods of Georgetown, Julia said, "Watch me, I am going to marry Mike." In 1858, at the age of 18, she brought her prediction to fruition, and they moved into one section of the "bee-hive" connected with her Uncle Stephen's sawmill. Julia always having to be dramatic, said "Bought and Paid for", meaning her father still owed Mike for some flour that Mike had bought for them, when her father had needed the years before. Their marriage was a very happy one, for Mike had every quality needed to cope with Julia.

    Shortly after their marriage Julia's mother died leaving the baby Marion, and Julia and Mike cared for him until Julia and Mike caught the gold fever in 1860, and joined a caravan that went by wagon train to Pike's Peak. For Julia this was an exciting experience, for there were continual rumors of Indian attacks, and in later years she regaled these stories to her family. They found no gold, and on their return ran out of money so stopped in Des Moines, where Mike found work, and their first baby was born. It was three years before they returned to Georgetown, and they moved onto the land later known as the DeVree farm directly north of the Canada Hill School. This was their home for a number of years, and Estella, Ella, and Nellie were born here.

    The birth of children and the cares of motherhood failed to quell her fun loving spirit. A prank she played at this time caused much amusement in the family. A traveling circus had arrived in Grandville. It had traveled over the dirt road from Grand Haven, and the women and children had gathered at a creek where they knew the elephants that accompanied the wagon, would stop to drink. This was the only way they could see the circus for at that time it was not thought decent for women to see the performance. As Mike was getting ready to go with a bunch of his cronies, Julia asked him to take her, but he was astounded that she would think of such a thing, and went without her. She immediately hunted out some old clothes, borrowed an old shawl, and with her sister Naomi, also dressed outlandishly walked to Grandville, walked way to the front and saw the performance. Mike recognized them immediately, but would not admit it to the other men who wondered who those brazen females were.

    Their next home was near the Franklin Bosworth farm on the "street Road". They lived here a number of years, and the daughter Maude was born. They were visited by Mike's brother Obe, who had been more successful in his Western trip for he had discovered a silver mine in Nevada. There is a story, that when Mike went to meet his brother, Julia wishing to appear in adverse circumstances, hid all their decent furniture upstairs in the barn, in order to show the wealthy brother a home of poverty. (This may not be true, for Julia's stories grew in magnitude in later years). Obe, who was not married, shared generously with them, giving them furniture as well as other useful gifts, including a horse and "cutter", the first cutter seen in the area. He also gave Mike money and they were able to indulge in luxuries. They purchased the Cordelia Spears place (nearly across the road). Here the two youngest children were born. Julia and Mike built a bower, and entertained their friends and neighbors with picnics and dances. Music was furnished by Wesly Tiller or by Luke Lowing and his wife Amelia.

    Their next move was to Robinson where Mike intended to raise cranberries, but this project proved unsuccessful. They then went to Spring Lake where Mike took charge of a sawmill.

    Julia was not all pranks; she did many kind things for others. Hearing of a very crippled boy that had been sent to the "Poorhouse" near Eastmanville because there was no one to care for him, Julia went after him and took him into her home to live. She sent him to school, and he lived with them until his death.

    From Spring Lake they moved to Lilly, where Mike lumbered extensively for a time, they left here for Grand Rapids, but had only been there a short time when Julia contacted measles and died after a brief illness. She is buried in Georgetown Cemetery in the lot with her father, William Riley Lowing, and his second wife Maria. She died in 1898, at the age of 58.

    Julia was the first Lecturer of the Grange that was organized in 1874. Perhaps Julia's character can best be summed up in one phrase---"Zest for living", for in whatever environment or circumstances she was placed her inexhaustible energy, cheerfulness and charm, made her a welcome guest. Mike was and equal match for Julia, and there are many stories of the pranks they played upon each other. Julia was greatly missed in Georgetown after her death.

