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- "He was grad. by Bowdoin College 1859, and studied law with the Hon. Charles P. Chandler, whose dau. he afterwards m. He was a prominent lawyer in Maine and Louisiana; was a Colonel in the Civil War and Provo Marshal-General on Gen. Canby's staff, C . "D," 1st H. Art. and later Colonel in Regt. from Abbot; 26 years old, entered as a private. At the close of the war he settled in New Orleans, La; was member and Speaker of the Louisiana Legislature and for several years was postmaster of New Orleans."
1860 Census: ME: Oxford: Norway Village, p 595:
Charles W. Lowell, 24, lawyer, born in ME.
Background notes from The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and its archive of the Charles W. Lowell papers:
“Charles Winthrop Lowell is a ninth generation descendent of Percival Lowell, who was the first Lowell to emigrate to America, in 1639. He was born to Hon. Phillip Smith Lowell and Harriet Butler Lowell on November 20, 1834, in Farmingham, Maine.
He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1859 and studied law with the Hon. Charles P. Chandler, whose daughter Mary Elizabeth he married in June of 1860. Their daughter, Mary Chandler Lowell, was born on January 18, 1864; her mother died six days later. He married again, ca. 1870, Sarah ("Sally") W. Huff of Salem, Va., but had no children from this marriage.”
Lowell was a prominent lawyer in Maine and Louisiana and served as a captain in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. After the war, he continued military service as a colonel and provost marshal general. At the close of the war he settled in New Orleans, La., served as a member and speaker of the Louisiana legislature, and for several years was postmaster of New Orleans. Lowell died on October 5, 1877, in Foxcroft, Maine.
The 80th Regiment of United States Colored Troops (which was formerly known as the Corps d'Afrique or The Native Guards) was formed in Louisiana in 1863. The mustering of African-American soldiers during the Civil War was a key event that helped change the struggle from a war of politics to a war for freedom, a position which was not overtly recognized by the United States government until 1863.
“Charles (9) Winthrop Lowell (Percival (1)) b. in Farmington, Maine, Nov. 20, 1834: m. June 7 1860 Mary (8) Esther, b. Mar. 16, 1837, dau. of Hon. Charles (7) Parsons and Sarah (7) M. (Wheeler) Chandler of Foxcroft. When a lad of nine (9) years young Lowell came to Foxcroft with his parents. At once he entered Foxcroft Academy: and at an early age commenced teaching in rural schools. He finished his Academic training at Bowdoin College. While reading for his chosen profession, Laww, in the office of Hon. Charles P. Chandler, he was engaged in teaching in Sebec village, and as Assistant Preceptor of Foxcroft Academy. Upon his admission to the Bar, and his marriage with Miss Chandler, they took up their resident in Norway, Maine; where Mr. Lowell had formed a partnership with Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, later Member of Congress. He had not long to wait, for nearly his first case, a fiercely contested one, in which he won in each appealed instance, at once established his reputation as a sound lawyer and eloquent pleader. It gave him conspicuous preeminence at the Bar. In the fall of 1861 he was elected to the Maine Legislature, from Oxford County, and although one of the youngest members, speedily rose tto the front rank of influence. On the death of Mrs. Lowell’s brother, Col. Charles Peleg Chandler of the 1st. Mass. Inf., gallantly leading his men in that fierce conflict at Nelson’s Farm, Glendale, Virginia, 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Lowell returnerned to Foxcroft, to be with her widowed mother. At the earnest instance of Hon. John H. Rice, our member of Congress, Mr. Lowell entered into partnership, and they occupied the office of Mr. Lowell’s father-in-law, the late Hon. C. P. Chandler. The office building was on the site of the present Masonic Temple. Young Lowell was made a Trial Justice by Gov. Washburn. On January 24, 1863 his wife passed away, leaving a young daughter, only six days old! A month later, after making very thoughtful and generous provision for the care of his infant daughter, Mr. Lowell accepted a Captaincy in the Regiment under Brig. Gen. Ullman. Was promoted Col. 80th U.S. Infantry, Judge Advocate; Provost Marshall Gen. on Gov. Canby’s stafaff from Aug; 2, 1865 to March 1866, when Gen. Canby relieved him and made him Judge of the Provost Court at New Orleans, La. Col. Lowell’s military service closed in March 1867, when his regiment was mustered out. Col. Lowell passed the summer with his young daughter at their home in Foxcroft. In the fall, the Secretary of the Interior appointed him Commissioner of Indian Affairs; but Gen. Hancock’s insistence, that Col. Lowell should return to Louisiana and become Chairman of thhe Registration Board for Caddo Parish, was so strenuous that the Secretary and Col. Lowell yielded. In April 1868, Col. Lowell was elected to the House of Representatives, of the first General Assembly of Louisana, after reconstruction. He was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention, at Chicago, in May 1868, which unanimously nominated Gen. Grant for the Presidency. Col. Lowell was made one of the secretaries of the convention. Upon the organization of the New Government of Louisana, he was unanimously elected Speaker of the House, a position he held until his death, with the single exception, of the period in which he served as Lt. Gov. of the State. President Grant offerred him an Ambassadorship, which he courteously, but very frankly refused to consider, even, because, as he phrased it, “I cannot bring myself to place an ocean between me and my dependant young daughter.” Pres. Grant then appointed Col. Lowell without proffer, to the Postmaastership of New Orleans. That he was a most conscientious, eloquent and effective leader of his Party, there was never any question. Col. Lowell was a practitioner in the Louisana Courts, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the Masonic Order of “Old Foxcroft” He was extensively interested in real estate, owning a valuable turpentine orchard near Mobile City, on Mobile Bay; and a large plantation above New Orleans, as well as his city residence. In 1868, 1870, and 1872 he ccanvassed the states, along the Atlantic Coast as far north as his native Maine. Returning south in 1870 he was accompanied by his young daughter and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Hale. At President Grant’s invitation they were received by him at the White House; where, to Mrs. Hale, the President paid a beautiful tribute of respect to the memory of her brother, Col. Charles P. Chandler. 1st Mass. Inf. Vol. Col. Lowell d. at his home in Foxcroft, Oct. 3, 1877--Buried in Rural Grove Cemetery.”
From the Daily Kennebec Journal, August 10, 1877:
“Col. Chas. W. Lowell died at Foxcroft, Wednesday, oct. 3d. Col. Lowell was a soldier in the war of the rebellion. When the war closed he settled at New Orleans. He was subsequently elected a member of the legislature of Louisiana and Speaker of that body. For several years he held the office of Postmaster of that city. His health failing him he came North, in the early part of the present season, and has since lingered through a painful sickness. He leaves a widow, and one child by a former wife.”,
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Connected Bloodlines
1834 - 1877 (42 years)
