DOWELL.
John Dowell was one of the pioneers who broke the virgin
soil of the county. He obtained a patent for four hundred
acres on Priddy's Creek in 1738, and up to 1759 had received
grants of more than a thousand acres in that section. He
died, it is believed, sometime during the Revolutionary War.
He left at least four sons, John, who died in 1794, William,
who died in 1795, Ambrose, and Thomas, who died in 1815.
All had large families, and from them are descended those
who still bear the name in the county, besides others who
removed to different parts of the West.
