Charles W. Lowell

Charles Winthrop Lowell (November 20, 1834{{snd}}October 3, 1877) was a lawyer, commanding officer of a "colored" unit of the Union Army during the American Civil War, state legislator and postmaster in New Orleans, Louisiana.{{cite news |title=Hon. Charles W. Lowell dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81687618/hon-charles-w-lowell-dead/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=The Donaldsonville Chief |date=10 November 1877 |pages=2}}{{Open Access}}{{Cite web|url=http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/l/lowell2068.htm|title=Charles W. Lowell Papers, 1860-1867|website=www2.hsp.org}}

He was born in Farmingham, Maine, November 20, 1834, to Hon. Phillip Smith Lowell and Harriet Butler Lowell.

In 1859 he graduated from Bowdoin College before going on to study law with the father of his future wife Hon. Charles P. Chandler.

He was admitted to the Maine Bar January, 1860.{{cite news |title=Charles W. Lowell admitted to the bar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81690515/charles-w-lowell-admitted-to-the-bar/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Bangor Daily Whig and Courier |date=12 January 1860 |pages=2}}{{Open Access}}

He married Mary Elizabeth Chandler June 1860, and together they had a daughter born January 18, 1864, named Mary Chandler Lowell, and unfortunately Mary Elizabeth died just six days after giving birth.

Around 1870 he got married again to Sarah "Sally" W. Huff, but they did not have any children together.

February 1863 he was appointed by Governor Abner Coburn to serve as a captain of the United States Colored Troops, and continued to serve after the war ended.{{cite news |title=Maine Appointments: Charles W. Lowell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81690724/maine-appointments-charles-w-lowell/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Bangor Daily Whig and Courier |date=23 February 1863 |pages=2}}{{Open Access}}

He settled in New Orleans after the war, and was first a colonel and then was appointed to the position of provost marshal general.{{Cite web|url=https://www.connectedbloodlines.com/getperson.php?personID=I472&tree=lowell|title=Captain and Honorable Charles Winthrop LOWELL b. 20 Nov 1834 Farmington, Franklin, Maine, USA d. 5 Oct 1877 Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine, USA: Lowell and Block Genealogy and Social History|website=www.connectedbloodlines.com}}

He served as Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, first elected in July 1868,{{cite news |title=The House |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81691058/the-house/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=The Times-Picayune |date=2 July 1868 |pages=2}}{{Open Access}} and then again unanimously elected on December 9, 1872.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TClQAQAAMAAJ&q=charles+w.lowell+louisiana&pg=PA66|title=Laws for the Government of the District of Louisiana Passed by the Governor and Judges of the Indiana Territory|date=April 19, 1873|publisher=Stout|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbUTAAAAYAAJ&q=charles+w.lowell+louisiana&pg=PA351|title=Condition of Affairs in Louisiana: Message from the President of the United States, in Answer to a Resolution of the House, of December 16 Lase, Relative to the Condition of Affairs in Louisiana|first=United States President (1869-1877|last=Grant)|date=April 19, 1873|via=Google Books}} He was identified as from Jefferson when he was re-elected as speaker in 1872.

In May 1877 he left New Orleans to return to New England where he was expected to die as he had been in bad health for two years and had been declining recently.{{cite news |title=Hon. Charles W. Lowell left for New England |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81689960/hon-charles-w-lowell-left-for-new-engl/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=New Orleans Republican |date=19 May 1877 |pages=1}}{{Open Access}}

He died October 3, 1877, in Foxcroft, Maine.{{cite news |title=Obituary for Charles W. Lowell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81690143/obituary-for-charles-w-lowell/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Boston Evening Transcript |date=9 October 1877 |pages=5}}{{Open Access}}