Individual Details
William Perry MCDOWELL
(Bet 17 May 1866 and 1868 - 4 Apr 1937)
1 Jun 1880, Douglas, Shelby Co., IA, ED 211 pg. 11B-12A;
Luke McDowell, head, 32 (1847-48), born IA father born PA mother born OH
Eliza J McDowell, wife, 33 (1846-47), born PA both parents born PA
Perry McDowell, son, 11 (1868-69), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Mary McDowell, daughter, 9 (1870-71), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Thomas McDowell, son, 7 (1872-73), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Cooper McDowell, son, 4 (1875-76), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Frances O McDowell, daughter, 2/12, born Apr (1880), IA father born IA mother born PA
John McDowell, brother, 25 (1854-55), born IA father born PA mother born OH
Marion McDowell, brother, 39 (1840-41) born IA, father born PA, mother born OH.
1 Jun 1900, Thompson Pct., Pierce Co., NE, ED 153 Sh 17B;
William P. McDowell, head, born May 1868, 32, married 11 yr., born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns with mortgage
Lizzie McDowell, wife, born May 1866, 34, married 11 yr., mother of 5, 5 living, born Ireland both parents born Ireland, immigrated 1883, in this country 17 yr
Tina B. McDowell, daughter, born Mar 1890, 10, born IA father born IA mother born Ireland
Vera D. McDowell, daughter, born May 1894, 6, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vira R. McDowell, daughter, born May 1894, 6, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vernon W. McDowell, son, born Aug 1899, 9/12, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vivian P. McDowell, son, born Aug 1899, 9/12, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland.
15 Apr 1910, Central Twp., Knox Co., NE, ED 113 Sh 6A;
William Perry McDowell, head, 41 (1868-69), marriage 1 of 22 yr., born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns with mortgage
Lizzie McDowell, wife, 43 (1866-67), marriage 1 of 22 yr., mother of 9, 9 living, born Ireland father born Scotland, mother born England, immigrated 1881, native tongue English
Vera McDowell, daughter, 16 (1893-94) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vira McDowell, daughter, 16 (1893-94) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vivian McDowell, son, 10 (1899-1900) (twin), born IA father born IA mother born Ireland
Vernon McDowell, son, 16 (1899-1900) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Victor McDowell, son, 8 (1901-02) (twin) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Veda McDowell, daughter, 8 (1901-02) (twin) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
John McDowell, son, 6 (1903-04) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Charley McDowell, son, 4 (1905-06), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland.
1 Jan 1920, Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., IA, ED 184 Sh 5B;
Perry McDowell, head, 52 (1867), born IA father born OH mother born PA, farmer
Eliza J. McDowell, wife, 55 (1864), year of immigration unknown, naturalized, born Ireland, mother tongue "LC", father born Ireland - Irish, mother born Ireland - Irish
Vernon McDowell, son, 20 (1899), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Vivian McDowell, son, 20 (1899), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Vira McDowell, daughter, 24 (1894), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Veda Jane McDowell, daughter, 18 (1901), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Victor Luke McDowell, son, 18 (1901), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Jack McDowell, son, 15 (1904), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Charles McDowell, son, 13 (1906), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC".
1 Apr 1930, Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., IA, ED 7 Sh 1B;
William P. McDowell, head, 61 (1868-69), 20 at first marriage, born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns, has a radio
Elizabeth J. McDowell, wife, 68 (1861-62), 23 at first marriage, born Ireland both parents born Ireland, immigrated 1870, naturalized
Vernon McDowell, son, 29 (1900-01), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, laborer
Luke McDowell, son, 27 (1902-03), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, farmer
Jack McDowell, son, 24 (1905-06), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, laborer
Veda J. McDowell, daughter, 27 (1902-03), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, teacher - city school.
http://iagenweb.org/shelby/1915bio/1915bio33.htm
1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Thirty Three
PERRY McDOWELL
Poets often tell the truth and the old song which contains the refrain, "The farmer feeds them all," states a very fundamental economic truth. Without the farmer the rest of the country would starve within a week despite the large amount of food in cold storage. Every occupation might be done away with but farming and people could live, but a total cessation of farming for a very short time would actually depopulate the whole world. A man can live without banks all his life, but deprive him of his bread and his career is soon ended. Farming is becoming an honored profession; our district schools are teaching it as a science and our colleges are granting degrees for agricultural courses. The farmers of any community sustain the people dependent on every other profession. Without the farmer the banker would close his doors, the manufacturer would shut down his factory and the railroads would suspend operations. Among the honored men of Shelby county, Iowa, who help to keep the banker, the manufacturer and the railroads is Perry McDowell, of Douglas township.
