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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
William C. McDowell, one of the active and prosperous farmers of Cedar township, living on section 15, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land within a mile of Fremont, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Franklin county on the 29th of July, 1861. He is a son of Matthew V. McDowell, who was also a native of Franklin county, and was there reared and married, Miss Margaret Hall becoming his wife. He removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois about 1857 settling in Tazewell county, where he opened up and improved a farm. Subsequently he returned on a visit to his birthplace in Pennsylvania, but he reared his family and spent his last days in Illinois, where he died in 1892, while his wife passed away in January, 1895. William C. McDowell was the eldest in a family of four sons and three daughters. One son, James T., is deceased, but William, John D. and Robert R. are living. The sisters are Mary V., who passed away in February, 1905, and Jane N. and Louisa, who are residing in Tazewell county, Illinois. William C. McDowell largely spent his boyhood days upon the old home farm in Tazewell county, where he acquired good common-school advantages. He remained with his father until he came to Iowa when a young man in the spring of 1892. Here he purchased a farm, which he began to improve, living thereon for a year, after which he sold that property and spent the four succeeding years in Fremont, where he was engaged in buying good stock. In 1897 he purchased his present property, an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Cedar township. It is tiled and fenced, and here, in addition to cultivating his crops, he also raises and feeds stock. He is a good business man, reliable and enterprising and his labors are being attended with success. On the 12th of January, 1897, in Fremont, Mr. McDowell was married to Miss Nellie McClain, who was born and reared in this county. There are four children of this marriage, Hadley V., Robert S., Florence J. and Bertha L. Politically Mr. McDowell is a stanch republican but without aspiration for office, he belongs to the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist church. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Fremont, and both are held in high esteem in the community where for fourteen years Mr. McDowell has made his home while his wife has spent her entire life in this county. He is regarded as one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of his township, and is now thoroughly identified with the interests of the county, being recognized as one of its public-spirited citizens.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy