McDOWELL, JOHN

MCDOWELL, ENGLISH, PERRY, MCDOWELL, SWANSON

Posted By: Doretta Pimlott Cowman (email)
Date: 4/16/2013 at 13:57:59

The 1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

Sugar Creek Township

Page 684

McDOWELL, JOHN - Resides on section 22, township 78 north, of range 16 west; is in truth one of the old pioneers of this township, having lived on the same farm which he now occupies since the year 1847. He was here before the county was organized, and when Indians were almost as plenty every fall and winter as white men are now. He informs the historian that at that time he knew every man in Poweshiek county; his nearest town and post-office was Oskaloosa, and his nearest mill (Whistler's mill) thirty miles down the Skunk, through a rough and almost uninhabited country, without roads, bridges or any conveniences of the present day. The only neighbors he had in this part of the county were James McDowell and Wm. English, both of whom are now dead. He helped to locate the county seat, and it was his mattock which dug the hole to mark the spot and establish the stone showing the location; he witnessed the raising of the first school-house in the township, which was situated on section twenty-two, and which served the purposes of school for the entire township. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1812, where he continued to live with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed to the State of Ohio, and settled in Miami county, in which county he lived about seventeen years, and removed to the place which he now owns and occupies, which at that time was all wild land, but which is now a fine farm, well fenced and furnished with splendid buildings, horse-power, etc. He was married in the year 1840 to Lucinda Perry, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven are now living, and whose names are as follows: Levi H., Francis M., Elizabeth J., Thos. J., Margaret, Luke, John and Sarah; Margaret is dead. He was married a second time in August, 1869 to Miss Caroline Swanson, by whom he has four children living: Mary P., George A., Carrie E. and Samuel C.; besides those he has two children by this wife dead: Charles and Ralph. Mr. McDowell's farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and sheep; he has a fine orchard and abundance of small fruit; has one of the finest stock farms in this part of Iowa.