The earliest ancestor of the Lowery family that has resided in Covington County is David Lowery. Family researchers continue their efforts to identify the parents of David who was born in South Carolina in 1780. David migrated from his home state to several states including Kentucky and Ohio before heading south to Georgia and on to Alabama before his death in Jefferson County in 1850.

David Lowery was married in 1803 in South Carolina to Sarah Crumpton, daughter of Luke (1760-1842) and Mary Ann “Polly” (Duke) (1763-1847) Crumpton. Their first children were born in South Carolina before they began their migrations. They left Georgia and arrived in Shelby County, Ala., circa 1818. Moving with them were related families from South Carolina.

David and Sarah Lowery reared the following known children: Minerva “Minnie,” b. ca 1802; Thomas, b. 1804, d. 1880, m. Martha Cameron (ca 1807-1870); George, b. ca 1805, m. Mariah ?; and John L., b. ca 1814, 1878, m. Mary Frances Davis Thames (1824-1866). More information was found on the family of Thomas and Martha Lowery, so the following genealogy is related to them and their descendants.

Thomas was born in 1804 in Kentucky, and he was residing in Jefferson County, Ala., when he died in 1880. He was married to Martha Cameron, and they reared the following children: David, b. ca 1826; John, b. 1827, m. Amelia ?; Calvin L, b. ca 1832, m. Eliza Hudson; Andrew Madison, b. 1833, d. 1871, m. Kesiah Jane Mathis (1835-1905); Richard H., b. ca 1836, m. Willis A. Williams; Newton R., b. ca 1838, m. Lucinda ?; Joseph W., b. ca 1838; Sarah L., b. ca 1840; Mary V., b. ca 1841; and Elizabeth P., b. ca 1848.

The son, Andrew Madison Lowery, migrated to Macon County, Ala., in 1851 where he met and was married to Kesiah Jane Mathis, daughter of Wesley and Mary Mathis. They lived there for about four years before moving with Kesiah’s parents to Covington County, Ala., in 1855. They settled near the family of Jesse Beck and his wife, Sarah (Woodcock), who had arrived in Covington County circa 1841. Andrew Madison purchased 320.40 acres of government land on January 1, 1855, in the Leon Township. There was a Lunicy Lowery who bought 321 acres of land that same year in Leon.

Andrew Lowery moved his family to Georgia during the War for Southern Independence. He was attached to Confederate units from Georgia and from Florida. Following the war, Andrew moved his family to Wawbeck, Escambia County, Ala. Tragically, he was killed by a neighbor in 1871. His widow, Kesiah Lowery, then moved her family to Canoe, Ala. Many members of their family were buried in the Brown Cemetery.

Andrew and Kesiah Lowery reared the following children: William Walter, b. 1853, d. 1935, m. Mary Florence Beck (1857-1930); Andrew Martin, b. 1855, d. 1952, m. Mildred Thersa “Millie” Bryars (1860-1930; Mary, b. 1856, m. John T. Faulk; Martha Jane “Mattie,” b. 1858, d. 1893, m. James Newton Dunaway; Florida A., b. 1860, d 1933, m. William H. Tolin (1853-1932); Victoria Adeline, b. 1862, d. 1938, m. William Washington Dunaway (1863-1926); Ada P., b. 1864, m. Frank M. Dixon; Oscar Robert, b. 1866, d. 1954, m. Vallie Virgie Bryars; and James T., b. 1868, m. Georgia Elizabeth Rawls.

Andrew’s oldest son, William Walter Lowery, was married to Mary Florence Beck (1857-1930), daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Woodcock) Beck who were neighbors of the Lowery family. They reared the following children: Ella Lee, b. 1875, d. 1876; Stella Irene, b. 1877, d. 1898, m. W.H. Bell; Mattie Bell, b. 1881, d. 1952, m. Richqrde Josua “Dick” Johns (1869-1935); Lilly K., b.&d.1883; Sarah Lenora, b. 1885, d. 1956, m. C. Paul Smith; Lelia Jewel, b.&d. 1886; Jessie Selemea, b. 1889, d. 1980, m. W.J. Forte; Willie Marie, b.&d. 1890; Bessie Darling, b.&d. 1891; RankinR., b. 1891, d. 1934; Winton or William Walter, b. 1894, d. 1940, m. Florence Olivia Lynch (1902-1978); Mary Omega, b. 1897, d. 1930, m. Ray Henderson; and Donnie Depree, b. 1899, d. 1969, m. Leo Taylor (1895-1983).