    1. CHARLES EMBODY (150), the oldest child of Julia Lowing and Michael Embody, was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1861, while his parents were on their way home from hunting gold in Colorado. He grew to manhood in Georgetown, and moved to Oregon, where he dealt in lumber for many years. He married Florence Reed (163). They had no children.
    2. ESTELLA (EMBODY) OLIVER (151), the oldest daughter of Mike and Julia Embody, was born in Georgetown, Michigan. She married Robert Oliver (158), and they also moved to Oregon, where he also became a lumber broker. They had four children.
      1. BERNICE OLIVER (159).
      2. THRASO OLIVER (160)--Twin.
      3. LEON OLIVER (161)--Twin.
      4. HARRY OLIVER (162).
    3. ELLA EMBODY (152), died at the age of two.
    4. NELLIE (EMBODY) REED (153) was born in Georgetown and moved to Oregon where she married Charles Reed (164). They had four children.
      1. EARL REED (165).
      2. HAZEL REED (166).
      3. RUSSEL REED (167).
      4. CHARLES REED (168).
    5. MAUDE (EMBODY) WILMOT (154), moved to Portland, Oregon, where she met and married Frank Wilmot (169), a lumberman. They had two children.
      1. RICHARD WILMOT (170), who died in 1917 while a soldier in World War 1.
      2. LEONARD WILMOT (171) still lives in Portland and has four children. No further information is available.
    6. EDITH (EMBODY) BRADLEY (155), moved west with the rest of the family and married Harry Bradley (172). Edith died shortly after Julia's birth. Roderick and John remained with the father while their Aunt Maude and Frank Wilmot raised Elizabeth and Julia.
      1. RODERICK BRADLEY (173).
      2. JOHN BRADLEY (174).
      3. MARGUERITE BRADLEY (175) (died in infancy).
      4. ELIZABETH BRADLEY (176).
      5. JULIA BRADLEY (177).
    7. JOHN EMBODY (156), was born in Georgetown and went west after his mother died in 1898. He married but had no children.
    8. EARL EMBODY (157), died at birth.
  3. CHARLES LOWING (133), the third child was born in 1842, and only lived a few months.
  4. AMELIA ELIZABETH LOWING (134), the fourth child of William Riley and Mary Ann Whitehead Lowing, was born at Burford, Canada, September 18th, 1844. She was but a small girl when Naomi came to live with them. The grandfather Col. Whitehead decided to take Amelia to raise, in order to assist his daughter Mary Ann, who had taken the responsibility of raising Naomi, along with her own baby Estella. The Grandfather had fought in the war of 1812 for the British, and from this received large grants of land as payment for his services. This and shrewd management had given him quite a fortune for those days. Amelia lived a pampered life, and had a very happy childhood. The grandfather called her "Pet", and she carried the name all the rest of her life. Many called her "Aunt Pet" in later life. In 1855 when she was eleven years old the family decided to move to Michigan. The grandparents wished Amelia to remain with them, but she was fascinated by the long trip to Michigan, and decided to go. She was to return to Burford that fall, when some friends of theirs were returning from Michigan. The friends were not able to take the trip until a year later, and by that time Amelia's shoes were worn out, and she had outgrown her clothes, and she was too proud to ask her grandfather for money, so remained with the family in Georgetown.

    She was only 14, when her mother Mary Ann died, and she went to live with her Aunt Emily and Uncle James Lowing. The rest of the children lived with other aunts and uncles. When she was 15 years old she was offered the school in Blendon Landing for 75 cents a week, if she could pass the examination. She was examined by two of the school board members, and it was the simplest of tests. They asked her to say the multiplication tables of three's and spell a few words. They seemed afraid she might not pass if they gave her harder questions, and they needed a teacher. She boarded around. She also taught in Allendale, Chrysler, and Bursley. One year she with two other teacher friends attended school in Grand Rapids. They often walked the distance there. When she taught in Allendale, she often walked home to attend some gathering, and got up early the next morning to walk back to her school in time to call the first class.

    Amelia loved to sing and knew many of the ballads of the day, she had learned to play the organ in Canada, and was often called upon to play "second" at the dances held in the various houses. She sang at most of the funerals. When Amelia was 20 she returned to Canada taking her little brother Marion with her, so that her mother's relatives could see the boy born in Georgetown. Her grandfather was dead.

    In 1865, when she was twenty one she was married to Luke Lowing (223), her first cousin and the son of her Uncle Stephen L. Lowing. Their first home was on the riverbank in the boarding house. Stella and Marion both lived with them. The mill was not running at this time, so they moved into several sections of the old beehive, the quarters of the lumberjacks. The first daughter, Nettie was born here. Six months later they moved down the river to the adjoining farm. Here they tore down the old log shack and built a small cabin. Luke cleared the stumps out of the East Lot, and set out the first orchards on the hills, that was to grow fruit for so many years afterwards. Albert and Bertha were born on this farm that later became known as the Hubbard farm.

    They moved back to the Lowing farm in 1874, and here the rest of the children were born: Stephen Luke, Elizabeth, Charles, and the twins Harry and Harriet. Luke played the violin and soon the old big rooms of that house were used by all the young people of the community for dancing. They both loved to play, and neither Luke or Amelia were ever too tired to fiddle for them.

