Individual Details
Mary Ellen HUGHES
(29 Jun 1877 - 24 Jan 1961)
15 Apr 1910, Meadow Creek Precinct, Madison Co., MT, ED 53 Sh 3B;
Cypress T. McDowell, 46 (1863-64), married 6 years, born Iowa, father born PA, mother born OH, farmer. owns farm free and clear
Mary E. McDowell, wife, 30 (1879-80), married 6 yr., mother of 5, 5 living, born Wales, both parents born Wales
Elizabeth McDowell, daughter, 5 (1904-05) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Forrest T. [ancestry indexed as "L"] McDowell, son, 4 (1905-06) born MT, father born Iowa, mother born Wales
Alfreda McDowell, daughter, 3 (1906-07) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Harry [sic] L McDowell, son, 2 (1907-08) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Margarett McDowell, 6/12 (abt Oct, 1909) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales.
1 Jan 1920, Fall Creek School Dist No. 2, Lincoln Co., MT, ED 127, sheet 16A;
Cypress T. McDowell, head, 57 (1862), born IA father born PA mother born MD; farmer, can read and write, owns free and clear
Mary McDowell, 42 (1877), naturalized citizen, date of immigration unknown; born Wales both parents born Wales; mother tongue Welsh
Elizabeth A. McDowell, daughter, 15 (1905) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Forrest T., McDowell son, 14 (1905) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Elfreda McDowell, daughter, 13 (1906) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Perry L. McDowell, son, 12 (1907) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Irene M. McDowell, daughter, 10 (1909) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Queenan" McDowell, daughter, 9 (1910) born MT father born IA mother born Wales.
1 Apr 1930, Troy Pct., Lincoln Co., MT, ED 2 Sh 2B;
Cypress T. McDowell, head, 67 (1862-63), 40 at first marriage, born IA father born PA mother born MD, farmer, owns home worth $1,000, has a radio
Mary E. McDowell, wife, 52, (1877-78), 25 at first marriage, born Wales both parents born Wales, language before coming to U.S. - Welsh
Forest T. McDowell, son, 24 (1905-06), born MT father born IA mother born Wales, single, laborer - logging camp
Elfreda E. McDowell, daughter, 23 (1906-07), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Parry L. McDowell, son, 21 (1908-09), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Irene M. McDowell, daughter, 20 (1909-10), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Cienwen B McDowell, daughter, 18 (1911-12), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales.
Obituary transcript from Alice Thomas:
From the "Western News" January 26, 1961: "Mary Ellen McDowell, 83, died at Troy Tuesday. Mrs. McDowell was born June 29, 1877 in Wales and had been a resident of Libby and Troy since 1911.
Survivors are Cienwen (Scotty) Parker and Irene Thomas, Troy; Elizabeth Cassidy, Modesto, California; and Elfreda Day, Libby and a son, Perry (Pete) McDowell, Kehlotus, Washington.
Funeral services will be Friday, 2 p.m. at the Troy Methodist Church with the Reverend John Pugh officiating. Interment will follow at the Milnor Lake Cemetery."
An article in "Echoes Along the Kootenai", page 49, provided by Alice Thomas, has a photo of Mary feeding a deer, one of Irene and Elfredain 1932 and one of Royal Day and Elfreda McDowell Day, and says this:
"Mary Ellen McDowell got up extra early that fall morning in October 1911. She had to finish the packing, bathe and dress the six children. They were going to move to a new location traveling by train. While Mary worked getting the household goods packed and the children ready, her husband Cypress and his friend Robert Thomas rounded up the cattle, horses, pigs and crated up the chickens. They prepared enough feed for the animals to last the trip. All were taken to load on the train. (The children called Robert Thomas "Uncle Bob", though he was not related.)
Earlier Cypress was looking around the country for a better place to live. He found a place for sale three miles out of Troy, Montana on Lake Creek that had a house and 80 acres. He made a down payment to the owner, Harry Cobbledick. Then he went back to McAllister, Montana to get the family and livestock.
