HUGH McDOWELL, a prominent agriculturist of Peters township, is a son of Joseph McDowell, and a grandson of Thomas McDowell. The grandfather was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and followed farming and hunting, being an enthusiast in the latter pursuit. In early life he selected a life companion in the person of Jeanette Clark, and of the children born to their union the following are named: Joseph, James and Jane. Joseph McDowell, son of Thomas, was born about 1790, in Lancaster county, Penn., where he grew to manhood. In 1808 he and his father came to Washington county, where the latter bought a farm in Mt. Pleasant township. After the death of his father Joseph worked on neighboring farms, and devoted his leisure hours to hunting, many a turkey and deer falling beneath his unerring rifle. In early life he was married to Eleanor McKnight, of Washington county, who bore him seven children, viz.: John, Joseph, Hugh, Mary, Jane, Elizabeth and Ellen; of these Hugh (of whom a sketch follows), Ellen and Jane (wife of Benjamin Vannatta, of Noblestown, Allegheny county) are yet living.
Hugh McDowell was born September 28, 1815, near Hickory, Mt. Pleasant township, Washington Co., Penn. His youth was passed in rural pursuits, and at the age of seventeen years he learned carpentry, a trade he followed twenty years. He finally purchased 173 acres of land in the Chartiers Valley, taking possession of the place in 1863, where he has since carried on general farming including sheep raising. On February 25, 1847, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of James McConnell, a pioneer farmer of Cecil township, this county, and their children were as follows: Ellen J. (wife of W. J. Johnston), Elizabeth, Margaret and Ida (these three died of diphtheria in 1861), Samuel (deceased in 1863), Mary M. (living at home), John J. (living on a part of the Alexander McConnell homestead, being now part of the McDowell farm, married to Elizabeth McMillian), and Effie A. (living with her parents). The daughters all attended the academy at Canonsburg.
Many improvements have been made on the place, and Mr. McDowell personally erected the handsome buildings thereon. Politically he is a stanch Republican, having originally been an Anti-slavery Whig, and served as a delegate to the convention held at Pittsburgh when the Republican party was organized. He has held many local offices, but does not care to take a prominent place in politics. In religious faith he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has served in many ways. Mr. McDowell did not inherit a cent, but, by the industry and economy of himself and wife, now owns one of the best farms in the country. This should serve as an incentive to young men in like circumstances, to go and do likewise.
Text taken from page 1218 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]