The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-09-12
Second Oldest Resident Of the
County Died at His Home
in Pleasant Prairie
DEATH ENDS ACTIVE CAREER
Deceased Had Been a Resident of Ke-
nosha County Since 1887 and Had
Been Active in the Development
of the Affairs of the County.

James u. OOWSe, dR0Q ~ years. lAC
second oldest resident OF Kenosha
county and man widely known IN
all sections of the county, died at his
home near Dexter's Corners IN the
town of Pleasant Prairie at eleven
O'Clock Saturday. Mr.. Dowse had
been growing feeble for sometime
and Saturday his active life came
to a sudden close. For the past three
DAYS he had been confined to his bed,
but on Saturday he felt so much i'm
proved that he asked to sit up in his
chair and he was sitting talking with
the members of his family when the
summons came and he passed peace
fully away. The brief illness of the
past few days was the only serious
illness that Mr.. Dowse had suffered
during his life of nearly century.
His vitality was strong to the last
and when death came it found him
perfectly conscious.
The funeral was held from the
late residence at two O'Clock Monday
afternoon.
The death of James C. Dowse marks
the passing of one of the most widely
known men in Kenosha county. Mr..
Dowse was a native Of Lincoln
shire, England, where he was born
Oct. %, 1915. He was son OF James
and Martha Dowse. He was reared
in England and when he was twenty
two years of age he left England and
came to America. He arrived IN New
York in 1887 and walked all the way
to Wisconsin arriving at Southport IN
the same year. He was one of the
members of the Southport Club of
1887 and since his first arrival in ke-
nosha county he had made his home
here. AT the time he arrived the
government was just opening the
land for settlement and Mr.. Dowse
secured a farm of $50 acres of land.
For a short time he worked on the
Mississippi river but in 1888 he return
ed to England and witnessed the
coronation of the late Queen Victoria.
The same year he returned to the
farm in Pleasant Prairie and he had
been there up to the time Of his
death.
Mr.. Dowse took an active interest
in the development of Pleasant Prai-
RE in the early days and for many
years he served as member of the
School Board Of the town, and as the
most active member of theaBoard he
had much to do with the founding OF
the school system of his neighbour
hood. He was side supervisor of the
township several years. He was a
Republican in politics and stood high
in the coun ellis of his party during the
pioneer days of the county, and even
up to the time Of his death he took ar
active interest in the policies of the
party in the state and nation.
Mr.. Dowse was twice married. He
was married to Miss Abigail Lovejoy
at Gurnee, Ill. To this marriage were
born three sons and one daughter. Oh
these William C. Dowse, of Pleasant
Prairie, and Ernest P. Dowse, of Chi.
cago, survive. Mrs. Dowse died
shortly after the birth of her children
and in 1848 Mr.. Dowse married Mrs.
Sarah Dexter, widow of the late Jack.
son Dexter, and mother of Walter l.
Dexter, now living atPleasant Prairie.
There was but one son of this union
and that was Byron c. Dowse, who
survives his father and who lives al
the old home in Pleasant Prairie.
Mr.. Dowse was member of the
Episcopal church. During his long
life in the county he was the intimate
friend of many of the leading people
of this section of the state. A kindly
genial man, he was great favortte
with his friends, and his death will
come as personal sorrow to many
who knew and loved him best.
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