DOWELL, JONATHAN
JONATHAN – DOWELL HEARTY COLLIN COUNTY PIONEER
McKinney Courier-Gazette, November 16, 1975
....Jonathan Stewart Dowell was born August 22, 1841, in Smith County Tennessee, near Alexandria. He was the son of Willis and Martha Dowell. His mother’s maiden name was Martha Doss. His paternal grandparents were Nehemiah Dowell and wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Dearling. The Dowell homestead was in Smith County, but the family received their mail at Alexandria, located in Dekalb County Tennessee.
The Dowell family was prominent in the old Volunteer State. From this commonwealth, settlers came to Texas, many locating in Collin County in the 1850's. In time, they were regarded among the County’s most influential citizens.
In 1856 Jonathan Stewart Dowell, an orphan only 15 years old, first came to Texas with his uncle, Francis Dowell, and family. They were among fifteen families to come overland in wagons from Tennessee. (Francis Dowell was the father of the late J. P. Dowell, Willis Dowell and Frank Dowell.)
Jonathan Stewart Dowell remained in Collin County for four years and then returned to Tennessee to attend school at Liberty, Tennessee. While he was attending school there, the Civil War broke out and he hastened to join his fortunes with the destiny of the Southern Confederacy.
J. S. Dowell enlisted in the 7th Tennessee infantry regiment, of which John F. Goodner, brother of Judge T. C. Goodner of McKinney was captain. On May 20, 1861, J. S. Dowell was mustered into service. After serving one year, he was made First Lieutenant. Later, his section was reorganized and he was promoted to the captaincy of the company in which command he served for the [missing][wounded three time – at Battle of 7 Pines when he was shot in the arm – Battle of Fredricksburg, Va. ]
and then again at the battle of Gettysburg, July 5, 1863. There he was severely wounded in the chest, the bullet having passed through the upper part of his lung.
Captain Dowell with other wounded prisoners was captured July 5, 1863, and was later taken by the Federals into Baltimore. He was then sent on to prison on Johnson’s Island, where he remained a captive until 1865. He was then exchanged and sent by railroad to Baltimore, thence by boat to Fort Monroe; from there he walked to Richmond.
Hearing of the surrender, he immediately struck out afoot for Lynchburg, where he hoped to intercept his command of Tennessee troops, but missed them by only a day or two. Continuing his tramp he wore out his shoes.
He was sympathetically taken into the home of a good farm couple who treated him as a guest until his feet were cured. He then continued on his way home, the kind farmer having had a new pair of shoes made for him.
After arriving at his old home in Tennessee, Captain Dowell remained there only a period of ten months, after which time the boyhood lure of the Lone Star State again called him back to Texas, and to Collin County. He made this second trip, not by wagon train, but by railroad via Nashville and Memphis.
From the latter city, he came by steamboat to the mouth of the Red River, and thence on to Jefferson, Texas, by boat. From Jefferson, he proceeded to Mckinney in a two-horse wagon, reaching here in March 1866, just ten years after his first arrival.
He again made his home with his uncle, Francis Dowell, on the latter’s farm, six miles west of McKinney until the fall of 1869. He was then married and established a home in the Rowlett community.
Captain Dowell was twice married. His first wife was Ruth Kerr, daughter of Major Green W. Kerr, an honored pioneer Collin County citizen. She lived only a few months after their marriage[ in childbirth]. She is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. In November 1872, Captain Dowell married Ann Elizabeth Williams, a school teacher, and member of a well known Dallas family.
Captain and Mrs. Dowell had ten children, one dying in infancy. The other children were Martha (Mrs. R. K. Maiden); Mamie (Mrs. W. E. Ditto); Pearl (Mrs. C. C. Provine); John, Jr.; Captain Jonathan Stewart Dowell, U. S. N.; Said (Mrs. Conant King); Jessie (Mrs. Tilmon Bryant); Tom C. Dowell; Horace Dowell; Ruth Dowell (the only surviving member of the family.) The first six of the above named children were born on the farm.
