U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lowther, William ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Harrison County, West Virginia, From the Early Days of Northwestern Virginia to the Present. by Henry Haymond Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va., 1910 Page 381, Col. William Lowther William Lowther was the son of Robert Lowther, who moved to the Hacker's Creek settlement in 1772. He soon became one of the most conspicuous men in that section of the Country, while his private virtues and public actions endeared him to the community. During the war of 1774 and the following hostilities he was the most active and efficient defender of the vicinity against the savage foe, and there were very few scouting parties from this neighborhood by which Indians were killed or dispersed but those which were commanded by him. During the latter part of the war he had charge of the line of scouts along the Ohio River, covering the approaches to the settlements in the Monongahela Valley, and performed that duty to the satisfaction of the State Authorities. Colonel Lowther in civil life was a Justice of the Peace in the District of West Augusta, the first sheriff of Harrison and Wood Counties and served as a member of the General Assembly. His descendants are still in this County. It is a matter of regret that so little is known of the life and services of this most distinguished citizen. The date of his birth is not known and it is supposed that his death occurred in Wood County. The Border Warfare speaks in the highest terms of Colonel Lowther's active and successful exertions in what is known as the "starving year" to relieve the sufferings of the settlers. The starving year was in 1773 and was caused by the corn crop of the preceding year not being sufficient to furnish bread for the increased population. His settlement right was for 400 acres on Hacker's Creek in 1772 adjoining land of Jesse Hughes. In 1782 he had eight members in his family. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Harrison County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/harrison/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------