    Amelia died of a heart attack as she was about to board a train for Jenison on her way home from a visit in Grand Rapids, June 26th, 1895. She is buried in the Hubbard-Lowing Lot in Georgetown Cemetery.

    (History of the children follow life of Luke, second son of Stephen)

  5. MARY (LOWING) KIMERLY (135), the fifth child of William and Mary Ann Lowing was born in Burford, Canada, February 14th, 1847. At the age of nine she moved to Michigan. St. Vitus Dance and other illness prevented her from attending school regularly. After the early death of her mother she either lived with her relatives or worked for others if her health permitted.

    She married Luke Bower Kimerly(179), from Canada. They were married at Allendale on April 4, 1869, in a double wedding with her cousin Naomi Whitehead and Oscar (Tobe) Lowing.

    Luke worked in the lumber mills at Blendon Landing and at Robinson. Forest fires were raging in Michigan in the 1870's, and while they were living in Robinson an uncontrolled fire approached the area. Mary was ill, and had to be carried several miles on a bed tick to a place of safety. The woods nearby did not burn, a heavy rainstorm and a change of wind removed the danger, but for days people suffered from the smoke and wore wet cloths over their eyes. William and Lottie were born at Robinson.

    In 1882, the family moved to Grand Haven where Luke worked as a carpenter. Ethel was born there December 13, 1884.

    Their last move was to Grand Rapids, following their son William, who had already established business there. Mary became a member of the South Congregational Church and became active in the women's groups. She was ambitious for her children and encouraged them to work for an education, and avail themselves of every opportunity. She was hospitable and welcomed all the out of town relatives in her home. She made attendance at Central High School available for some of the Georgetown nieces and nephews.

    She died December 13, 1917. After Mary's death, Luke lived with his children until his death in 1922. Both are buried in the Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

    1. WILLIAM LOWING KIMERLY (180) was born in Robinson Township, January 11, 1870, and attended a one-room school in that area. He moved with his family to Grand Haven and attended High School there. He left for Grand Rapids in 1887, and studied Detailing and Furniture at night school, at the Y M.C.A. He entered the furniture industry, beginning with the Old Grand Rapids Furniture Co., and later for the Wolverine Upholstery Co., and the former Berkey and Gay Co. For a time he was in partnership with Charles T. Whitman in a designing studio.

      On June 29, 1899, William married Gladys Steffy (183) of Irvington, Indiana, and they had two sons, Clarence and Harvey. William continued furniture designing even after moving to California. He was author of a book, How to Know Period Furniture. He was a member of Park Congregational Church and was one of the Life Deacons. Also was a life member of the Masonic Lodge. He died April 3,1951. His wife died April 25,1946. They are buried in the Oakhill Cemetery.

      1. CLARENCE GIDEON KIMERLY (184), was born March 17,1904. He attended grammar and High School in Grand Rapids, Carnegie Tech., and Chicago Art Institute. He married Ursula Drane (186), and had two children that did not live. He was a furniture designer. He married Arma Spurlock (187), January 28, 1947, at Sacramento, California. They made their home at 1790 Old Ranch Road, Los Angeles, (49) California. Arma passed away January 11, 1965, Clarence passed away August 26, 1965 both are buried in Westwood Memorial Park, W. Los Angeles, California.
      2. HARVEY LUKE KIMERLY (185), was born April 4, 1911 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Howe Military Academy and Olivet College. He married Charlotte Lynn Mitchel (188), October 9,1937 at Detroit, Michigan. Harvey became a merchandiser for J.L. Hudson Co., as Vice President of the Department Store. His wife is an amateur artist, and scenery designer for Haydon House, Inc. He was a member of the Kilwinning Lodge, and a 32nd Degree Mason in Detroit, and a member of the University Club, and Country Club of Detroit. They have two children.
        1. AVERY LYNN KIMERLY BURNS (190), was born August 21,1938, at Traverse City, Michigan. She attended Grosse Pointe University, and has an A.B. Degree from Hood College in 1960. She was assistant buyer at Woodward and Lathrop, Washington, D.C. Married James Benner Burns (2845) of Sunbury, PA on 13 Aug 1966. Currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia. They have two children:
          1. Douglas Wynne (2848), born in Thailand.
          2. Christopher Mitchell (2849).
        2. WILLIAM MITCHELL KIMERLY (189), was born August 6, 1946 in Chicago, Ill. He attended Grosse Pointe University School, Appleby College for boys at Oakville, Canada and Brownell School at Grosse Pointe. Married Linda Susan Kilway (2839).
          1. Kristin Kae Kimerly (2840).
          2. Kari Lynn Kimerly (2843).
    2. LOTTIE KIMERLY (181), the second child of Mary and Luke Kimerly was born October 8,1872, in Robinson Township. She graduated from Central High School in Grand Rapids. Lottie suffered a paralytic stroke soon after graduating from high school, and was an invalid for several years but with great courage she again walked, but was lame. She became a teacher and taught in several district schools until shortly before her death. Lottie was a member of South Congregational Church and was active in all of its work. She died at her home in Grand Rapids at the age of thirty-three (1905) and was buried in the Oakhill Cemetery at Grand Rapids.
    3. ETHEL (KIMERLY) PRICE (182), was born December 13,1884 at Grand Haven, Michigan. She graduated from Central High School in 1904, and the Grand Rapids School of Expression. She studied Dramatics and joined the Price and Butler Stock Co., later marrying William Price (192), October 1909 at Bamesboro, Pa. Ethel worked for the Grand Rapids Recreation Department and taught dramatic classes in the evening. She went into Social Work, took extension courses from college and was employed as a caseworker with a Family Agency. She went to California in 1943 and has been working since that time for the Red Cross. Her interests were with her children, and her daily duties on her job. She had three children.

