William McDowell
William McDowell, who is engaged in the lumber business at Steubenville, with planing mill situated at No. 215 South Seventh Street, is one of the representative citizens, and came to Steubenville about 1868. He was born in Washington County, Pennsvlvania, April 29, 1834.
Mr. McDowell remained in his own county until early manhood and then went into the milling business in Washington County, Iowa, where he remained for seven years. In 1862 he entered the Union army for service in the Civil War, enlisting in Company C, 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and won promotion, being commissioned corporal. He served until almost the close of the war and was then discharged on account of disability. During this period he was a prisoner of war for ten months and received a slight wound in the leg. After receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. McDowell came to Jefferson County and spent some few years in the country before coming to Steubenville. For a time he worked at stair building and in a planing mill and later acquired his own mill, which he has fitted up with first class equipments. He has lumber interests also, and as a reward of years of well directed effort he enjoys a competency.
Mr. McDowell was married to Miss Nancy McConnell, who was born in Jefferson County, and they have two surviving children: Jane Walker and John, the latter of whom is a general contractor and is in business with his father. Mr. McDowell and son are Republicans. He is widely known and enjoys the respect and contidence of his fellow citizens, with whom he has had relations extending over thirty years.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910