The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-10

"'S -o' io"S oh icc lee, GEORGE
town county, where his father. Da-
vison Mcdowell, was q planter, a
man Of substance and q citizen OF in
huence in his community. Here he
passed the first ten years Of his life,
but the death of his father made
necessary change in the home, and
his mother removed with her young
family. composed of one son and three
daughters, to Sumterville. In this
community he grew to manhood and
although never for any great length
OF time q resident after reaching
mans estate, he was always close
~ connected with Sumter by ties of
church and kindship and was a fire.
quent and welcome visitor.
He was prepared for college in the
village school and then attended the
South Carolina College, from which he
was graduated in the class Of 1858
Feeling called to preach the Gospel
he entered the Columbia Theological
Seminary, graduating with the class
or 1856. Soon after graduation he
was called to be assistant pastor of
the Second Presbyterian Church of
Charleston. which pastoral relation
was dissolved within less than a year
Tor him TO accept the call Of Harmony
and Clarendon churches, Clarendon
county. These churches were shortly
afterwards united and became the
Manning Presbyterian church. When
the town of Manning was established,
he served the charge as pastor until
l9OO-more than 40 years. After
leaving Manning he made Sumter his
home, but served two large country
churches, Midway and Bethel, in
Harmony Presbytery. For the last
five years he has had no regular
charge, but his services were i'm great
demand and there were few Sabbaths
he failed to fill some pulpit. Only
last summer he labored for several
months as q home missionary among
the mountaineers Of Breathitt county,
Kentucky. This was the last regular
work that he undertook for the
weight of years had begun to tell and
he could not labor i'm his Masters
vineyard as he had done for more
than a half century
During the War Between the States
he was chaplain I'm the 9Th S. G.. Rcgi-
ment. The Palmetto Sharpshooters
and surrendered with Lee at Apo
mattOx.
lie was twice married. first in 1856,
to Miss Mary Witherspoon of Sumter
and for more than thirty years they
lived together in happiness, their
nome being one in which the Chris
tlan virtues were eXemplihed day
by day Three children blessed this
uniOn-Mrs. r.. NJ. Seabrook, of
Edisto Island. DR.. James ID. Mellow
ell, Of YOrkvillc and Mrs. c. NJ. Rich
ards, of Davidson College, all of
whom survive him. Late I'm life he
married Miss Belle Lachicotte. Of
Ge 'rgetown county and for nine
years she frightened his declining
years before she was claimed by death
There were no children by the mar
riage. Mr.. McDowclls three sisters.
Mrs j. :. Richardson, Mrs. Ro6t.
j. Dick and Mrs. james Douglas pre-
deceased him many years, but many
nieces and ncphcws bless his name
and reverence his memory.
Mr.. Mcdowell was known and rcyer-
enccd I'm Presbyterian households in
this section of the state for the purity
Of his life and the singlcncss of
purpose with which he went about
doing good as Il servant and follower
of Christ 1t is such lives as his that
b establish the value of the Christian
faith ana silence the duubters an,
sCoffcrs. His lite vas u sermon anC
his ministry "a berediction to all wh(
knew him.