      Ethel passed away November 10, 1973, buried in Santa Monica, CA. William passed away June 21,1975, buried in South Bend, Ind.

      1. MARY (PRICE) HALE (193), was born September 14, 1910 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from Union High School, Grand Rapids, and Michigan State University. In 1933 she married A. Webb Hale (191) at Grand Rapids. He worked in the North American Aviation Personnel Department at Los Angeles, California. They have three daughters. Webb passed away June 1982, cremated in Los Angeles, CA.
        1. JEAN KAY (HALE) CURRY (196), born in Bay City, Michigan, May 19, 1936. Married Feb. 1956 to David Albert Curry (2850), divorced in 1964.
          1. KATHLEEN JEAN (CURRY) KEESLER (199), born September 15,1956. Married Terry Keesler (2852), August 15, 1981.
          2. PATRICIA LYNN (CURRY) ERICKSON (200), born September 22,1958. Married Richard Floyd Erickson (2532), July 26, 1980.
            1. AMI PATRICE ERICKSON (2854), born June 23,1981.
          3. CHRISTINE LOUISE CURRY (2851).
        2. MARY KATHRYNE (HALE) CROCKER (197) was born in Bay City, Michigan, February 17,1940. Married Terrane Edward Crocker (2855). Divorced Sept 1960. Married Robert Lamme (2858). Married Garry Clawson (2865).
          1. BAMBIE MARIE legally changed to JACQUELINE MARIE LAMME (201), born March 1, 1959. Married James Jeffrey (2856), Jan 6, 1978, divorced.
            1. JAMES WILLIAM JEFFREY (2857).
          2. ROBERT ERIK LAMME (2859), born November 8, 1964, Lynwood, CA
          3. WILLIAM WEBB LAMME (2860) was born May 25, 1966, Lynwood, CA.
          4. DEBRA JEAN LAMME (2861) was born May 14, 1970, Everett, WA.
          5. KAREN VICTORIA LAMME (2862) was born May 5, 1971, Everett, WA.
          6. DANIEL CHRISTOPHER LAMME (2863) was born May 27, 1972, Lancaster, CA.
          7. ANTHONY GUSTAVE LAMME (2864) was born Jan 2, 1975, Tremonton, UT.
          8. LISA ROSE CLAWSON (2866), born March 4, 1978, Portland OR.
          9. JON DOUGLAS CLAWSON (2867) was born August 5, 1980, McMinnville, OR.
        3. BETTY K. HALE (198), born in Los Angeles, California, May 21,1941.
      2. WILLIAM G. PRICE (194), the only son of Ethel Kimerly and William G. Price was born September 18, 1918 at Grandville, Michigan. He graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School and the University of Michigan in 1940. On May 26, 1943, he married Ruth I. Glazier (202) at South Bend, Indiana. William was am engineer with the Bendix Corporation. He was a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in South Bend, Indiana, and a member of the Institute of Associate Sciences. They had four children. William died April 5, 1990.
        1. ETHEL KIM PRICE (203) was born March 17,1947.
        2. MARGARET KAY (PRICE) CARTER HEATH (204), born July 19, 1950, South Bend, Ind. Married Bruce Dennis Carter (2868), June 7, 1968, South Bend, Ind. Remarried to Rev. Don Wm. (Mike) Heath (2873) on June 15, 1991.
          1. SAMUEL SCOTT CARTER (2869) was born Dec. 14, 1970 in Muncie, Indiana.
          2. ADAM SCOTT CARTER (2870), born March 11, 1971, Muncie, Indiana.
          3. MARY ELIZABETH CARTER (2871), born July 20, 1975, Pusan, Korea, adopted.
          4. DAWN IRENE CARTER (2872), born Jan 6, 1976, adopted.
        3. THOMAS KENT PRICE (205), born May 24, 1952.
        4. WILLIAM G. PRICE (206), born March 9, 1961.
      3. ELEANOR (PRICE) MORGAN (195), was born July 2,1923. She attended grammar schools and graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School. She married John Morgan (207) in 1946 at Los Vegas, California. They are divorced. Eleanor is active in Dramatic Groups in Los Angeles, California. She began to teach in 1943. She has one child.
        1. MICHAEL MORGAN (208), born August 31, 1947. Earned his Degree from Western Michigan University. Ned married Jane Ellen Johnston on June 10, 1961 in Kalamazoo. He is in Industrial Sales for P.P. Gast Co. Jane is a teacher and housewife. They are active in the Congregational Church and he belongs to the Delta Upsilon Fraternity.
  6. ESTELLA (LOWING) TODD (136), was born in Burford, Canada in 1848, and was seven years old when the family moved to Michigan and only eleven when her mother died. Her sister Julia made a home for her until Julia went west. There she stayed with relatives until she was old enough to "work out". There were very few opportunities at that time for girls to care for themselves excepting teaching or working for others. As most of the places needing help had large families, it was usually a life of drudgery and many married to escape. Estella's life was a hard one. She because engaged to Will Todd but he passed away shortly before the wedding Estella married his brother although he was much older.