In order to send the children to school, Captain and Mrs. Dowell moved to McKinney in 1886. They built a family home, which still stands on South Parker Street. The lumber for this house was hauled from Jefferson by Captain Dowell and his neighbors. In this home the last three children were born.
In former years the three families of Dowells in McKinney were often referred to as the “rich Dowells” (J. P. Dowells); the “pretty Dowells” (Willis Dowells); the “smart Dowells” (J. S. Dowells).
The reason for the last appellation was that J. S. Dowell, having had a limited education, determined to send his nine children to college. They were graduated from such institutions as Baylor College, Baylor University, Texas A. and M., The United States Military Academy, and the University of Chicago.
Having been born and reared on a farm, Captain Dowell began early in life to give his attention to pure bred livestock, especially Poland-China hogs, Shropshire sheep and Jersey cattle.
Captain Dowell took a fatherly interest in his tenants. He led them into the policy of breeding and caring for good livestock. Moreover, he encouraged their practice of scientific knowledge concerning the production of staple crops. His tenants remained on the farm for long periods of time – the E. E. Maxwells for over 25 years and the John Wright family for over 40 years.
On November 23, 1929, Captain Dowell, age 88, died at the City Hospital, where he had been operated on for acute appendicitis. He is buried in the Pecan Grove Cemetery beside his wife, Elizabeth who died in 1919.
J. S. Dowell was a member of both the city and the county school boards. In appreciation of his services, the McKinney Schools were dismissed for his funeral.
In a eulogy, the late Walter Wilson of the McKinney Courier Gazette wrote: “Captain Dowell became one of the early converts in a notable revival meeting held at Rowlett by the late Major Penn and then united with the Baptist Church.
“Captain Dowell lived a faithful, exemplary Christian life, liberally supporting the church and its varied activities. (Captain Dowell served many years as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of McKinney.)
“Captain Dowell became a Master Mason on February 10, 1871, and advanced high in that ancient fraternity, being a member of the Shrine.” (It is said that Captain Dowell and J. L. Lovejoy were the first Shriners in McKinney.)
The life of Captain Dowell truly reflects the characteristics of the steadfast pioneers of Texas – unalterable courage and dedicated zeal for upright living.
McKinney Courier-Gazette, November 16, 1975
....Jonathan Stewart Dowell was born August 22, 1841, in Smith County Tennessee, near Alexandria. He was the son of Willis and Martha Dowell. His mother’s maiden name was Martha Doss. His paternal grandparents were Nehemiah Dowell and wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Dearling. The Dowell homestead was in Smith County, but the family received their mail at Alexandria, located in Dekalb County Tennessee.
The Dowell family was prominent in the old Volunteer State. From this commonwealth, settlers came to Texas, many locating in Collin County in the 1850's. In time, they were regarded among the County’s most influential citizens.
In 1856 Jonathan Stewart Dowell, an orphan only 15 years old, first came to Texas with his uncle, Francis Dowell, and family. They were among fifteen families to come overland in wagons from Tennessee. (Francis Dowell was the father of the late J. P. Dowell, Willis Dowell and Frank Dowell.)
Jonathan Stewart Dowell remained in Collin County for four years and then returned to Tennessee to attend school at Liberty, Tennessee. While he was attending school there, the Civil War broke out and he hastened to join his fortunes with the destiny of the Southern Confederacy.
J. S. Dowell enlisted in the 7th Tennessee infantry regiment, of which John F. Goodner, brother of Judge T. C. Goodner of McKinney was captain. On May 20, 1861, J. S. Dowell was mustered into service. After serving one year, he was made First Lieutenant. Later, his section was reorganized and he was promoted to the captaincy of the company in which command he served for the [missing][wounded three time – at Battle of 7 Pines when he was shot in the arm – Battle of Fredricksburg, Va. ]
and then again at the battle of Gettysburg, July 5, 1863. There he was severely wounded in the chest, the bullet having passed through the upper part of his lung.
Captain Dowell with other wounded prisoners was captured July 5, 1863, and was later taken by the Federals into Baltimore. He was then sent on to prison on Johnson’s Island, where he remained a captive until 1865. He was then exchanged and sent by railroad to Baltimore, thence by boat to Fort Monroe; from there he walked to Richmond.
