Roach Grade School
The Big Room
Andrew Clark Lowry was born on March 4, 1870 in West Virginia. He was the son of Lee and Mary Patterson Lowry and one of four children. His brother Dr. J. C. Lowry and sisters, Alice and Dr. Sarah (Saide) Lowry were also born at the family home in West Virginia.
Charles Kingsbury was appointed the first superintendent of Ironton Schools on August 30, 1851. Kingsbury was to receive $600 per year and was authorized to hire one teacher. The teacher, William Ward, made $300 per year. At this time in history, the school was named Union School. The school year was made of two terms: September 1 to March 1 and March 15 to July 15.
Dr. Joseph W. Lowry was born on January 20, 1865 in Fayette County, West Virginia. His parents were Lee and Mary Patterson Lowry. He had one brother, Andrew Clark, and two sisters, Alice and Sarah “Saide.”
On January 14, 1808, John Campbell was born into a farming family in Brown County, Ohio. But he did not come to this area until 1832. He arrived at Hanging Rock at the age of 24 with less than $1,000. From this small investment he became a very wealthy man and the founder of Ironton, Ohio.
Born in Klingerberg, Bavaria on June 28, 1837, Leo Ebert was born to make beer. Leo’s father and grandfather both worked in a brewery making ale and beer. Leo joined his father at the brewery when he was twelve years old. Consequently, Ebert only had a formal education up to the age of twelve. He worked under his father for three years and he continued his training at many breweries in Bavaria and Germany.
George and William Bay were brothers who became leading steamboatmen on the Ohio River.
Born on September 8, 1856 in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Nannie was the daughter of Washington and Catherine “Kate” L. Kouns Crawford Honshell. Mrs. Wright was one of four children. Her father, Washington Honshell, was a river man and formed the White Collar line of steamboats.