Joel Barton Lowery was born March 6, 1834, in River Bend, Bibb County, Alabama, to Joel C. and Mary Abigail (Pratt)Lowery. He was affectionately known by his friends as Mr. Bart Lowery. Joel’s father was born in Rhea County, Tennessee and was a veteran of the War of 1812, and was the son of Samuel Lowery, an immigrant from Ireland to Virginia. Samuel Lowery married Hannah Jeffers from Virginia. Hannah died in Bibb County, Alabama.
Joel Barton Lowery’s mother was Mary Abigail Pratt (1800-1845), the daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Beavers) Pratt, who settled in the bend of the Cahawba River above the Falls of the Cahawba about 1818. Mary Abigail was born in Stokes County, North Carolina.
Joel joined the Baptist Church at the age of fourteen and was a faithful and consistent member of the Baptist Church for over sixty years. He was educated at Sandy Academy, Bibb County, Alabama. He married Mary E. Thomas Feb 10th 1876. Mary was a native of Perry County, Alabama and the daughter of William and Sarah (Hawley) Thomas. She was born November 9, 1852.
Joel and Mary raised their six children, four sons, and two daughters, primarily in Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama.
Milford E. Lowery
William E. Lowery
Sarah A. Lowery
Clyde W. Lowery
Anna E. Lowery
Sydney C. Lowery
Mr. Bart Lowery was a farmer and a teacher in the early years of his adult life. In 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Company B, 44th Alabama Infantry under Captain John A. Jones and in a short time was promoted to sergeant and served in this capacity until 1864. He was appointed an ambulance sergeant in 1865, a position he held until the end of the conflict when he returned home.
This was written about Joel Bart Lowery by C. L Wilson, Pastor of First Baptist Church:
“Joel was the brother-in-law of Captain Joab Goodson, who was married to Jane Goodson, Joab’s sister. John Lowery was a member of company F, 20th Alabama Regiment, and another brother William Fletcher Lowery, was 2nd Lieutenant in Company D, of that regiment, whose captain was Richard Hopkins Pratt, his first cousin.
Upon returning home after the war, he resumed his profession of teaching school, but in the year 1871, his fellow citizens elected him to the position of Tax Assessor of Bibb County. “He served in this position for three years, in which he was excelled by none.” Afterward, he taught school and farmed until 1890 when he was appointed clerk of the circuit court. JOEL was elected County Treasurer in 1894. In all his official life he was faithful and conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and justly merited the confidence and esteem of all people with whom he was associated. “Politically he was a democrat and proved to be competent to fill every position that was offered to him.
“During the last four years of his life, he resided in Blocton where by his simple life, daily walk and conversation, he won the love and esteem of friends and neighbors. He was a thrifty and energetic nature, and even during the late years of his life, at the earnest solicitation of family and friends, would not retire from his daily occupation.
Because of his long illness, I (C. L Wilson, Pastor of First Baptist Church) was frequently in his home and thus learned much of his noble nature and high character, and truly it can be said a good man is gone. I have never known any man whose name was spoken of with greater reverence than was Bro. Lowery’s. He lived a consecrated Christian life until his death. Those who have known him longest say his life was clean and his character blameless. He was a loyal friend to his pastor, and always deeply interested in the welfare of his church, and in everything making his influence felt for good in the community.”
SOURCES:
1.Ellorine Cottingham Morgan compiled records
2.Brant & Fuller (1893) Memorial Record of Alabama”, Vol. I, p. 491-492
3.BLOCTON ENTERPRISE, Thursday, 25, November 1909, Obituary
4.CHARLES E. BOYD, THE DEVIL’S DEN – A History of the 44th 5.Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment Confederate States Army (1862-1865). Published by the author, 1987, page 107.
6.Wilson, C. L., Pastor, First Baptist Church, Blocton Enterprise, 2 December 1909
