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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 449-450]

    JOHN C. DOWDING. — This enterprising and progressive citizen of
    Diamond Township claims England as his mother country. He was
    born in Wiltshire, July 23, 1846, and is a son of JAMES and ALICE
    DOWDING.  He is the third child of a family of three sons and one
    daughter. The eldest, JACOB E., was a resident of Diamond Township,
    and for ten years was its assessor.  His death occurred March 16,
    1889, and his widow still lives on the home farm. JOSEPH lives in
    Cherokee.  The sister, EMILY, is the wife of W. D. McANDREWS, and
    lives in Ainsworth, Nebraska.  The family emigrated to the United
    States when JOHN C. was about ten years old, and lived for a few
    years in Dutchess County, New York.  In 1859 they came West and
    settled in Clayton County, Iowa, and there the parents have since
    resided.  JOHN was thirteen years of age when he came to Iowa, and
    from that time until he had attained his majority he was employed
    at work on his father's farm.  After that he went to Monona County,
    and secured a job in a saw-mill at $30 per month. He worked there
    three years serving in the capacity of engineer the last year and
    in the meantime secured a small farm in that county. The climate
    of that section did not agree with him as he suffered with ague,
    so he decided to make a change in his residence, and located in
    Cherokee County, where he was assured he would be free from his
    former disease.  He at once purchased eighty acres of land, and
    entered it as a homestead.  He built a house 12x16 feet, and began
    the task of developing the land.  The fall of 1870 he returned to
    Clayton County, and February 21, 1871, he was united in marriage
    to Miss CATHERINE McCULLOUGH.  He returned to Cherokee County, his
    wife soon following, and since that time for nearly twenty years
    they have since resided on the farm.  Mr. DOWDING has added to the
    original purchase until he now has a tract of 160 acres of as fine
    land as Cherokee County affords.  His farm is well improved with a
    commodious new house, and a good barn, all the surroundings indi-
    cating thrift and prosperity.  He handles such stock as the farm is
    adapted to, and usually feeds one or two car-loads of cattle. His
    wife, who shared the hardships and privations of his first years in
    Cherokee County, was called to the other life August 15, 1885, and
    he was left with four little girls, and to them he has since devoted
    his life and attention.  As they are unusually bright and intelligent
    children he will endeavor to give them a good education to fit them
    for a life of usefulness.  Their names are: MARY EDNA, CARRIE ETHEL,
    ROSA BELLE and CATHERINE MAY.  Mr. DOWDING was united in marriage a
    second time January 25, 1887, to Miss LIZZIE NEVILLE, a daughter of
    EDWARD NEVILLE.  She was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 17, 1859,
    and is a lady of taste and refinement, and devotes herself to the
    interests of the family.  Mr. DOWDING and wife and the two eldest
    daughters belong to the Mt. Olive Regular Baptist Church, and Mr.
    DOWDING does not hesitate to practice in the midst of his family the
    teachings of the church.  This is truly a model Christian home, and
    every influence for good is thrown around the lives of these young
    girls.  How much better could all the children of the land be trained
    under such influence.  Mr. DOWDING has the confidence of a large num-
    ber of citizens of Diamond Township, having been repeatedly asked to
    attend to public duties.  Were the interests of the people place in
    the hands of such men as JOHN C. DOWDING there would never arise any
    fear for the safety of our Government or the perpetuity of Republican
    institutions.

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