My Genealogy Hound

COL. EDWARD C. McDOWELL is a native of Fayette County, Ky., born November 5, 1840, son of Capt. John L. McDowell, who was also, a native of Kentucky, and was married to Nancy Vance. Edward C. was reared and educated in Kentucky, attending both the collegiate and law departments of the Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., and graduated in law from the same institution in 1859. In 1861 he began practicing in Memphis, Tenn., and the same year was made colonel of the State troops at that place. After Tennessee’s secession he resigned this position and joined the Tennessee Artillery Corps as lieutenant, and served until July 9, 1863, when he surrendered with the army at Port Hudson, La., and was held as prisoner of war at Johnson’s Island and Fort Delaware until June 16, 1865. He then resumed his practice at Memphis, where he remained until October, 1874, and since that time has resided and practiced his profession in Columbia. September 16, 1873, he wedded Bettie, daughter of Leonard D. Myers, whose sketch appears in this work. Three sons and three daughters were born to their union. Col. McDowell is a Democrat and a Scottish Rite Mason of the thirty-second degree.