Jacob F. McDowell, p. 1232

JACOB F. McDOWELL is a worthy representative of one of the early families of Mt. Pleasant township. The McDowells are of Scotch descent, the first settlement having been made in Lancaster county, Penn., in colonial days, by Thomas McDowell. He first settled near McConnell's Mill, Chartiers township, and in 1779, took a patent for 400 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, now in the McDowell and Miller name. He died in this county, and was buried in Buffalo village.

The grandfather, James McDowell, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and when a young man came to Washington county, taking out a patent for land in Mt. Pleasant township. He was married in Chartiers township to Mary McKnight, a native of the last named place, and the young couple settled on the place in Mt. Pleasant township now occupied by their grandson, Jacob F. Mrs. James McDowell died in 1853.

John McDowell was born in 1811, on the old home place in Mt. Pleasant township, and attended the subscription schools during his boyhood. In 1838 he was married to Margaret Miller, who was born in Chartiers township, and they continued to reside on the old homestead, where he followed agricultural pursuits. In political opinion he was a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife were among the first members of the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Prospect. He died August 18, 1886, having been preceded by the wife and mother February 20, 1866. They were the parents of seven children, namely: James W., an attorney at Washington, Penn.; Jacob F., of whom a sketch follows; Margaret, wife of J. M. K. Donaldson; Rebecca, married to James Agnew, of Mt. Pleasant township; John, living at Canonsburg, Penn.; Sarah, residing on the home farm; and Lizzie, also at home.

Jacob F. McDowell was born June 3, 1843, on the old homestead in Mt. Pleasant township, receiving his education at the schools of the home district, and beginning life for himself on his birthplace. On January 26, 1874, he married Margaret Dickson, a native of Cecil township, this county, whose parents were early settlers of the same locality. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have always remained on the old place, which contains eighty-six acres of well-cultivated land, and he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is actively interested in the success of the Democratic party, and has served two terms on the school board, and also as auditor of Mt. Pleasant township. In religion he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon. Three children have blessed their union, namely: Ida Margaret, Theresa Elizabeth and John Howard.

Text taken from page 1232 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/.

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