FEANCis M. McDowell 



was born at Wayne, Steuben Co., N. Y., on the 12th 

 of June, 1831. He was the eldest son of Matthew 

 and Maria McDowell, and was educated in the 

 common school, with the exception of a few terms at 

 an academy. He developed a great taste for reading 

 when a boy, giving up all his leisure to it, from 

 which he derived a great fund of information. 



During the fall of 1851 he went to Adrian, 

 N. Y., and soon after became interested with Mr. 

 Samuel Hallett in the lumber business. When the 

 Bank of Hornellsville was organized, in 1854, he 

 was elected cashier. 



In January, 1857, the firm of Samuel Hallett & 

 Co. was formed, of which he was a member, and 

 he removed to New York and took charge of the 

 business during Mr. Hallett's two years' absence in 

 Europe on important railroad negotiations. During 

 the next few years Mr. McDowell visited Europe 

 several times in the interest of the firm, and while 

 there traveled extensively in England and on the 

 continent. 



He was married in London, in October, 1861, 

 to Sarah Josephine Spang, daughter of Charles F. 

 Spang, of Pittsburgh, Pa., who died abroad in 1868, 

 where she had been some years for her health. 



In 1863 he was one of the firm who took the 



contract to build the Union Pacific Railroad, Eastern 

 Division, now known as the Kansas Pacific, and 

 had charge of their office in New York. Owing 

 to difficulties with Gen. John C. Fremont, this 

 firm was dissolved, and the construction of the road 

 was continued by Mr. Samuel Hallett until his 

 death . 



During the winter of 1867-68 he was one of 

 seven gentlemen who founded the order known as 

 the Patrons of Husbandry. Soon after he was 

 elected treasurer of the National Grange, which 

 office he still holds. This order has a larger mem- 

 bership than any order ever organized in the United 

 States, — and probably in the world. 



For many years he has lived at Wayne, N. Y., 

 and has been extensively engaged with others in 

 growing grapes on the shores of Lake Kiuka. They 

 have at this time the largest vineyards in this 

 section. 



In December, 1874, he married Eva, daughter of 

 Wm. M. Sherwood, of Woodhull, N. Y. He has 

 since resided on the old homestead, which has been 

 occupied by the family for over fifty years. 



Mr. McDowell has great perseverance, and there 

 are few his superiors in geniality of temper and 

 ability to make friends. 



