My Genealogy Hound

JOHN GILL McDOWELL, farmer, post office New Texas, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in August, 1828, a son of John and Jane (Gill) McDowell, former of whom, a native of Mifflin township, was a school teacher, and taught for some years in Pittsburgh; then removed to Versailles township near McKeesport, where he died in 1842, aged sixty-six years. Our subject’s great-grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Mifflin township, where he owned a large plantation and many slaves; his son, Archibald, was a man of leisure, and with his horse and colored servant spent his time in hunting. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, John Gill, came from Ireland. John G. McDowell attended school in Pittsburgh, and also in Patton and Versailles townships. At the age of twenty-one he began teaching in Patton township, and so continued four years. He then took life easy for a few years, living on the income of his father’s estate, but his marriage, in 1862, with Catherine Boyd, a sister of Eli Boyd of Turtle Creek, changed the course of his life, she being the main factor of his success in business. Mrs. McDowell was born in Westmoreland county, Jan. 15, 1835, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wilson) Boyd, who were born in Westmoreland county, Nov. 9, 1795, and near Elizabeth, Allegheny county, Aug. 12, 1804, and died here April 6, 1869, and May 17, 1859, respectively. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McDowell, three of whom are living: Edward Howard, of Turtle Creek; George Wilson and Sarah Jane, at home. The deceased are Caroline, who died aged eight years; Maggie, when aged three, and Anna when aged eight. After marriage Mr. McDowell bought a small place in Patton township, but three years later he sold it and bought his present farm, where he has lived twenty-two years. He and family are members of the Unity U. P. Church; he was a democrat, but is now a prohibitionist. Mrs. McDowell’s sister, Elizabeth, married Rev. James Kelzo, for twenty-one years pastor of Unity Church.