My Genealogy Hound

J. B. DOWLING, for twenty-nine years a constant resident of his highly-improved farm, located upon section 16, Galien Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a native of Marion County, Ohio, and was born May 14, 1829. The parents of our subject were William and Rachel (Biggs) Bowling. The paternal grandfather, John Dowling, was born in Ireland, but came to the United States in early life and married, his wife being a native of Scotland. Locating in Pennsylvania, the grandparents reared their sturdy family. John Dowling was a cooper by trade, and pursued that occupation, at the same time engaging in farming. In religious affiliation he was a Presbyterian; and, politically, a Democrat. The father of our subject was one of a family of seven children. He remained in the Quaker State until he had attained to manhood, and in the mean time received an excellent education, and taught while yet a lad. He also learned the cooper’s trade, and served an apprenticeship of seven years. William Dowling taught school until he was married, and then was ordained as a preacher of the Christian Church. He remained actively engaged in the profession the rest of his life. For some time prior to his death he made his home in Indiana, living upon an eighty-acre farm in Noble County.

Seven children blessed the home of the father and mother. Miranda became the wife of David Lash; Melinda married Horace Tabor; Maliala is the wife of Samuel Weaver; Matilda, deceased, was married to John Berry; John B. is our subject; William and Levi complete the family circle. At one time the father affiliated with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. He was interested in public affairs and steadily voted with the Democratic party. His death in 1875 was regretted by all who knew him. He was a devoted Christian man, and possessed a high order of intelligent ability. His wife survived him a few years. Our subject received his education in the Belleville Seminary in Ohio, from which institution he was graduated after a full course of instruction. Limited in means and ambitious to excel, Mr. Dowling taught in the winter schools, and in summer followed the trade of a carpenter. For thirteen years he pursued his two vocations successfully and was prospered. Our subject was twice married. While residing in Ohio he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Pinyard, who became the mother of five children, all of whom are deceased. Some years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Dowling married in Indiana Miss Emily Eggleston.

Three children, one after the other, came to cheer the hearts of their parents. Addie died at nine years of age; Willis, a telegraph operator at Monett, Mo., married Cora Greenup; and Encell, who is the youngest-born, is a telegreph operator at Kensington Street, Chicago. In 1864 Mr. Dowling removed with his family to Michigan and bought seventy-seven acres of his present farm. The land was then unimproved, but has now been brought up to a high state of cultivation. There was an old mill on the farm at the time our subject purchased the homestead. The mill Mr. Dowling rebuilt and sold, but it has since been abandoned. Our subject and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church, and have been active in the support and extension of religious work. Politically, Mr. Dowling is a strong Republican, and, an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, is well posted in local and national affairs.