Perry McDowell, the son of Luke and Jane (Mitchell) McDowell, was born May 17, 1866, in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the Poweshiek-Mahaska county line. His father is the son of John McDowell, who was a native of Ohio, of Irish descent. Luke McDowell was born in Ohio in December,1850, was one of eight children and lived at home until one year before his marriage. He worked on the farms in his immediate neighborhood one year and stayed in his home county until about 1879,when he moved to Shelby county with his family, where he purchased sixty acres of land. Luke McDowell and one of his brothers, John, came together to this county and bought sixty acres each in section 24, of Douglas township, and on this farm Luke lived until his death, increasing his holdings to two hundred forty acres. He died July 29,1912. His widow still survives him and resides at Kirkman. He was an independent voter, but never active in political affairs, although he was once a candidate for office on the Republican ticket. Mr. and Mrs.Luke McDowell were the parents of six children, Perry, Mrs. Euphema (Darling), Thomas, M. K. Dessa (Plummer), Mrs. Eva (Greeves) and Cooper.
Perry McDowell was given a good common school education in the schools of Poweshiek county. He was thirteen years of age when his parents moved to Shelby county and continued to work with his father on the home farm until he was married and then began farming in Polk township. A year later he removed to Nebraska and resided in Pierce county for eleven years, after which he bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Knox county, Central township, Nebraska, on which he resided for another eleven years. In February, 1913, he returned to Shelby county, renting his Nebraska farm and took charge of the old home place. He is now engaged in a general system of farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the raising of full blooded Poland China hogs. Unlike many stock raisers he has not adopted the practice of shipping his live stock for exhibition at the county fairs, although he has stock that would stand a good chance of winning prizes.
Mr. McDowell was married to Elizabeth McConnell, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Cassady) McConnell, early settlers of this county. To this marriage there have been born nine children, including three sets of twins. The three sets of twins are Vera and Neva, Vivian and Vernon, Luke and Jane, while the other three children are Tina, Charles and John. All of the children are still living at home with their parents, except Tina, who married Daniel O'Connor and lives in Nebraska.
Thomas McConnell (born 1820, died January, 1914), and Elizabeth (Cassady) McConnell (born 1836, died 1890), were natives of Ireland and came to Illinois from Ireland in 1850. In 1881 they came to Shelby county, and after about eight years' residence in Harlan moved on a farm of eighty acres in Douglas township. In 1900 they moved to San Diego, California. The children of Thomas McConnell and wife were as follows: Mrs. Belle Cassady, Vancouver Island; James, of Illinois; Edward, Fairbanks, Alaska; Mrs. Susanna Daniels, Wisconsin; Thomas, Fairbanks, Alaska; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. McDowell; Charles, deceased; Kate McConnell, San Diego, California; John, Goshen, California. Politically, Mr. McDowell was formerly a Democrat, but is now preferring the Republican policies, and while an advocate of good government, yet he has never been active in political matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and the members of his family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 771 - 773
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
Note that the WPA records as transcribed at Iowa Gravestone Records at the USGENWEB says that Perry died 4 Apr 1927, but the W. P. McDowell in the 1930 census of Shelby County, indicates he was alive them.
Luke McDowell, head, 32 (1847-48), born IA father born PA mother born OH
Eliza J McDowell, wife, 33 (1846-47), born PA both parents born PA
Perry McDowell, son, 11 (1868-69), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Mary McDowell, daughter, 9 (1870-71), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Thomas McDowell, son, 7 (1872-73), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Cooper McDowell, son, 4 (1875-76), born IA father born IA mother born PA
Frances O McDowell, daughter, 2/12, born Apr (1880), IA father born IA mother born PA
John McDowell, brother, 25 (1854-55), born IA father born PA mother born OH
Marion McDowell, brother, 39 (1840-41) born IA, father born PA, mother born OH.
1 Jun 1900, Thompson Pct., Pierce Co., NE, ED 153 Sh 17B;
William P. McDowell, head, born May 1868, 32, married 11 yr., born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns with mortgage
Lizzie McDowell, wife, born May 1866, 34, married 11 yr., mother of 5, 5 living, born Ireland both parents born Ireland, immigrated 1883, in this country 17 yr
Tina B. McDowell, daughter, born Mar 1890, 10, born IA father born IA mother born Ireland
Vera D. McDowell, daughter, born May 1894, 6, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vira R. McDowell, daughter, born May 1894, 6, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vernon W. McDowell, son, born Aug 1899, 9/12, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vivian P. McDowell, son, born Aug 1899, 9/12, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland.
