Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 360-361.
WILLIAM McDOWELL.
Among what may be termed the early settlers of Wells county, Indiana, are the McDowell family, who came from Mercer county, Ohio, about 1837 and settled on the banks of the Wabash river two miles from Bluffton, where the father had already purchased and partially cleared a tract of land, on which he passed the remainder of his life, owning at the time of his death four hundred and twenty acres Abraham McDowell, the pioneer alluded to above and the father of William, whose name opens the biographical notice, married Mary Higgins, who bore him eight children, of whom William of this sketch is the only survivor. One son, John, married Catherine Blue, a sister of Hon. M. C. Blue, and went to live in Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his days. John, David and James, three of the eight children alluded to above, served in the Civil war and proved themselves worthy of the family name and the glorious cause in which they served.
William McDowell was reared upon the home farm and thoroughly learned his calling or vocation, through the instruction of his father, whom he faithfully assisted until his majority had been attained. His educaton [sic] was but limited, yet sufficient for all the purposes of a rural life and a successful career as a farmer. In due course of time Mr. McDowell succeeded by inheritance to eighty acres of the home farm, to which, through his industry, he has since added forty acres, and thus is the owner of a compact farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
Mr. McDowell was united in marriage October 11, 1866, in Wells county, with Miss Margaret Miller, daughter of Fielding Miller, a native of Perry county, Ohio. This union has been crowned by the birth of one daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of H. E. Shoemaker, of Bluffton.
Religiously Mr. McDowell is not a member of any particular denomination, but is a liberal contributor to the maintenance of all the churches of his neighborhood. Politically, he is one of the stanchest Democrats in Wells county and an ardent worker for the advancement of his party's interests at the polls as well as the promulgation of its principles throughout the state, county and township. As a farmer he is one of the most skillful and successful in Harrison township, and as a citizen he is substantial, reliable and useful, is widely known as an honorable man and one ready at all times to contribute of his means to the promotion of all projects designed for the advancement of the welfare of his fellow citizens. His farm is one of the best kept and neatest in Harrison township, being well drained and cultivated and improved with every modern convenience. His dwelling is an ornament to the neighborhood, and his farm buildings are equally creditable. Mr. McDowell conducts general farming and raises all the cereals usual to the section of the country in which he lives, besides large quantities of hay, which he feeds in a great measure to his live stock, which he raises in large numbers. Some of his animals are of choice grades, which he fattens and ships to the various markets, excepting, of course, those requisite for home use. Although his chief object in carrying on farming is for profit, yet he takes great pride in the vocation and loves it for its own sake, feeling it to be the most honorable and independent of all industries, as well as the fundamental calling of man, and it is a matter of gratifying commendation that he may be classed as among those who stand at its head.