LOWE, HENRY J. AND MARY ANN (KUDRNA)

by Wesley and Maxine James

Entry F263 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

H.J. and Mary Lowe about 1925.

The Lowes came to this area by covered
wagon in 1894 from Goodland, Kansas with
their sons Louis 3 and J.Elliott, one.

Henry J. Lowe was born in Cambridgesh-
ire, England, March 5, 1861, to Henry and
Mary Lowe. When he was 11, he came to
America with his parents, 4 brothers and 1
sister. They settled in Marshall, Mich. area.
When he was 17, he left his home and spent
some time in Ill. and Ia. before settling in
Sherman Co., Kans. in March 1885.

Mary A. Kudrna was born Nov. 1, 1866 in
Bohemia. In 1883 she came with her parents
and 4 brothers to America, first settling in
Weston, NE. Her older brother, Louis had
preceded the rest of the family. In 1886 the
family moved to Sherman Co. Kansas where
she was married to H.J. Lowe, Febr. 13, 1889.

When the Lowes arrived in the Sandhills,
they located on the Middle Loup River north
of Hecla. After a very cold, disagreeable
winter, they started back to Kansas. They
camped on the Dismal River temporarily,
while there Henry met up with Henry
Gordon. As a result of that meeting he traded
some horses, including Mary's best team (and
which he had strict orders not to trade) for
a stock of merchandise valued at $500.00.

Throughout the years his business expan-
ded as did his building and holdings. Besides
the general merchandise, he sold machinery,
lumber, cement and coal. The upper story of
his store building was used as a Town Hall.

In 1903 Henry Lowe was one of trustees
that helped found the Methodist Episcopal
Church and in 1904 was a member of the
Building Committee to build their first
church in Mullen.

Henry served as Postmaster from 1896 to
1904. He also served as County Treasurer 4
years.

Henry Lowe, fondly known as "H.J." by
friends was a quiet, unassuming man with a
lot of faith in his fellow man. Many of the
early ranchers acknowledged they would
never have gotten the start they had without
H.J.'s help. In 1915 he retired from active
business, turning the management of the
store over to his son, Elliott. The Lowe's built
a beautiful new 2-story, 5 bedroom home in
south part of Mullen 1913-14. Their location
on outskirts of town made them prey to
gypsies that used to go thro' the country
begging and stealing. Mary tried to keep her
screen doors locked. She told of one gypsy
woman screaming, "stingy, stingy" at her
when she wouldn't let her in the house to get
water.

Henry was Sec'y of Committee that peti-
tioned for establishment of St. Joseph's
Episcopal Church. In 1909 Henry and son,
Louis were in the first Confirmation class of
the church. Mary, son, Elliott and daughter-
in-law, Lillie Lowe were confirmed in 1918.

At the time of his death, Dec., 1926, "H.J."
was considered a prominent business man
with considerable ranch holdings. He and
Mrs. Lowe had been living on their northwest
ranch a few months before his death.

In March 1927 Louis and his family moved
from their ranch north east of Mullen in to
live with Mrs. Lowe in her home in Mullen.

Mary Lowe known to all as "Mother Lowe"
was a charter member of Eastern Star and
active in Episcopal Church & Guild. She
loved to play cards, especially bridge. In
earlier years she and "H.J." had opened their
home to various nieces & nephews and many
teachers had stayed with them.

After Elliott and family moved to Sheri-
dan, Wyo. in late '40's, "Mother Lowe" spent
the winters in Sheridan and summers in
Mullen. Her last 2 years were spent at Alice
Pool's Rest Home where she died, Jan. 25,
1955.