    Cyrus Todd (209) was a sealer of lumber, and they followed the lumber camps, fast at Blendon Landing, and them Robinson, where their two sons Fred (210) and John (211) were born. He worked at Eastmanville for Mr. Hefferan for many years, and the house in which they lived there for several years still stands in that village. They moved to Montague, and lived there for many years. Myra (Dot) (212) and Bessie (Beth) (213) were born there.

    As the land was cleared of timber in Michigan, the Todd family moved to Portland, Oregon, where Cyrus continued in the lumber business. Cyrus and Estella with Fred moved to Tacoma, Washington, while John, Bessie and Myra stayed in Portland. They all married and had children, but the Michigan family have lost track of them. Fred worked for years as an electrical engineer in Tacoma, Washington. He married Georgia Walker (1577) June 24th, 1896. They had one son Walker Todd (1578), who also became am electrical engineer. After Fred Todd died, the family lost all contact with the Estella Todd family. Fred, Georgia, Cyrus, and Estella are all buried in Tacoma.

    At one time there were six cousins, all born in 1870, and living close to each other. They spent so much time together they were like brothers. They were Fred Todd, Albert Lowing, George Lowing, George Hubbard (Martha's son) Will Kimerly and Edgar (Ned) Lowing. In 1961 Albert Lowing was the only one living.

  7. NAOMI (WHITEHEAD) LOWING (332), was born December 12, 1851, in Burford, Canada. Her mother died at her birth. Her father George Whitehead gave her to his sister Mary Ann to raise and he left for the gold fields of California. Naomi had a good home as long as the family remained intact. She called William and Mary Ann "Pa and Ma". She was always a beloved sister. After Mary Ann died, she had the same rough time that the rest of the girls had. Naomi became strong and efficient, and later had no trouble finding homes as well as places to work. One year she worked for John Haire and kept his boarding house. She used to tell of the lumberjacks going pigeon hunting down at Port Shelton and that they used to bring home wagon loads of pigeons. She at one time cleaned, pin feathered, packed and salted two barrels of the dressed pigeons, which were shipped to Chicago from just one hunting trip. The result of such destruction was the extinction of the birds.

    Naomi married Oscar (Tobe) Lowing (224) April 4, 1869, when she was 18 years old, in a double ceremony with Mary Lowing and Luke Kimerly at Allendale. There is a story of Tobe approaching the Minister and saying: "Here is a couple of couples that want to get coupled."

    They lived on the farm of his father's for a time, they both worked at the Ohio Mills, and finally they moved onto the farm that they purchased from the father. This had a log cabin that Naomi made very attractive. Naomi was a splendid manager, and fine cook, and after Tobe died March 11, 1889, she became a practical nurse.

