Charles T. Dowling (1859-1935)

DOWLING

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/5/2022 at 12:18:25

Charles Thomas Dowling
(August 5, 1859 – May 12, 1935)

One of the most popular and influential citizens of Calhoun Township is Charles T. Dowling, who came to this county in the spring of 1894. He was born near Mendota, LaSalle County. Illinois, August 5, 1859, and is a son of Asa Dowling, who was born in 1818 in Niagara County, New York, of which locality the grandfather, John Dowling, was an early settler. The father was
reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and in 1844 was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Wisner, also a native of Niagara County, New York. There they continued to make their home until after the birth of two of their children, and in 1847 went to LaSalle County, Illinois, where our subject's maternal grandfather, General James Wisner, had previously taken up a large amount of land — several hundred acres. Mr. Dowling purchased eighty acres,
which he broke, fenced and improved, and later added to it until he owned over two hundred acres, which he converted into a well improved and valuable farm. His wife died in November, 1897, and he now makes his home with a daughter in Troy Grove, Illinois.
Charles T. Dowling passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm in LaSalle
County, early acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. Being the youngest son, he remained on the old homestead after his marriage and finally succeeded to the place, having purchased the interests of the other heirs in that property. Selling the farm in 1894 he came to Iowa, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Calhoun County, where he
now resides, but has since disposed of one hundred and twenty acres of this, retaining two hundred acres on section 36, Calhoun Township, which is his home place. He also owns another farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Jackson Township, this county, and is one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his community.
In LaSalle County, Illinois, June 22,1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dowling and Miss Nellie C. Otto, who was born, reared and educated in that county. Her father, Charles Otto, was an early settler of Mendota, where he followed the jeweler's trade for some years, but later engaged in farming near that city. Mr. and Mrs. Dowling have five sons living, namely: Otto, James Wisner, Frank G., Mark A. and Percy L. They also lost one son, Newton
L., who died in Illinois, at the age of three years.
Mr. Dowling was reared a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for General Hancock, but now affiliates with the Republican Party. In his younger years he took quite an active and prominent part in local politics and was a delegate to numerous conventions of his party. During his residence in Illinois he was elected and served nine years as township clerk and three years
as county supervisor. He also filled the office of township trustee. Since coming to Iowa he has given little time to public affairs, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests. He is,
however, one of the popular and representative citizens of his community, and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.286]