Seven year old Elizabeth was the oldest, she helped with the younger ones. Forest was six and nicknamed "Steamboat". Elfreda was five. Perry, better known as "Pete" later in life, was four. Irene was 18 months, and the baby Ciewen (now called "Scottie") was just six weeks old.
Elfreda recalls the change of trains in mid-trip. A kind lady, named Mrs. Hoffman, helped Mary get all the children and their baggage from one train to the other. Her kindness impressed them and will always be remembered.
When they first arrived in Troy, they stayed at "Uncle Bobs" house until their house was ready. While there, Mary sent three of the children to the store. There were so many trails through the heavily wooded area that they took a wrong turn and came out by the railroad tract, a quarter of a mile from the store. A kind person sent them in the right direction and they got back home safely.
It was just a few days until they were moved into their new home on Lake Creek.
Their house was on a hill which made a good coasting place for their sleds. For entertainment they had sledding and skating parties, taking turns at different homes up and down the valley. The ice skates they had would clamp right to the soles of their shoes with straps around the ankles. Many a shoe-sole was pulled loose by the clamps of the skates! They also played cards or other games.
The children started school at the Falls Creek School. The school had a long runway with a roof over the top to keep out rain and snow. It also had a wire fencing around it to keep out bear and wolves that might be roaming around. That way they could play outside and be safe.
Elizabeth was thirteen when she started working for the Doonan family. Then she also worked for the Walters family. After that she moved to California, where she still lives.
Forest spent most of his life in the logging industry in the Troy-Libby area. He never married. He died in 1951.
Elfreda went to school at Falls Creek and finished in the Troy school. While still in her teens, she helped Mr. Leland Taylor, the teacher, give State Exams at the Iron Creek School. Elfreda and Charles Fritz had one child, Leola. Elfreda and Royal (Bud) Day were married in 1940. They had one daughter, Marilyn. They bought their home in Libby in 1942, and still live there. Bud worked on the green chain at the mill, then packed lumber into the sheds. He retired when he was 62.
Pete married Gerry Thompkins. They had two sons, Roger and Terry. Pete worked on construction. He helped build the road between Troy and Libby, spending a lot of time in the Kootenai Falls area. He has stayed with construction and is living in Vancouver, Washington.
Irene married Clifford Thomas on June 24, 1933. They had two children; a daughter Fern Virginia and a boy Melvin Clifford, nicknamed "Buddy". Cliff and Irene's house on Iron Creek burned down on June 6, 1950, but with the help of relatives, neighbors, the Moose Lodge and friends, a new house was built. In 1979 they moved back to the old home place on Lake Creek and lived in a trailer house beside the old farm house. Cliff passed away in 1984.
Cliff and Irene's son, Bud and his wife Joan are living on a corner of the old McDowell home place.
Irene says, "It was a hard but good life farming here, living out in the country, swimming in creeks and lakes, and fishing all year round. I wouldn't want to exchange it for any other kind of life, I love it here".
Scottie married George Parker and they have two children, a daughter Ellen and a son Robert. Later, they adopted a boy and a girl. George worked at the mill. They live on Lincoln Boulevard now."
Cypress T. McDowell, 46 (1863-64), married 6 years, born Iowa, father born PA, mother born OH, farmer. owns farm free and clear
Mary E. McDowell, wife, 30 (1879-80), married 6 yr., mother of 5, 5 living, born Wales, both parents born Wales
Elizabeth McDowell, daughter, 5 (1904-05) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Forrest T. [ancestry indexed as "L"] McDowell, son, 4 (1905-06) born MT, father born Iowa, mother born Wales
Alfreda McDowell, daughter, 3 (1906-07) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Harry [sic] L McDowell, son, 2 (1907-08) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Margarett McDowell, 6/12 (abt Oct, 1909) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales.