15 Apr 1910, Central Twp., Knox Co., NE, ED 113 Sh 6A;
William Perry McDowell, head, 41 (1868-69), marriage 1 of 22 yr., born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns with mortgage
Lizzie McDowell, wife, 43 (1866-67), marriage 1 of 22 yr., mother of 9, 9 living, born Ireland father born Scotland, mother born England, immigrated 1881, native tongue English
Vera McDowell, daughter, 16 (1893-94) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vira McDowell, daughter, 16 (1893-94) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Vivian McDowell, son, 10 (1899-1900) (twin), born IA father born IA mother born Ireland
Vernon McDowell, son, 16 (1899-1900) (twin), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Victor McDowell, son, 8 (1901-02) (twin) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Veda McDowell, daughter, 8 (1901-02) (twin) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
John McDowell, son, 6 (1903-04) born NE father born IA mother born Ireland
Charley McDowell, son, 4 (1905-06), born NE father born IA mother born Ireland.
1 Jan 1920, Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., IA, ED 184 Sh 5B;
Perry McDowell, head, 52 (1867), born IA father born OH mother born PA, farmer
Eliza J. McDowell, wife, 55 (1864), year of immigration unknown, naturalized, born Ireland, mother tongue "LC", father born Ireland - Irish, mother born Ireland - Irish
Vernon McDowell, son, 20 (1899), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Vivian McDowell, son, 20 (1899), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Vira McDowell, daughter, 24 (1894), single, born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Veda Jane McDowell, daughter, 18 (1901), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Victor Luke McDowell, son, 18 (1901), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Jack McDowell, son, 15 (1904), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC"
Charles McDowell, son, 13 (1906), born NE father born US mother born Ireland - "LC".
1 Apr 1930, Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., IA, ED 7 Sh 1B;
William P. McDowell, head, 61 (1868-69), 20 at first marriage, born IA father born IA mother born PA, farmer, owns, has a radio
Elizabeth J. McDowell, wife, 68 (1861-62), 23 at first marriage, born Ireland both parents born Ireland, immigrated 1870, naturalized
Vernon McDowell, son, 29 (1900-01), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, laborer
Luke McDowell, son, 27 (1902-03), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, farmer
Jack McDowell, son, 24 (1905-06), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, laborer
Veda J. McDowell, daughter, 27 (1902-03), single, born NE father born IA mother born Ireland, teacher - city school.
http://iagenweb.org/shelby/1915bio/1915bio33.htm
1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Thirty Three
PERRY McDOWELL
Poets often tell the truth and the old song which contains the refrain, "The farmer feeds them all," states a very fundamental economic truth. Without the farmer the rest of the country would starve within a week despite the large amount of food in cold storage. Every occupation might be done away with but farming and people could live, but a total cessation of farming for a very short time would actually depopulate the whole world. A man can live without banks all his life, but deprive him of his bread and his career is soon ended. Farming is becoming an honored profession; our district schools are teaching it as a science and our colleges are granting degrees for agricultural courses. The farmers of any community sustain the people dependent on every other profession. Without the farmer the banker would close his doors, the manufacturer would shut down his factory and the railroads would suspend operations. Among the honored men of Shelby county, Iowa, who help to keep the banker, the manufacturer and the railroads is Perry McDowell, of Douglas township.
Perry McDowell, the son of Luke and Jane (Mitchell) McDowell, was born May 17, 1866, in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the Poweshiek-Mahaska county line. His father is the son of John McDowell, who was a native of Ohio, of Irish descent. Luke McDowell was born in Ohio in December,1850, was one of eight children and lived at home until one year before his marriage. He worked on the farms in his immediate neighborhood one year and stayed in his home county until about 1879,when he moved to Shelby county with his family, where he purchased sixty acres of land. Luke McDowell and one of his brothers, John, came together to this county and bought sixty acres each in section 24, of Douglas township, and on this farm Luke lived until his death, increasing his holdings to two hundred forty acres. He died July 29,1912. His widow still survives him and resides at Kirkman. He was an independent voter, but never active in political affairs, although he was once a candidate for office on the Republican ticket. Mr. and Mrs.Luke McDowell were the parents of six children, Perry, Mrs. Euphema (Darling), Thomas, M. K. Dessa (Plummer), Mrs. Eva (Greeves) and Cooper.