    Her sense of humor, cheerfulness and kindness to everyone made her many friends; and the relatives adored her. She was a great mimic, and amused everyone by this ability. One of her special sayings was, "Well if I don't tart now, I will never tart," mimicking some old pioneer as she "sailed" into doing the dishes. Any cold day reminded her of the Klondike, she had some retort for every occasion.

    For years she lived with her daughter Jennie. She died at Grandville March 16, 1937. She outlived all the William Lowing family, and was the last of the 7th generation to pass away. Naomi and Tobe had three children, Jennie, George and Carl.

    1. GEORGE LOWING (333), was born May 3,1870. He was 19 when his father died, and immediately took over the support of the family. He worked and helped to clear the land, and soon became one of the good farmers of the community. George married Elizabeth Otto (336), November 29, 1894. He died April 15, 1932. They had one son, Earl.
      1. EARL OTTO LOWING (337), was born April 23, 1897, in Georgetown, attended Chrysler and Canada Hill Schools. He married Ruth P. Huth (338), May 22, 1918. He was a farmer. They had two children. Earl passed away May 12, 1946. Ruth passed away October 30, 1986, buried Georgetown Cemetery.
        1. RUTH ELOISE (LOWING) BULHUIS (339), was born November 24, 1921. She attended Chrysler School, East Grand Rapids High School, and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1939. She married Henry Bulhuis (341) August 1, 1940. He was a produce foreman, and she is a secretary and housewife. They have four children. Henry, aged 64, passed away March 27, buried in Georgetown Cemetery.
          1. DAVID ARLYN BULHUIS (342), born June 4, 1941. He married Joyce Koetje, (2874) June 14, 1963.
            1. DAVID ARLYN BULHUIS, II (2875), born June 12, 1964.
            2. DANNY ARLYN BULHUIS (2876), born April 5,1966.
            3. CHANDLER ARLYN BULHUIS (2877), born June 13, 1970.
          2. RUTH ANN JEAN (BULHUIS) AYLWORTH (343), born March 18, 1946. She married Arlyn Aylworth (2878), January 30, 1965 in Hudsonville.
            1. TERESSA RUTH (AYLWORTH) ROZSA (2879), born August 10, 1965. Married August 6, 1988 to Gregory Rozsa (2882).
            2. JAMES RANDALL AYLWORTH (2880), born July 14,1967.
            3. SANDRA LYNN AYLWORTH (2881), born November 26, 1970.
          3. MARK HENRY BULHUIS (344), born April 29, 1948. Married Doreen Corpron, (2883) June 17, 1972.
          4. WILLIAM DEAN (345), born February 14, 1951.
        2. EARL DOUGLAS LOWING (340), was born February 4, 1935. He attended Chrysler and Hudsonville High School. He married Barbara Hastings (346), February 7, 1959, in Redeemer Lutheran Church at Bossier City, La. He has spent 6 1/2 years in the Armed Services having been stationed in Greenland, Iceland, England, Guam, Azores, and in Spain. They have two children.
          1. LINDA SUE (LOWING) FAHLING (347), (Adopted) born December 29, 1957. Married September 9, 1978 to Arden Fahling (2884), son of Mr. & Mrs. Arden Fahling.
          2. DARRELL LEE (348), born December 22, 1959.
          3. ERICK DOUGLAS
    2. JENNIE LYNN (LOWING) LADEWIG, was born October 17, 1874. She attended Chrysler School and Grandville High School, living with "Aunt Martha" in Grandville. At the same time Aunt Martha, although she already had a large family, made a place in her home for Emily Lowing, Stephen Lowing, and Jennie, making it possible for them to gain an education. She married Alfred Ladewig (349), April 7, 1897. He was a blacksmith in Bauer and Hudsonville before retiring and moving to Grandville. Jennie passed away October 1962. She was interred in the Georgetown Cemetery.
      1. DORIS NAOMI (LADEWIG) JOHNSON (334), was born November 13, 1899. She attended Canada Hill School and graduated from Grandville High School. She worked for the Bell Telephone Co., before her marriage to Albert Lee Johnson (352), June 20, 1920. He was an Insurance Agent and the Manager of the Grandville-Wyoming Transit Co. She belonged to the Eastern Star and was Worthy Mason. She was also a member of M.E. Church at Grandville. They have two children. Lee, age 73, passed away May 18,1972, buried in Grandville Cemetery.
