Robert A. Lowry was born in McMinn County on January 18, 1846. He was the son of James Lowry and Corinne Cunningham. Interestingly, he was taught at school in McMinn County by Professor A. W. Wilson, who later moved to Morristown and taught school here, where he again tutored young Robert Lowry, after the Lowry family moved to town.
Lowry attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. He then became a teacher and taught school at Mouse Creek, Tennessee, and later became a teacher in Morristown. Lowry also became a lawyer and practiced in town for a number of years. He was mayor of town in 1873.
Lowry married a childhood sweetheart, Miss Ella Eames of Morristown, the daughter of prominent businessman, Curtis Eames. The pair had three children:
Mrs. Ella Eames Lowry died in 1918, as did her son, and was buried at City Cemetery.
Robert Lowry, known as "Uncle Bob", died September 30, 1924 at Knoxville at the home of his son, Everett. He was a Presbyterian by faith, and was laid to rest at City Cemetery.