1 Jan 1920, Fall Creek School Dist No. 2, Lincoln Co., MT, ED 127, sheet 16A;
Cypress T. McDowell, head, 57 (1862), born IA father born PA mother born MD; farmer, can read and write, owns free and clear
Mary McDowell, 42 (1877), naturalized citizen, date of immigration unknown; born Wales both parents born Wales; mother tongue Welsh
Elizabeth A. McDowell, daughter, 15 (1905) born MT, father born IA, mother born Wales
Forrest T., McDowell son, 14 (1905) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Elfreda McDowell, daughter, 13 (1906) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Perry L. McDowell, son, 12 (1907) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Irene M. McDowell, daughter, 10 (1909) born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Queenan" McDowell, daughter, 9 (1910) born MT father born IA mother born Wales.
1 Apr 1930, Troy Pct., Lincoln Co., MT, ED 2 Sh 2B;
Cypress T. McDowell, head, 67 (1862-63), 40 at first marriage, born IA father born PA mother born MD, farmer, owns home worth $1,000, has a radio
Mary E. McDowell, wife, 52, (1877-78), 25 at first marriage, born Wales both parents born Wales, language before coming to U.S. - Welsh
Forest T. McDowell, son, 24 (1905-06), born MT father born IA mother born Wales, single, laborer - logging camp
Elfreda E. McDowell, daughter, 23 (1906-07), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Parry L. McDowell, son, 21 (1908-09), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Irene M. McDowell, daughter, 20 (1909-10), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales
Cienwen B McDowell, daughter, 18 (1911-12), single, born MT father born IA mother born Wales.
Obituary transcript from Alice Thomas:
From the "Western News" January 26, 1961: "Mary Ellen McDowell, 83, died at Troy Tuesday. Mrs. McDowell was born June 29, 1877 in Wales and had been a resident of Libby and Troy since 1911.
Survivors are Cienwen (Scotty) Parker and Irene Thomas, Troy; Elizabeth Cassidy, Modesto, California; and Elfreda Day, Libby and a son, Perry (Pete) McDowell, Kehlotus, Washington.
Funeral services will be Friday, 2 p.m. at the Troy Methodist Church with the Reverend John Pugh officiating. Interment will follow at the Milnor Lake Cemetery."
An article in "Echoes Along the Kootenai", page 49, provided by Alice Thomas, has a photo of Mary feeding a deer, one of Irene and Elfredain 1932 and one of Royal Day and Elfreda McDowell Day, and says this:
"Mary Ellen McDowell got up extra early that fall morning in October 1911. She had to finish the packing, bathe and dress the six children. They were going to move to a new location traveling by train. While Mary worked getting the household goods packed and the children ready, her husband Cypress and his friend Robert Thomas rounded up the cattle, horses, pigs and crated up the chickens. They prepared enough feed for the animals to last the trip. All were taken to load on the train. (The children called Robert Thomas "Uncle Bob", though he was not related.)
Earlier Cypress was looking around the country for a better place to live. He found a place for sale three miles out of Troy, Montana on Lake Creek that had a house and 80 acres. He made a down payment to the owner, Harry Cobbledick. Then he went back to McAllister, Montana to get the family and livestock.
Seven year old Elizabeth was the oldest, she helped with the younger ones. Forest was six and nicknamed "Steamboat". Elfreda was five. Perry, better known as "Pete" later in life, was four. Irene was 18 months, and the baby Ciewen (now called "Scottie") was just six weeks old.
Elfreda recalls the change of trains in mid-trip. A kind lady, named Mrs. Hoffman, helped Mary get all the children and their baggage from one train to the other. Her kindness impressed them and will always be remembered.
When they first arrived in Troy, they stayed at "Uncle Bobs" house until their house was ready. While there, Mary sent three of the children to the store. There were so many trails through the heavily wooded area that they took a wrong turn and came out by the railroad tract, a quarter of a mile from the store. A kind person sent them in the right direction and they got back home safely.
