My Genealogy Hound

M. L. McDOWELL, miller of the village known as McDowell’s Mill, Tenn., was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 14, 1843, son of James and Harriet McDowell, born in 1818, in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. The father is a carpenter, and he and wife are yet living. His grandfather was born at Staten Island, N. Y., and he and his wife and family, with the exception of three sons, were murdered by the Indians. Our subject was educated in the Murfreesboro Academy, and in 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Second Tennessee Infantry, commanded by W. B. Bate, the present governor of Tennessee, and participated in the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, Richmond, Chickamauga and Murfreesboro. He was wounded at Richmond, Ky., and was unfitted for further service, but remained with his company in preference to a hospital. He returned home in 1864, and in 1865 wedded Mary A. Cawthon, daughter of M. B. and M. J. Cawthon, of Alabama, and seven children were born to them: George L., E. R., H. E., M. L., S. J., M. B. and Myrtle L. Mr. McDowell farmed in Alabama a number of years, but met with reverses, and moved to Tennessee and began working at the carpenter’s trade at Lynchburg, and erected very nearly all the fine houses in the place. While there he was mayor, magistrate and notary public. In 1880 he moved to Giles County, and was in the milling business two years in that county, then came to McDowell and erected his present mill. There was no village at the time of his location, but the place has now about 100 inhabitants, two dry goods and grocery stores, a post office, blacksmiths and carpenters shops and nine dwelling houses, and a fine schoolhouse is in process of being erected; all of which has been brought about by the energy of Mr. McDowell. He belongs to the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and in politics is a Democrat.