Hearing of the surrender, he immediately struck out afoot for Lynchburg, where he hoped to intercept his command of Tennessee troops, but missed them by only a day or two. Continuing his tramp he wore out his shoes.
He was sympathetically taken into the home of a good farm couple who treated him as a guest until his feet were cured. He then continued on his way home, the kind farmer having had a new pair of shoes made for him.
After arriving at his old home in Tennessee, Captain Dowell remained there only a period of ten months, after which time the boyhood lure of the Lone Star State again called him back to Texas, and to Collin County. He made this second trip, not by wagon train, but by railroad via Nashville and Memphis.
From the latter city, he came by steamboat to the mouth of the Red River, and thence on to Jefferson, Texas, by boat. From Jefferson, he proceeded to Mckinney in a two-horse wagon, reaching here in March 1866, just ten years after his first arrival.
He again made his home with his uncle, Francis Dowell, on the latter’s farm, six miles west of McKinney until the fall of 1869. He was then married and established a home in the Rowlett community.
Captain Dowell was twice married. His first wife was Ruth Kerr, daughter of Major Green W. Kerr, an honored pioneer Collin County citizen. She lived only a few months after their marriage[ in childbirth]. She is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. In November 1872, Captain Dowell married Ann Elizabeth Williams, a school teacher, and member of a well known Dallas family.
Captain and Mrs. Dowell had ten children, one dying in infancy. The other children were Martha (Mrs. R. K. Maiden); Mamie (Mrs. W. E. Ditto); Pearl (Mrs. C. C. Provine); John, Jr.; Captain Jonathan Stewart Dowell, U. S. N.; Said (Mrs. Conant King); Jessie (Mrs. Tilmon Bryant); Tom C. Dowell; Horace Dowell; Ruth Dowell (the only surviving member of the family.) The first six of the above named children were born on the farm.
In order to send the children to school, Captain and Mrs. Dowell moved to McKinney in 1886. They built a family home, which still stands on South Parker Street. The lumber for this house was hauled from Jefferson by Captain Dowell and his neighbors. In this home the last three children were born.
In former years the three families of Dowells in McKinney were often referred to as the “rich Dowells” (J. P. Dowells); the “pretty Dowells” (Willis Dowells); the “smart Dowells” (J. S. Dowells).
The reason for the last appellation was that J. S. Dowell, having had a limited education, determined to send his nine children to college. They were graduated from such institutions as Baylor College, Baylor University, Texas A. and M., The United States Military Academy, and the University of Chicago.
Having been born and reared on a farm, Captain Dowell began early in life to give his attention to pure bred livestock, especially Poland-China hogs, Shropshire sheep and Jersey cattle.
Captain Dowell took a fatherly interest in his tenants. He led them into the policy of breeding and caring for good livestock. Moreover, he encouraged their practice of scientific knowledge concerning the production of staple crops. His tenants remained on the farm for long periods of time – the E. E. Maxwells for over 25 years and the John Wright family for over 40 years.
On November 23, 1929, Captain Dowell, age 88, died at the City Hospital, where he had been operated on for acute appendicitis. He is buried in the Pecan Grove Cemetery beside his wife, Elizabeth who died in 1919.
J. S. Dowell was a member of both the city and the county school boards. In appreciation of his services, the McKinney Schools were dismissed for his funeral.
In a eulogy, the late Walter Wilson of the McKinney Courier Gazette wrote: “Captain Dowell became one of the early converts in a notable revival meeting held at Rowlett by the late Major Penn and then united with the Baptist Church.
“Captain Dowell lived a faithful, exemplary Christian life, liberally supporting the church and its varied activities. (Captain Dowell served many years as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of McKinney.)
“Captain Dowell became a Master Mason on February 10, 1871, and advanced high in that ancient fraternity, being a member of the Shrine.” (It is said that Captain Dowell and J. L. Lovejoy were the first Shriners in McKinney.)
The life of Captain Dowell truly reflects the characteristics of the steadfast pioneers of Texas – unalterable courage and dedicated zeal for upright living.