It was just a few days until they were moved into their new home on Lake Creek.
Their house was on a hill which made a good coasting place for their sleds. For entertainment they had sledding and skating parties, taking turns at different homes up and down the valley. The ice skates they had would clamp right to the soles of their shoes with straps around the ankles. Many a shoe-sole was pulled loose by the clamps of the skates! They also played cards or other games.
The children started school at the Falls Creek School. The school had a long runway with a roof over the top to keep out rain and snow. It also had a wire fencing around it to keep out bear and wolves that might be roaming around. That way they could play outside and be safe.
Elizabeth was thirteen when she started working for the Doonan family. Then she also worked for the Walters family. After that she moved to California, where she still lives.
Forest spent most of his life in the logging industry in the Troy-Libby area. He never married. He died in 1951.
Elfreda went to school at Falls Creek and finished in the Troy school. While still in her teens, she helped Mr. Leland Taylor, the teacher, give State Exams at the Iron Creek School. Elfreda and Charles Fritz had one child, Leola. Elfreda and Royal (Bud) Day were married in 1940. They had one daughter, Marilyn. They bought their home in Libby in 1942, and still live there. Bud worked on the green chain at the mill, then packed lumber into the sheds. He retired when he was 62.
Pete married Gerry Thompkins. They had two sons, Roger and Terry. Pete worked on construction. He helped build the road between Troy and Libby, spending a lot of time in the Kootenai Falls area. He has stayed with construction and is living in Vancouver, Washington.
Irene married Clifford Thomas on June 24, 1933. They had two children; a daughter Fern Virginia and a boy Melvin Clifford, nicknamed "Buddy". Cliff and Irene's house on Iron Creek burned down on June 6, 1950, but with the help of relatives, neighbors, the Moose Lodge and friends, a new house was built. In 1979 they moved back to the old home place on Lake Creek and lived in a trailer house beside the old farm house. Cliff passed away in 1984.
Cliff and Irene's son, Bud and his wife Joan are living on a corner of the old McDowell home place.
Irene says, "It was a hard but good life farming here, living out in the country, swimming in creeks and lakes, and fishing all year round. I wouldn't want to exchange it for any other kind of life, I love it here".
Scottie married George Parker and they have two children, a daughter Ellen and a son Robert. Later, they adopted a boy and a girl. George worked at the mill. They live on Lincoln Boulevard now."
Events
| Birth | 29 Jun 1877 | North Wales, England |  | ||
| Marriage | 9 Sep 1903 | McAllister, Madison Co., Montana - Cypress Tally MCDOWELL | | ||
| Census | 15 Apr 1910 | Meadow Creek Precinct, Madison Co., Montana | |||
| Census | 1 Jan 1920 | Lincoln Co., Montana | |||
| Census | 1 Apr 1930 | Troy Precinct, Lincoln Co., Montana | |||
| Death | 24 Jan 1961 | Troy, Lincoln Co., Montana | | ||
| Burial | Aft 24 Jan 1961 | Milnor Cem, Troy, Lincoln Co., MT | |||
| Reference No | 2893 |
Families
| Spouse | Cypress Tally MCDOWELL (1863 - 1940) |
| Child | Elizabeth Frances MCDOWELL (1904 - 1988) |
| Child | Forrest T. MCDOWELL (1905 - 1951) |
| Child | Elfreda Ellen MCDOWELL (1906 - 2001) |
| Child | Perry L. MCDOWELL (1908 - 1994) |
| Child | Irene Margaret MCDOWELL (1910 - 1999) |
| Child | Cienwen "Scotty" MCDOWELL (1911 - 1993) |
| Father | Benjamin HUGHES ( - ) |
| Mother | Caroline EVANS ( - ) |
Endnotes
1. Obituary.
2. Madison Co., MT, records, Pg. 40, No. 496.
3. Obituary.