William W. and Mary Lowery along with members of the Beck and Mathis families were founders of the Town of Enon, Fla. Eventually William and Mary migrated to what would become Atmore, Escambia County, Ala. They were one of the original founders of the town and found a very rewarding an successful life there. William was one of the very first merchants and one of the founders of the Bank of Atmore. He was successful in many business ventures and became a member of the Escambia County Commissioners’ Board. Atmore is where they reared their large family.

Andrew Madison’s son, Andrew Martin Lowery, and his wife, Mildred Theresa “millie” Bryars had the following children: Bertha Irene, b. 1881, d. 1897; Lula Estelle, b. 1883, d. 1967; Andrew Martin Jr., b. 1885, d. 1969, m. Mattie Ola Dunaway (1888-1967); Infant son, b.&d. 1887; Correy Benjamin, b. 1889, d. 1959, m. Martha Oma Dunaway (1893-1956); Virgie Elen, b. 1891, d. 1981, m. Robert L. Lowery (1880-1957); Herman Spence, b. 1893, d. 1970, m. Ida Colbert; Stella Alyne, b. 1897, d. 1981, m. Simon C. Wilson; Ethel Lucylle, b. 1899, d. 1946, m. Charles M. Neal (1890-1965); Ada Marie, b. 1901, m. Henry A. McNeill; and Leonard Barnette, b. 1903, m. Nell Whitaker.

Andrew Madison’s daughter, Mary Lowery, and her husband, John T. Faulk, had the following children: Anna, m. John Godwin; Nell, m. Joe Griffin; Ruth, m. John Cain; Kate, m. Tom Hall; Arthur; Ella, m. Lawrence Findley; Sheppard, m. Lena ?; and Florence Irene, b. 1872, m. C.J. Vickery.

Andrew Madison’s daughter, Martha Jane Lowery, and her husband James Newton Dunaway, had the following children: Oscar, b. 1881; Toria, b. 1885, m. Lee Dawson; James Lee, b. 1886, m. Jehazia Rooks; Mattie Ola, b. 1888, d. 1963, m. Andrew Martin Lowery; Lena, b. 1890, m. Arthur Lowery; and Irma, b. 1891, d. 1975, m. Terrance Ward.

Andrew Madison’s daughter, Florida A. Lowery, and her husband, William H. Tobin had two children: Lemma, m. Jenks ?; and Tom W., b. 1882, d. 1946.

Andrew Madison’s daughter, Victoria Adeline Lowery, was married to William Washington Dunaway, son of Johnson and Martha (Griffin) Dunaway. They had the following children: Ollie Madison, b. 1887, d. 1953; Bessie Kesiah, b. 1890, d. 1971; William Herbert, b. 1892, d. 1970; Martha Oma, b. 1893, d. 1956; Fred Lee, b. 1895, d. 1941; Curtis Hunter, b. 1898, d. 1969; Eustis, b. 1899; Mary Lucylle, b. 1901; and James Daniel, b. 1904, d. 1976.

Andrew Madison’s son, Oscar Robert Lowery, and his wife, Vallie Virgie Bryars, had the following children: Willard E., b. 1892, d. 1974, m. Frances Pauline Caldwell; Robert Ernest, b. 1894, d. 1973, m. Velma Robinson; James M., b. 1894, m. Dollie Holladay; Inez E., b. 1898, m. Agnew Parker; and Cline E., b. 1900.

Andrew Madison’s youngest son, James T. Lowery, and his wife Georgia Elizabeth Rawls, had the following children: Myrtle, m. Fred Boan; Bernard, m. Martha Gilorist; Rubye, m. Clarence Woodall; Jessie F., b. 1884, m. Agnew C. Thompson;; Mattie E., b. 1892; Ellen H., b. 1895, m. Robert Nelson Braswell; and Jamie T., b. 1897.

There is much more genealogy on this family at The Lowery Genealogy Web Site, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/wlowery, which was the primary source for this writing. Some data was gathered from Ancestry.com and a family story in The Heritage of Covington County, Alabama.

Anyone who might have a correction to any of the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442;

or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.