James McDowell, p. 304

JAMES W. McDOWELL is a great grandson of Thomas McDowell, who, in 1787, came from his native county, Lancaster, Penn., to this county, where he bought a tract of wild land in Mt. Pleasant township, and hewed out a home for himself and family. He died in 1798. He married Janet Clark, and by her had children, of whom James, grandfather of our subject, was born in Lancaster county, came with his father in 1787, and married Mary McKnight, daughter of a pioneer. The children born to them were James, of Mt. Pleasant township; John, of whom mention is made further on; Jane, wife of Alexander McElroy, of Mt. Pleasant township; Eleanor, married to John Nesbit, of Chartiers township, and Rebecca, wife of William Smith, of Mt. Pleasant township, all deceased. The parents of this family both died on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township, the father in 1827 at the age of sixty seven years, the mother September 9, 1850, when about eighty two years of age. They were members of the Union Church.

John McDowell was born in Mt. Pleasant township. Like his forefathers, he was a practical agriculturist. In May, 1839, he was married to Margaret, daughter of Jacob Miller, of Chartiers township, and the following eight children were born to them: Mary Jane, who died young; James W.,our subject; Jacob F., on the home farm; Margaret, wife of J. M. K. Donaldson, of Mt. Pleasant township; Rebecca, wife of James Agnew, of same township; John, in business at Canonsburg; Sarah and Elizabeth, both living on the home farm. The mother died February 20, 1866, aged fifty-six years, the father August 18, 1886, at the age of seventy five. He had lived all his life on the old farm. Politically he was a straight Democrat, and for some time served as school director; in religion he was a consistent member of Mt. Prospect Presbyterian Church.

James W. McDowell was born on the family homestead in Mt. Pleasant township, January 29, 1842, received a liberal primary education, and attended Jefferson College at Canonsburg, from which he graduated in 1866. He then commenced the study of law at Washington under Hon. William Montgomery. In August, 1869, he was admitted to the bar, and for two years thereafter he wrote in a law office at Pittsburgh, Penn., whence he returned to Washington, where he has since been successfully engaged in general practice. On September 2, 1869, Mr. McDowell was married to Miss Nancy J., daughter of Joseph V. Rea, of Mt. Pleasant township. Three children have been born to them: Rea is a graduate of Duff's Business college of Pittsburgh, and John is attending college. Their first born, a daughter, died at the age of thirteen. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon and trustee. Politically a life long Democrat, he has served his borough and county in several offices of trust, and is at present member of the city council; socially he is a Knight Templar, and D. D G. M. of the F. & A. M.

Text taken from page 304 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed June 1997 by George A. and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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