Perry McDowell was given a good common school education in the schools of Poweshiek county. He was thirteen years of age when his parents moved to Shelby county and continued to work with his father on the home farm until he was married and then began farming in Polk township. A year later he removed to Nebraska and resided in Pierce county for eleven years, after which he bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Knox county, Central township, Nebraska, on which he resided for another eleven years. In February, 1913, he returned to Shelby county, renting his Nebraska farm and took charge of the old home place. He is now engaged in a general system of farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the raising of full blooded Poland China hogs. Unlike many stock raisers he has not adopted the practice of shipping his live stock for exhibition at the county fairs, although he has stock that would stand a good chance of winning prizes.
Mr. McDowell was married to Elizabeth McConnell, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Cassady) McConnell, early settlers of this county. To this marriage there have been born nine children, including three sets of twins. The three sets of twins are Vera and Neva, Vivian and Vernon, Luke and Jane, while the other three children are Tina, Charles and John. All of the children are still living at home with their parents, except Tina, who married Daniel O'Connor and lives in Nebraska.
Thomas McConnell (born 1820, died January, 1914), and Elizabeth (Cassady) McConnell (born 1836, died 1890), were natives of Ireland and came to Illinois from Ireland in 1850. In 1881 they came to Shelby county, and after about eight years' residence in Harlan moved on a farm of eighty acres in Douglas township. In 1900 they moved to San Diego, California. The children of Thomas McConnell and wife were as follows: Mrs. Belle Cassady, Vancouver Island; James, of Illinois; Edward, Fairbanks, Alaska; Mrs. Susanna Daniels, Wisconsin; Thomas, Fairbanks, Alaska; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. McDowell; Charles, deceased; Kate McConnell, San Diego, California; John, Goshen, California. Politically, Mr. McDowell was formerly a Democrat, but is now preferring the Republican policies, and while an advocate of good government, yet he has never been active in political matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and the members of his family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 771 - 773
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
Note that the WPA records as transcribed at Iowa Gravestone Records at the USGENWEB says that Perry died 4 Apr 1927, but the W. P. McDowell in the 1930 census of Shelby County, indicates he was alive them.
Events
| Birth | Bet 17 May 1866 and 1868 | Poweshiek Co., Iowa | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1880 | Douglas, Shelby Co., Iowa | |||
| Marriage | 12 Nov 1888 | Shelby Co., Ohio - Elizabeth J. "Lizzie" MCCONNELL |  | ||
| Residence | 1889 | at time of publication of Biographical Record of Shelby and Audobon Counties, Iowa - per bio of his father, Luke McDowell. - Saunders Co., Nebraska | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1900 | Pierce Co., Nebraska | |||
| Census | 15 Apr 1910 | Central Twp., Knox Co., Nebraska | |||
| Census | 1 Jan 1920 | Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., Iowa | |||
| Census | 1 Apr 1930 | Douglas Twp., Shelby Co., Iowa | |||
| Death | 4 Apr 1937 | Est, Shelby Co., Iowa | |||
| Burial | Aft 4 Apr 1937 | Rose Hill Cemetery, Shelby Co., Iowa | | ||
| Reference No | 3040 |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth J. "Lizzie" MCCONNELL (1866 - ) |
| Child | Tina B. MCDOWELL (1890 - 1900) |
| Child | Vera D. MCDOWELL (1894 - 1910) |
| Child | Vira R. "Neva?"" MCDOWELL (1894 - 1920) |
| Child | Vernon Perry MCDOWELL (1899 - 1975) |
| Child | Vivian P. MCDOWELL (1899 - 1947) |
| Child | Veda Jane MCDOWELL (1901 - 1930) |
| Child | Victor Luke MCDOWELL (1901 - 1942) |
| Child | John "Jack" MCDOWELL (1903 - 1930) |
| Child | Charles M. MCDOWELL (1905 - 1930) |
| Father | Luke MCDOWELL (1848 - 1912) |
| Mother | Eliza Jane MITCHELL (1846 - 1919) |
| Sibling | Mary Euphemia MCDOWELL (1871 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Thomas MCDOWELL (1873 - 1910) |
| Sibling | Cooper D. MCDOWELL (1876 - 1930) |
| Sibling | Francis Odessa MCDOWELL (1880 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Eva MCDOWELL (1883 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Marriage Transcription, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iashelby/marriage/m.htm.
2. WPA Gravestone survey, http://iowawpagraves.org/view.php?id=435872.
3. FindAGrave Website.