JOSEPH McDOWELL is a representative of one of the early families of Mt. Pleasant township. The McDowells are of Scotch-Irish descent, the first settlement having been made in colonial days by Thomas McDowell, in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Penn. The great-grandfather, Thomas McDowell, was born there, and in 1773 came to Washington county, first settling near the mouth of the north branch of Chartiers creek, in Chartiers township, taking out a patent for 400 acres of land. In 1787 he purchased a patent of 899 1/2, acres in Mt. Pleasant township, from John Neiper, the assignee of Robert Downing, which was patented in John Neiper's name January 3, 1788, described as lying near the headwaters of Chartiers creek, and named Long Meadow. In a will made by Thomas McDowell and his wife Jennet, the following named daughters are mentioned: Hester Miller, Rachel Steel, Dina McKnight, Jane Clarke, Rebecca, Martha, Abigail, and sons: William, John, James and Joseph, and the grandson: Benoni Stulbs. Thomas McDowell died in the year 1797, and was interred in the Buffalo Presbyterian church burying grounds in Hopewell township.
James McDowell, son of Thomas and Jennet was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and moved with his father's family to Washington county, where he married Mary McKnight, a native of Chartiers township. They settled on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township, James having in the year 1796 bought of his father 160 acres of the original John Neiper patent, paying in consideration therefor the sum of 100 pounds current money of Pennsylvania. The following children were born to them: Eleanor Nesbit, Rebecca Smith, Jane McElroy, and James and John. James McDowell, the grandfather, died June 21, 1827, his wife surviving him a number of years. Both lie in the Cross Roads U. P. Church burying ground.
James McDowell, the father, was born on the farm of his father, James, on June 21, 1804, and in the year 1828 married Katharine Miller, of Chartiers township, who was born also in 1804, and was a sister to Col. R. W. Miller. They settled on part of the farm, it having been willed to him and his brother John to be divided between them. He followed farming, stock raising and hunting as an occupation, and was considered in his day a great marksman and hunter. When about fifteen years of age he, with a flint-lock rifle, went hunting, taking along with him a young fox-hound. Before he was off their own farm, he came up to a black bear. The young hound would not leave him, but with his tail down and bristle's up, kept a sniffing. He finally discovered the bear standing up on its haunches and on firing, the powder flashed in the pan, causing the gun to back fire. In the meantime the bear had got down on all fours and ran about a rod before the gun discharged the ball. This bear was the last one seen in these parts and was a few days afterward killed near what is now the village of Hickory, in Mt. Pleasant township. When dressed the bear weighed 300 pounds. James McDowell's political views were Democratic, his first vote being cast for Andrew Jackson for President. He voted for all the Democratic nominees down to his last vote which was cast for Grover Cleveland in 1884. Although not a member of any church, he was never known to speak disrespectfully of the Christian religion, and all that is known of his religious belief is what he said to the minister on his death-bed which was: "when Christ died He sent the Holy Ghost as a Comforter." Catharine McDowell, the mother, was a member of Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church by certificate, having joined the First Presbyterian Church of Washington before marriage. She was a kind mother and a conscientious Christian. The following children were born to them: Mary, Jane, James (died in youth), Rachel, Jacob, John (died in youth), Samuel (now living in Miami county, Kans.), Robert (died in Miami county, Kans., March 30, 1889), Joseph and Katharine. The mother died February 16, 1881, and the father July 10, 1886. Both are buried in Mt. Prospect cemetery.
Jacob McDowell, son of James and Catherine, volunteered in the year 1861 and served as a cavalry man in the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, Company K, until honorably discharged in 1864, having served for three years. He died in 1875, from the effects of a wound on the left cheek bone received while in the army.
Text taken from page 1261 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]