JOHN R. McDOWELL

John R. McDowell, a farmer near New California, one of Union County's early pioneers, was born in York County, Penn., March 22, 1809. His parents, John and Jane (Reed) McDowell, were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio at the beginning of the late war with Great Britain, and settled near Milford Center. Mr. McDowell purchased a small farm in Union Township, and resided on it till his death, October 15, 1826. His widow survived him till June 8, 1861. Our subject is the only surviving son of his father. His boyhood and early manhood were passed in the primeval forests of Union Township. When of age, he engaged in !working by the mouth, and followed it some years, at wages from $7 to $9 per month. It was in this way that he secured his start. March 28, 1850, be purchased 132 acres of his present farm, which was principally woodland. He made subsequent additions to this purchase till he owned 325 acres of land, most of which he cleared and improved. Mr. McDowell has spent most of his life as a pioneer, and the principal growth and development of the county has taken place within his recollection. His first marriage occurred November 5, 1835, with Mine Mary, Porter, daughter of John Porter, by whom he had ten children, of these six are living-William G., John P., Newton L., Calvin R., Leander C. and Mary A. Mrs. McDowell was born in Erie County, Penn., January 7, 1812, and died August 1, 1877. Mr. McDowell was again married June 30, 1881, to Mrs. Sarah Katon, widow of James Eaton, and daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Brookhart. Mrs. McDowell was born in Perry County, Ohio, December 31, 1826. She is the mother of five children by her former husband. Of these, but one, Ezra, is living. Mr. McDowell had three sons-Robert N., Jesse V. and John P., who were soldiers in the Union army. Robert was a member of Company B, Thirty second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in the hospital at Winchester, Va., October 4, 1862. Jesse enlisted in Company D, Fortieth Regiment, and was drowned in the Big Sandy River, February 24, 1862. John was a member of the same company as Robert. He served over four years, veteranizing in 1864.