        1. HOWARD LEE JOHNSON (353), was born May 31, 1924 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Grandville High School Hope College, and the University of Michigan. He was married to Barbara L. Baker (355), April 20, 1956 at Grand Rapids. He is the co-owner of a General Insurance Agency. His wife is a model. He is a member of the Methodist Church, Masonic Order, Grand Rapids Ski Club, Caberfae Ski Club, `60 Alumni Club (made up of 1960 Republican National Campaign Committee), and a member of Vice President Nixon's Campaign Committee. He was a navigator in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945 in World War II.
          1. HOWARD LEE JOHNSON (356), born October 16, 1958.
          2. LIBBIE LOUISE JOHNSON (357), born January 14, 1961.
          3. AMY LYNN JOHNSON (2885), born May 30,1963.
        2. BONNIE RUTH (JOHNSON) PACKER (354), was born March 3, 1926. She attended Grandville High School, Grand Rapids Junior College; aid obtained her BA degree from Michigan State University. She married Kenneth Frederick Packer (358), June 10, 1948, at Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a metallurgist. She belongs to the American Association of University Women (Nat's Member) and is a member of the Congregational Church. They have four children.
          1. THOMAS ALFRED PACKER (359), born January 1, 1952. Married August 4, 1974 to Kay O'Conner (3031) in Naperville, Illinois.
          2. JAMES KENNETH PACKER (360), born June 16,1954.
          3. LYNN ANN PACKER (351), born August 4, 1955.
          4. DAVID ALLEN PACKER (352), born January 26, 1962.
      2. HAROLD S. LADEWIG (1120), was born June 22,1904. He attended Grandville High School and Hope College. He married Ruby Mooney (2886) at Grandville, Michigan, June 26,1934. He is a contractor. They live in Paradise, California, and have no children.
    3. CARL F. LOWING (335), was born June 21, 1887. He attended Chrysler School. He married Grace Barton (363), March 15, 1925. After her death he married Willie Lee Roris (373). She died October 16, 1960. Carl was a mechanic of the Otis Elevator Co. Carl has two children by his second wife. Carl passed away 1972 at age 83.
      1. FRANKLIN CARL LOWING (364), was born December 19, 1929. He attended Godwin School and Central High School. He married Dora Gann (366), May 1954, in Texas. He was in the Air Force. He now works at Kelvinator Division of American Motors. They have two children.
        1. DEBBIE KAY (367), born November 1, 1956.
        2. STEPHEN DALE (368), born March 7,1957.
      2. HAROLD LAVERNE LOWING, born August 6,1932 at Cedar Springs, Michigan. He attended Godwin School and Central High School at Grand Rapids. He married Louise Bullock (369), December 9, 1949, at Grand Rapids. They have three children. Harold is a mechanic.
        1. CHERYL LYNN (370), born May 2,1952.
        2. CARL ALLEN (371), born June 27,1954.
        3. PHILLIP WAYNE (372), born November 27, 1959.
  8. WILLIAM LOWING (137), the seventh child of William and Mary Ann Lowing, was born in 1857. He lived but six months and was buried in the Haire Cemetery. His grave is unmarked.
  9. MARION LOWING (138), the eighth child of William and Mary Ann Lowing, was born April 4,1859, while the family lived in the old log house at the bend of the road, east of the Haire School. Mary Ann died at his birth, and his Aunt Mary Bosworth kept him for months, and from that time, until his death at 22, in 1881, he was passed from one relative to another. He lived for a time with his father and stepmother.
    1. DORA LOWING (139), first child of William and Maria Cressy (Orton) Lowing (second wife) died in infancy.
  10. EDGAR CURTIS LOWING (140), (Ned), second child of William and Maria Lowing, was born February 8,1870. Ned attended the Canada Hill School. He married Laida Isella Bowen (214), who was born January 7,1891. She was a housewife and he worked for the National Grocery Company in Traverse City, Michigan. They were both active in Civic affairs and Congregational Church work. Ned passed away August 5, 1933 and Laida passed away March 1954. Both are buried in Traverse City, Michigan. They had four children and lived in Traverse City Michigan.
    1. HILDEGARDE ALICE (LOWING) MILLER (215), first child of Ned and Laida Lowing was born at Grand Rapids, Mich., March 21, 1895. She attended the Traverse City public schools and also studied music at Bayview. Hildegarde married Neil 0. Miller (219) at Traverse City. He was born April 28,1890. She was a housewife and church organist. There were two children born to this union. Hildegarde passed away, August 5, 1928 and is buried in Traverse City.
      1. RICHARD BOWEN MILLER (220), born July 27,1918.
      2. ROGER LOWING MILLER (221), born January 15,1920.
