Bios: McDOWELL, James L. 1826 - : Leavenworth, KS from Frankford Twp, Cumberland Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tena Hanna McDowell.
  mjhanna@jps.net

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SOURCE:  KANSAS VOLUME OF THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY,
Published 1879.

JAMES L. MCDOWELL Nortonville

James L., second son of John and Margaret Laird McDowell, was born October
27, 1826 in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the common
schools of that State.  He came to Kansas in 1857, settled in Leavenworth and
immediately identified himself with the Free State party, taking an active
part in the settlement of those political questions that at the time so
fearfully agitated not only the Territory of Kansas, but the entire nation.

	At the first election held after his arrival, Mr. McDowell had already
acquired such prominence in public affairs, that he was elected to represent
Leavenworth county in the Legislature, and on the organization of the House
was made chairman of the commit tee on corporations and banks.  In 1859 he
was elected a member of the Leavenworth city council.  At this time the city
was making many public improvements, and Mr. McDowell was an efficient member
of several of the working committees of that body.  The same year he was a
delegate to the Osawatomie convention, which organized the Republican party
in Kansas; he was also re-nominated for the Legislature but was defeated.  in
the fall of 1860 he was nominated by The Republicans of Leavenworth city for
mayor, against John P. Slough, and the election, though sharply contested,
was decided in favor of McDowell, and in 1864 he was re-elected to the same
position, the opposing candidate being Colonel D. R. Anthony, one of the
strongest men in the city.

	March 23, 1860, he was appointed by President Lincoln, United States Marshal
for the district of Kansas, which position he held until April, 1864.  This
was during the most trying period of the national troubles, and the post
required a man of iron will and great determination of character, and in
these qualities Mr. McDowell was not found wanting.  In 1861 he was appointed
upon the staff of Governor Robinson as aid-de-camp, and in 1863 was created
major-general of militia for the State of Kansas and assigned to the northern
division.  During that year he organized the entire body of militia throughout
the state, as thoroughly as such an arm of the service could be, and it was
brought to the defense of the State at the time of Price's raid, in the
incredibly short space of two or three days.  The same year, with the
assistance of Governor Carney, he distributed arms and other munitions of war
through the border counties of the State, thus enabling the citizens to
protect themselves from incursions of the ene my in the State of Missouri. 
At the completion of his term of office as major-general, he identified
himself with The Leavenworth state troops and was elected Captain of Company
C, in the 19th Cavalry Regiment, composed of the merchants of the city.  At
the time of Price's raid he was tendered the position of provost marshal of
the city, and also that of aid-de-camp on the governor's staff, declining
both that he might be in the front with his company, which was in all the
service of those days, participating in many skirmishes and acquitted
themselves with credit.  In 1864 Govenor Carney appointed and commissioned
him commissioner of emigration for the State, which on account of other
duties he declined.  Soon after Price's raid Mr. McDowell left the State for
New Mexico, where he remained a year and returned to Kansas.

	March 6, 1866, he was appointed by President Johnson postmaster for the city
of Leavenworth, which position he held for nearly four years.  During his term
of office he had some difficulty with the postmaster at Kansas City, and the
result was an investigation, after which he received from Mr. Branscomb,
special agent for The United States Post-Office Department, the following
endorsement:  "I consider you one of the best postmasters that I ever knew,
one of the few who give their personal attention to their official duties." 
In 1866 he was nominated as candidate for Governor upon the National Union
ticket, and although he had no hope of an election he made a vigorous canvas
of the State.

	His active participation in political matters has not prevented him from
finding time for giving all possible aid to every enterprise that promised
for the welfare of his adopted State.  He was a member of the first state
agricultural society, organized in 1860, and the grounds on which the fair
was held in 1861, were fitted up under his immediate supervision.  He was
chief marshal of the fair when held, and has acted in a similar capacity for
every fair since then, with the exception of two, and has disch arged the
duties of that position ably and acceptably.  In 1869 he was employed by a
company holding a United States contract to supply the Sioux Indians with
cattle, and proceeding to the Grand and Big Cheyenne rivers, in about
thirteen months he supplied those Indians with fourteen thousand head of
cattle, all of which were made to swim in herds across the Missouri river. 
The tribe to be supplied was one of the most savage and treacherous on the
plains; the work was difficult and perilous, but was accomp lished to the
satisfaction of all concerned.  From 1871 to 1873 he was in the employ of the
Kansas Central Railroad, engaged in procuring the right of way, and in other
preliminary work.  In 1873 he moved on to a farm in Jefferson county, where
he still re sides engaged in farming and stock raising.

	August 15, 1862, he was married to Mary I. Blean, in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, who died February 12, 1865, leaving one daughter, Margaret L. 
Mr. McDowell was married October 10, 1867, to Rose Collins, in Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania, and by this marriage there are four sons, Ralph Ewing,
James Laird, David Collins, and Samuel Alexander, and one daughter, Rose
Edith.

	In politics Mr. McDowell is a Republican.  In religion, he is a United
Presbyterian, an elder in the congregation where he worships, and the
superintendent of their Sabbath school.

	Mr. McDowell has had a varied experience during his twenty-one years
residence in Kansas; but in all positions, in the church or in the State, in
business life, in military or council service, everywhere he has approved
himself a man who has made the interests of the State his own, and refused no
service required of him, if thereby he might aid in any way the development of
her resources, or improve the character of her institutions.