Modoc County Biographies

Viola May Lowry Roseberry

Submitted by Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds(Our Family Genealogy)http://www.rh2o.com 

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VIOLA MAY LOWRY ROSEBERRY History of Roseberry House

Viola May Lowry, one of eight children born to Permelia (Smith) Lowry and Joseph Flemming
Lowry, was born May 16, 1860 near Etna, Scott's Valley in Siskiyou County, California. 
In 1871, at the age of eleven years, Viola moved with her family to Adin, Big Valley in 
Modoc County which is about 40 miles from the site of the Modoc Indian War. In her late 
adult years she wrote an account telling of her fright when, at 13 years old, there was 
an unexpected attack on the settlers in Big Valley by the Modoc Indians. (The original 
manuscript is in the files of the Modoc County Museum in Alturas, California.) Her advant
ages for education were limited but her ambition and determination kept her reading and 
studying until she acquired a wide general knowledge. Being naturally artistic she 
started painting at an early age. Over the years she produced many fine landscape 
paintings, 2 of which still hang in the stairwell of Roseberry House. On May 22, 1877 
she married Thomas Alexander Roseberry of Adin, California, a partner in the General 
Merchandise Store of Roseberry and Knight. From 1885 to 1887 Thomas Roseberry served in 
the California Legislature as Assemblyman from Modoc and Lassen Counties. He later 
engaged in Real Estate, Insurance and the Livestock business in Big Valley. They raised 
a family of 2 boys, George K. and Thomas A. Jr., and 2 girls, Daisy T. and Mary Aileen. 
In 1892 Thomas A. Roseberry was appointed Registrar of the United States Land Office and 
the family moved to Susanville where she continued to paint as a hobby, giving many fine 
landscapes to friends and acquaintances. Many of these still adorn their homes and are 
highly prized as works of one of Northern California's pioneering early women artists. 
In 1902 the Roseberry’s built and occupied their Susanville home, Roseberry House, which 
at the time was considered one of the community's finest. It still stands at the original
location on North Street at the end of North Lassen Street. Viola May (Lowry) Roseberry 
passed away in her home on March 24, 1936 and was buried beside her husband in the old 
Susanville cemetery.

Biography provided by her grandson, George McDow, Jr. 1984.