McDowell, Chancy R.

MCDOWELL, SUMMERS, WING

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/23/2006 at 19:45:05

McDOWELL, CHANCY R.

Chancy R. McDowell, who is very prominent in banking affairs at Doon, Lyon county, and is widely known as a man of judgment and sound financial principles, was born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1876, and is a son of James McDowell, who was a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and a blacksmith by trade. He is still living, though advanced in years. His father, William McDowell, was born in the north of Ireland, and came to this country while still a young man. He also followed the occupation of a blacksmith. Mary (Summers) McDonand, the mother of Chancy B., was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Henry Summers, a farmer of English descent. Her mother lived to be eighty-six years old. She had nine children, all of whom lived to maturity.

There were five sons, of whom several served in the Union army.

Chancy R. McDowell was taken by his parents to Jerauld County, South Dakota, at the age of thirteen years, and there he passed his early boyhood on a farm, going to district school during the winter season, and finishing his education by a term at Mitchell, South Dakota. Learning telegraphy, he followed the work of lightning manipulation for eight years, for three years being station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and for three years by the Omaha road at Doon in the same capacity. Gradually his business abilities became marked, and a proposition was made him by the people who had charge of the bank at Doon. They wanted him to become their bookkeeper. This was in May, 1900, and he entered the bank. One year later he became assistant cashier. The cashier, Mr. Creglow, resigned in January, 1901, and was succeeded by Herman Hasche, who died in September, same year, and he was succeeded by our subject. The bank business is in his hands whenever the other officials are absent, which is the greater part of the time, as they all have their homes outside the village, and other enterprises on their minds. This bank was organized in 1879 as the Doon Savings Bank with Oscar P. Miller and J.K.P. Thompson as president and vice-president, respectively. They were both residents of Rock Rapids. The capital stock was then $10,000, and Charles Creglow was cashier. The capital stock was increased May 5, 1903, to $25,000, and it was converted into a national bank with the present officers, excepting that six years ago J.K.P. Thompson retired, and E. Huntington was elected in his place as vice-president, a position he still holds. H.D. Kenyon is assistant cashier.

Chancy R. McDowell was married September 12, 1899, to Miss Lena, daughter of D.E. Wing. The father was born in New York, and died in April, 1901, at the age of fifty-five years. The mother of Mrs. Chancy R. McDowell, Frances Merritt, was also reared on a farm in New York, and both families antedate the Revolutionary war in this country. One child was born to this union, Mary Frances.

Mr. McDowell belongs to Lodge No. 521, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the village of Doon, and attends the Congregational church. He is a Republican, and has been town clerk since 1902, as well as being secretary of the school board for three years. A portrait of him is presented on another page.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson