H. M. Dowell is a native of Surry county, North Carolina, born July 9, 1825. His parents, Peter and Mary Dowell, were both natives of North Carolina; and his grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War. When our subject was seven years old his parents moved to Henry county, Indiana, and in 1839 to this county, where he was reared upon a farm, and thus acquired a liking for farming, which he has since made his occupation.
Mr. Dowell was united in marriage, March 21, 1850, to Miss Harriet Smith. She was born in May, 1832, and died June 2, 1867. They had four children; namely, William, born January 7, 1851; Sarah J., born July 21, 1853; Cornelius, born December 7, 1858-died; and Austin, born April 30, 1863. Mr. Dowell was married, April 10, 1870, to Miss Rebecca Hart, who-was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, January 9, 1842. They are rearing Mary E. Dowell, an orphan child, the daughter of a niece of Mr. Dowell.