My Genealogy Hound

DOWDALL, JAMES, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 7, P.O. Rockbridge. For nearly one hundred years the tide of emigration flowed steadily westward, and among the many who became residents of this county in an early day, few have displayed more of the characteristic energy of the pioneer than James Dowdall, born in the year 1826, in Jennings County, Indiana. He was the child of John and Elizabeth Dowdall who removed from Indiana, settling in Greene County in 1831, at a time when Illinois had witnessed few improvements of a substantial nature. John Dowdall was a native Virginian, raised in Kentucky. He was married while on a visit to Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth English, a daughter of Elisha English, of Kentucky. Having now followed the fortunes of this enterprising band of emigrants to Greene County, where many of them were destined to play a prominent part in the growth and development of this portion of Illinois, owing to limited space the statement is here given, that for the period of time in which he lived, John Dowdall was a successful agriculturist, who displayed marked energy that led to successful results. He died October 27, 1865, and was laid at rest in the beautiful cemetery of Carrollton. Mrs. D. passed away in 1848. James, from whom this narrative is obtained, who ranks among the more opulent farmers of Greene County, passed his early years in humble circumstances. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stevens, a daughter of John Stevens, of Virginia. To use his own language, Mr. Dowdall was then worth about $100, and procured his first start in life through diligence and strict attention to business, and the same energy that characterized his boyhood, laid the foundation of his present fortune. The owner of over 1000 acres of valuable land in the counties of Macoupin, Jersey, Montgomery and Greene, he enjoys the confidence of his many friends in this county. His hospitality is unbounded, and his nature genial and liberal. Of the marriage above referred to, ten children were born, of whom nine are living: John H., Joseph L., Ann E., Sarah W., William E., Anabel, Mary O., Martie O., Lucy M., James W., deceased.