W. Matt Lowe
Encyclopedia
William Matt Lowe, known as W. Matt Lowe (January 1, 1872–March 4, 1955) was a merchant
and public official in the city of Minden
, the seat of Webster Parish
in northwestern Louisiana. During World War I
and its aftermath, Lowe served two terms from 1916-1920 as mayor
of Minden. Prior to his death of a lengthy illness in a Shreveport
hospital, he served on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing commission, from 1940-1954.
In June 1916, Lowe succeeded the three-term Aubrey Drake Turner (1877-1953) as mayor. During Lowe's first term as mayor, the city in 1917 acquired its municipal generating station after a fire swept through the former Minden Lumber Company, the prior owner of the facility.Minden is one of twenty municipalities in Louisiana in which residences and businesses still purchase their electricity from the city, with profits diverted to finance the costs of government.
His son-in-law, Leland G. Mims
(1901–1979) also a Minden businessman, served on the police jury from 1953–1976, including a long stint as jury president from 1956–1973 and as president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana from 1965 to 1967.
Lowe was a member of the Knights of Pythias
lodge and the First Methodist Church of Minden. His wife, the former Clara Hodges (1880–1954), preceded her husband in death by fewer than three months. The couple had a son, the late Fred M. Lowe of Shreveport, and two daughters, Mrs. G.B. Spencer of Star City
in southern Arkansas
, and Rubye Lowe Mims (1904–1975) of Minden. The Lowes and Mimses are interred at Minden Cemetery
.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and public official in the city of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
in northwestern Louisiana. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and its aftermath, Lowe served two terms from 1916-1920 as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Minden. Prior to his death of a lengthy illness in a Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
hospital, he served on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing commission, from 1940-1954.
In June 1916, Lowe succeeded the three-term Aubrey Drake Turner (1877-1953) as mayor. During Lowe's first term as mayor, the city in 1917 acquired its municipal generating station after a fire swept through the former Minden Lumber Company, the prior owner of the facility.Minden is one of twenty municipalities in Louisiana in which residences and businesses still purchase their electricity from the city, with profits diverted to finance the costs of government.
His son-in-law, Leland G. Mims
Leland G. Mims
Leland Garland Mims was a Minden, Louisiana, businessman and civic leader who served as a member of the Webster Parish Police Jury from 1953–1976 and as president of the body from 1956-1973...
(1901–1979) also a Minden businessman, served on the police jury from 1953–1976, including a long stint as jury president from 1956–1973 and as president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana from 1965 to 1967.
Lowe was a member of the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
lodge and the First Methodist Church of Minden. His wife, the former Clara Hodges (1880–1954), preceded her husband in death by fewer than three months. The couple had a son, the late Fred M. Lowe of Shreveport, and two daughters, Mrs. G.B. Spencer of Star City
Star City, Arkansas
Star City is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,471 at the 2000 census. It is included in the 'Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
in southern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and Rubye Lowe Mims (1904–1975) of Minden. The Lowes and Mimses are interred at Minden Cemetery
Minden Cemetery
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836...
.