Albert J. Mowry was born on December 6, 1845, in Rhode Island to Ziba Mowry and Evelina Smith. His father was a farmer and carpenter who owned $1,600 of real estate and $300 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Greenville, Rhode Island. By 1870, he was working as a farmer, and he owned $2,800 of real estate and $1,800 of personal property. He apparently never married, and his mother lived with him until at least 1900. By 1930, he was living with his niece Anna Mowry in Smithfield. He died there on January 5, 1932.