Do you have any info about William J. Lowrey other than the ID above? I couldn't find him on Google.
I do not. There apparently are or has been more than one William J. Lowery. I do not know if the above one is the same one (and I said so up there), and I do not know if the person Thompson quoted is really named William J. Lowery, and I do not know if the person Thompson quoted even exists.
Everyone's guess is as good as mine.