Julia Fincher Lowery

"Just before my grandfather (James Thomas Lowery) returned from the war, Julia Fincher, firmly believing in the old saying, took a mirror to a well and looking in it, she saw reflected the face of a soldier, James Thomas Lowery. At any rate, whether or not such was the case, soon after his return from that war, they met and married and to the Union were born eight children.   (Notes written by child of James Millard Lowery, probably Gladys L. Hinson)

After James Thomas Lowery's death, Julia ran a boarding house with Doric columns across from the railroad tracks in Wingate, NC.  It was also said that Julia served vegetables and bread and only served meat in the boarding house on Sunday.  (Source - email from a Great Granddaughter of Julia Fincher Lowery & James Thomas Lowery)

James Thomas Lowery

In 1901 the town of Wingate was incorporated and J. Tom Lowery (who built the third house) became the first mayor. (Source - The Heritage of Union County, NC 1842-1992 Pg. 23)

James T. served under "Stonewall" Jackson. In fact, he was the last person to speak to Stonewall before he was shot by his own men. James Thomas was on sentry duty about dusk when Jackson rode up on his horse, preparing to join his men. James T. said to him, "Colonel, I wouldn't go in there now. It's too dark, and your men may take you for the enemy and shoot you." Ignoring the advice, Jackson rode in and, in reality, was shot by his own men, dying a couple of days later. (Unfortunately, this is a family legend that we tend to believe is true; however, we cannot find any account of Stonewall's death that absolutely supports this story.  We have found documentation that states that his unit, NC 37th Infantry, D Co., was stationed there on the right side of the road.  James Thomas Lowery was promoted to Full Sergeant on 01 November 1863 about 6 months after Stonewall Jackson was killed but he may have been acting Sgt. before that time.  If he was acting Sgt. at the time of Stonewall's death, he may have been on sentry duty when Stonewall passed.  We will continue to search for facts to support this wonderful family story but we have to accept the possibility that it may have been a family story that got better with each retelling.)

At the time of James' death, the family lived on the site which now serves as the parsonage for Wingate Baptist Church (Wingate, NC). Grandfather had been plowing all morning and had started home for dinner when evidently a pain struck him. At any rate, a traveling salesman was passing through and saw him get off his horse and lie down in a field he was crossing. The salesman went to him and found him dead.