    2. GLENNA MARIE (LOWING) KIEFER (216), of R#2, Deepwater Point, Williamsburg, Michigan, second child of Edgar and Laida Lowing was born March 4, 1897 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended the Traverse City public schools, received a B.S. degree in English from the S. Western College at Ypsilanti, and did graduate work at the University of Michigan. On March 4, 1924 Glenna married William James Kiefer (2887) at St. Joseph, Michigan. He was a Commercial Artist and fought during WWI on the European front. William passed away in 1945 in Philadelphia. Glenna taught English in Traverse City and is now retired. She is active in the Friendly Garden Club, Delta Gamma Society, Acme Woman's Club, Retired Teacher's Club and the Congregational Church Guild. She has two children.
      1. PATRICIA LOWING KIEFER (2888), was born in Niles, Michigan, December 9,1924. She is a graduate Nurse and did further study at Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan. She has a Masters from Yale Graduate School. She is now teaching in Flint Junior College.
      2. BARBARA MARY (KIEFER) THOMPSON (2890), was born in Traverse City, Michigan, February 6, 1928. She attended Traverse City public schools and Michigan State University. On June 20, 1954 she married James William Thompson (2891). He is a graduate of Southeastern College, with graduate work at Oberlin College.
        1. WILLIAM THOMPSON (2892), born April 26,1954.
        2. ROBERT THOMPSON (2893), born September 25,1956.
        3. TIMOTHY THOMPSON (2894), born November 1,1958.
    3. EDGAR CURTIS LOWING (217), JR,(Ned), third child of Edgar and Laida Lowing was born March 15,1903. He attended schools in Traverse City. On July 20, 1925 he married Byrd Duncan (2895) at Grand Haven, Michigan. Edgar was a Salesman and Byrd was a bookkeeper. They were members of the Congregational Church. There was one child born to this union. Edgar passed away June 8, 1955 and is buried at Traverse City, Michigan.
      1. ANNE DUNCAN (LOWING) LATHAM (2896), of 301 Youpon St., Silsbee Texas, was born in Traverse City, June 18, 1926. She attended Michigan State University, Lamar College of Technology and received a B.S. degree in House Economics at Beaumont, Texas. On September 27, 1947 she married Wesley Charles Latham (2897) at Appleton, Wisconsin. He is an Appraiser and Forestry Consultant and Anne is a Home Economist, Real Estate Broker, Draftsman and Artist. Active in the National Home Economics Association, Silsbee Art League and a member of Lamar College Alumnae Association. They have one child.
        1. LANCE WESLEY LATHAM (2998), born October 25, 1948, Iron Mountain, Michigan.
    4. RUTH CRESSY (LOWING) BEHL (218), of 3834 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo, Michigan, was born in Traverse City, April 9, 1909. She attended Traverse City public schools and Western Teachers College in Kalamazoo. On August 9,1934 was married to John D. Behl (2899) in Michigan City, Ind. He is Package Engineer for KUP Southland Co. and active in Masons and the Congregational Church. Ruth is a housewife and active in Alpha Phi Beta Sorority, Congregational Church, Ann Bradford Guild and Oakwood Book Club. There were three children born of this union.
      1. GLENNA MARIE (BEHL) HALLIBURTON (2900), of 1427 Giddings S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, February 11, 1936. She attended Battle Creek, Omaha and Kalamazoo public schools, and is a graduate of MSU. In Kalamazoo on June 19,1957, Glenna married Sam H. Halliburton (2903) who is a Hospital Supplies Salesman. They have two children.
        1. JOHN HARLAN HALLIBURTON (2904), born in Lansing, March 23,1958.
        2. ANDREW MATHIS HALLIBURTON (2905), born in Kalamazoo, September 3, 1960.
      2. JOHN EDGAR (NED) BEHL (2901), of 229 Tamorix, Kalamazoo, Mich., second child of John and Ruth Behl, was born September 17, 1938 at Battle Creek, Mich. He attended Battle Creek, Omaha, and Kalamazoo public schools and has a B.A. degree from Western Michigan University. Ned married Jane Ellen Johnston (2906) on June 10, 1961 in Kalamazoo. He is in Industrial Sales for PP Gast Co. Jane is a teacher and housewife. They are active in the Congregational Church and he belongs to the Delta Upsilon Fraternity.
        1. JOHN EDGAR BEHL (2907), born in Kalamazoo, MI, November 29, 1963.
        2. ROBERT LOWING BEHL (2908), born in Kalamazoo, MI, March 17, 1965.
      3. KENT LOWING BEHL (2902), born September 15,1943, died April 17,1952.

End Of The Known Descendants Of William Riley Lowing.

posted by Trevor Lowing
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