Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-12-08
!. HAMP. MCDOWELL DEAD
BE BREATHEs HIs LAST This
NOR MING

UnIversaIIy ESieemed - Some
| thing About His Life.
| E1-Alderman J. Hamilton McDo we'll is
dead! Such was the news that shocked
the people of Asheville this morning.
Mr. Mcdowell had been i'll for compar
atively only few days. his first sickness
| being due to the grip. Shortly after this
developed into eumonia, and one lung
became entirely congested. The disease
then attacked the other lung, and on
yesterday his case assumed seriousness
| that gave his family and friends the
greatest alarm. He sank steadily last
night and until this morning at n few
| m nutes past 5 O'Clock when he brea thed
his last, surrounded by members of his
| family, the watchers who had been at
tending the sick mans wants, and his
phyaicians, Drs. James A. Burroughs and
w. d. Hiliard, who were summoned a
| few hours before his death amp who did
all that could be done to save he life
OF the dying man.
Mr.. Mcdowell was conscious only at
| invervals for some time before his death.
One of his moments ofconsciousness was
when two Of his children, who came in
| from Columbia on the evening train,
| were taken to his bedside.
]. Hamilton Mcdowell was a son of
the late Maj. w. w. Mcdowell of this
city, and was born in July, 1851, in the
old Cape Fear bank building, w hich
stood on the spot now occupied by he
drug store of T. {. Smith & Co., and in
which Maj. Mcdowell, who was cashier,
then lived. He received his education at
| the old Newton academy, just sout b of the
present city limits, under the tutorship
of Col. Stephen Lee. AS young Man,
| about the time of the attainment of his
majority, Mr.. Mcdowell assisted his
fat her in the contracting business.
When the Western North Carolina
railroad was completed to Gash's creek,
about six miles east of Ashevilc. Mr.. Nc
Dowell placed a number of teams on the
line bet ween Asheville and the terminus
of the road and did practically
all the transportation of freight
etc. for Ashevlle. When the road. was
completed to the city Mr.. Mcdowell con-
tinued his business and up to the time OF
his death kept employed a large number
OF drays carrying freight between the de-
pot and uptown.
At the municipal election in May, 1889,
Mr.. Mcdowell was candidate on the
Democratic ticket for the position of AL
der, r,nan. He was elected for four years
term, and held the office until the ad-
vent OF the present administration, the
close of his term. This was the only
public Office he ever held.
Mr.. Mcdowell was married twice.
His first wife was Miss Mollie Ha milton
b air, daughter of w. Z. Blair, of this
city, to whom he was married on the
goth of January, 1876. To them five
childrt n were born. Mrs Mellow ell lost
her life in the memorable wreck on the
Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line rail
road at Greer's, 5. c., on October
20. 1887, as she was on her way
home from visit to Atlanta,
he Of leI
children has died since the death of the
mother. The remaining children are
Misses Daisy and Mary, who returned
last evening from Columbia, S. c., w here
they have been in school, and Annie and
Carrie.
Mr.. McDowell's second wife was Miss
Eliza Dukes, daughter of Maj T. c. H.
Dukes of Ashevlle. They were mar
on the morning of February 4, 1891, by
Rev. w. s. P. BRYAN, then pastor of the
church. Mrs. Mcdowell survives her
husband.
AS private citizen and an official ofl
he CITY government MIR. McDowcll's life
was an exemplary one. Those sterling
qualities. the strictest honesty, the uu-
swerving allegiance to the right and the
kindness OF heart, that had characterized
the life of his father, had also been
of him man whose friend
ship and interest was a thing well Wort h
obtaining. He was very quiet and un-
assuming, but never hesitated to give
a pronounced opinion whenever matters
of moment were under discussion. He
had kind feeling for his fellow w man that
exhibited itself at al. times He was, in
tact, man having multitude of friends
and no enemies. He was universally
beloved.
Mr.. McDowell's record during his four
years of service in the City Council is
one that any man might be proud to
| make. He formed no hurried opinion on
any question affecting his city, but once
having made up his mind as to the right
held out tor that unyieldingy. Two in
| stances are fresh in the minds of the
people of Ashevile. these being his votes
| on the extension of the electric lighting
contract and on the "fivc cent fare' ques-
| ton. He voted against the former and
for the latter.
| Alderman T. c. Starnes heard first of
Mr. McDowel's death this morning
| when THE CITIZEN called on him. Upon
| hearing the sad news tears sprang to
| Mr.. Starnes' eyes as he said: "Ashc Vile
| never had nor never will have a better
city official than Mr.. Mcdowell was. 1
| was on the Board with him two years.
He was one of the best men ever knew
| and would stand out for his duty as he
saw it against his best friend. The
thought OF his death is indeed sadden-
ing"
Ex-AldermGn c. B. LEONARD paid this
| tribute to the dead man: He was one
of the most honest, conscientious and
| straightforward men l ever saw
Such expressions as these would be
| made by every man acquainted with Mr..
| Mcdowell. He lived and died with the
| esteem and love of a wide circle of rela-
tives and of countless irisnds. He was a
| trusted and worthy son of Asheville and
| the people of the city where he spent his
life mourn with the griefstricken IA mily.
| Mr.. Mcdowell was d member of the
| Royal Arcanum, being one of the charter
members Of that order at it's organiza-
| tion in August, 1882. He was also a
member OF the Knights of Pvthias. He
was fine specimen of physical manhood
On the night of November 2Sth he was