Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-09
REV. JAMES MCDOWELL

illness at the home of his son, DR.. J.
d. Mcdowell, of Yorkville, was men
toned in The Enquirer Of Tuesday,
died at an early hour on Wednesday
morning, and his body was taken to
his old home in Sumter for interment.
Rev. Mr.. Mcdowell had been making
his home in Yorkville for several years,
and was generally beloved by the peo-
pie Of the town and country. The fol-
bors Is from the Sumter Item Of We'd
nesday: ,.s SO ....
Rev. James Mcdowell was born
January 26, 1882 on Pee Dee, George
town county, where his father, David
son Mcdowell, was planter, a man Of
substance and citizen of influence 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 Sum-
terville In this community he grew
to manhood and although never for
any great length Of time a resident az
ter reaching mans estate, he was all
ways closely connected with Sumter,
by ties of church and kinship and
was a frequent and welcome visitor.
village school and then attended the
South Carolina college, from which he
was graduated in the class OF 1853.
Feeling called to preach the Gospel he
entered the Columbia Theological Sem
mary, graduating with the class OF
1885, Soon after graduation he was
called to be assistant pastor Of the
Second Presbyterian church Of Char
lesion, which pastoral relation was
dissolved within less than year for
him to accept the call Of Harmony and
Clarendon churches, Clarendon coun-
ty. These churches were shortly at
terwards united and became the Man
ming Presbyterian church when the
town of Manning was established, ne
served the, charge as pastor until 1900
more than 40 years, After leaving
Manning he made Sumter his home,
but served two country churches, Mid
way and Bethel, in Harmony Presby-
terry. For the last five years he has
had no regular charge, but his services
were in great demand and there were
few Sabbaths he failed to fill some
pulpit. Only last summer he labored
for several months as home mis-
sionary among the mountaineers OF
Breathitt county, Kentucky. This was
the last work that he undertook for the
weight Of years had begun to tell and
he could not labor in his Masters
vineyard as he had done for more than
a half century. -. -". :
During the War Between the States
he was chaplain in the 9Th s. G. Regt-
ment. The Palmetto Sharpshooters,
and surrendered with Lee at Apo
mattox. '' ttt
He was twice married, first In 1855,
tn Miss Mary Witherspoon Of Sumter
and for more than thirty years they
lived together in happiness, their home
being one in which the Christian vir-
tues were exemplifed day by day.
Three children blessed this union, Mrs
E. M. Seabrook, Of Edisto Island, Dr.
James D. Mcdowell, Of Yorlsville and
Mrs. c. M. Richards, of Davidson col
lege, all Of whom survive him. Late In
life he married Miss Belle Lachicotte,
years she frightened his declining
years before she was claimed by
death. There were no children by the
marriage. Mr.. McDowell's three SIS
ters, Mrs. j. 8. Richardson, Mrs. Robt
J. Dick and Mrs. James Douglass pre-
deceased him many years, but many
nieces and nephews bless his name and
reverence his memory.
Mr.. Mcdowell was known and rever-
enced in every Presbyterian housenoid
in this section Of the state for the purity
of his life and the singleness OF pur-
pose with which he went about doing
good as a servant and follower OF
Christ. 1t Is such lives as his that es-
tablish the perfection Of the Christian
faith and silence the doubters and
scoffers. His life was a sermon and his
ministry benediction to all who knew
him. .......