Tombstone Tuesday

Malissa A. Redd 1849-1931
Robert H. Redd 1847 - 1930
Co. D 7th Ill. Vol. Cav.

Oak Hill Cemetery, Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa.

Malissa Ann McDowell born 8 August 1848 in Adams County, Pennsylvania and died 11 November 1931 in Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa. Daughter of Uriah McDowell and Margaret Slaugenhaupt.

Military Monday

Robert Henry Redd, the husband of Malissa Ann McDowell Redd, was born 12 September 1847 in Knox County, Illinois and died 28 June 1930 in Decatur County, Iowa. Malissa is the daughter of Uriah and Margaret McDowell, my great, great, great grandparents. Robert enlisted 11 September 1863 while living in Peoria, Illinois. He was a private in the Civil war, 7th Illinois Cavalry, Company D. He was mustered into the Company D, 7th Cavalry Regiment of Illinois on 30 November 1863 and mustered out on 4 Nov 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.

On April 29, 1929 he was admitted to the Leavenworth, KS Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He was at that time suffering from paralysis in his left arm and leg. He was 81 years old. He was 5'10" with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes, white hair. He could not read or write. His occupation is listed as farmer in Grand River, Ia. He is married to Malissa Redd of Grand River, Iowa. His pension rate was $72.00 per month.

Surname Sunday

Saturday and Sunday were actually supposed to be the other way around but scentimental just fit with the picture from the post previous to Saturday so I used it there.

In future postings I will dig deeper into the family history of these surnames and even give you a family tree showing how everyone is related as much as possible. Right now I'm just giving you highlights from some of the surnames involved in our family history. There are quite a few of them.

In the above picture, back row left to right: Erma Deane, Nina Muriel, Vera Cathern, Edna Doreen, Margaret Georgia, Clifford Glen. Front row left to right: Cecil Irvin, Margaret Mae, Gene Leroy, George Curtis, Richard Jackson and George Junior Young.

This week's surname is Young, my grandmother being Nina Muriel Young McDowell. She came from a large family who lived mainly around the area of Dekalb, Decatur County, Iowa. Dekalb is no longer in existence. The land it sat on is now part of a state park.

Nina Muriel Young was born 20 January 1912 to George Curtis Young and Margaret Mae Goucher Young in Dekalb, Decatur County, Iowa. Here is a list of her family:

George Curtis (Curt) Young born 3 March 1880 in Decatur County, Iowa, died 3 December 1945 in Osceola, Iowa. He married Margaret Mae Goucher 11 January 1911 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Margaret Mae Goucher born 17 October 1892 in Harrison County, Missouri, died 3 February 1966 in Davenport, Iowa. Their children:

1. Erma Deane Young born 26 November 1909 in Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri. Married Robert William Brammer 31 October 1928 in Leon, Iowa. Married Lester Crocker 1955 in Davenport, Iowa. Died 26 March 1990 in Davenport, Iowa.

2. Nina Muriel Young born 20 January 1912 in Dekalb, Decatur County, Iowa. Married Lester Harold McDowell 29 May 1933 in Decatur County, Iowa. Died 10 December 1998 in Creston, Union County, Iowa.

3. Vera Cathern Young born 23 May 1914 in Decatur County, Iowa. Married Samuel Monroe Harvey 8 April 1933 in Leon, Decatur County, Iowa. Died 2001 in Riverton, Iowa.

4. Edna Doreen Young born 6 September 1916 in Decatur County, Iowa. Married Clarence Melvin Fry 20 July 1939 in Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri. Died 14 February 1999 in Corydon, Iowa.

5. Margaret Georgia Young born 8 November 1918 in Mile City, Montana. Married Edgar Dean (Ted) Stark 25 August 1942 in Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri. Died 20 June 2001 in Creston, Union County, Iowa.

6. Cecil Irvin Young born 21 May 1921 in Decatur County, Iowa. Married Genevieve May
Gillespie 2 February, 1946 in Des Moines, Iowa. Died 26 September 1990 Davenport, Iowa.

7. Clifford Glen Young born 7 March 1923 in Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa. Married Darlene Marie Drake 3 July 1960 in Iowa City, Iowa. Died 18 January 1987 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

8. Richard Jackson Young born August 2, 1926 in Decatur County, Iowa. Married Mary Elizabeth Jennings 1 July 1950 in Des Moines, Iowa. Died 19 November 1983 in Iowa City, Iowa.

9. George Junior Young born 26 October 1929 in Decatur County, Iowa. Married Darlyne Elizabeth Gillespie 18 October 1952 in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Died 28 September 1983 in Moline, Illinois.

10. Gene Leroy Young Living.

Sentimental Saturday

People in previously posted photo:

Back Row Left to Right: Jackie Ray McDowell, Viola Doreen McDowell Godden, Betty Lou McDowell Tucker, Jennie Mae McDowell Layton, Nina Muriel Young McDowell, Lester Harold McDowell
Front Row Left to Right: Joyce LaVonne McDowell Burkey, Judy Kay McDowell Allen, Nina Marie McDowell Mares, Jerry Lee McDowell

Lester Harold McDowell born 11 May 1911, died 28 June 1977.
Nina Muriel Young McDowell born 20 January 1912, died 10 December 1998.
Jennie Mae McDowell Layton born 4 October 1933, died 13 January, 1995.
Betty Lou McDowell Tucker born 26 April 1935, died 7 December 2003.
Viola Doreen McDowell Godden Living.
Jackie Ray McDowell Living.
Jerry Lee McDowell born 3 April 1941, died 13 May 1992.
Nina Marie McDowell Mares born 14 January 1944, died 21 December 1982.
Patricia Marlene McDowell (not pictures) born 9 April 1947, died 21 February 1948.
Judy Kay McDowell Allen Living.
Joyce LaVonne McDowell Burkey Living.

Who Is This?

Can you name the people in this picture? Only the four people on the left are still with us - two back row and two front row. Any idea what year it was and why they were all together? Answers in tomorrow's post.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday means that you post a photo with no words. I'm not going to be able to do this without any words. I just have to tell you all of the details that I know. :)

This is Women's History month in the genealogy community and also it's St. Patrick's Day. We have a little Irish/Scottish coming down through our McDowell line so I've posted a picture of Margaret Slaugenhaupt McDowell today. I'm not sure that she herself had any Irish in her lines. Her maiden name sounds pretty German to me. Her line hasn't been researched to any extent and I only have possible names for her parents. She did marry an Irish or Scotsman when she married Uriah McDowell. I've been told that he had bright red hair and was a Sunday school teacher by family members old enough to have heard these things from their parents. Margaret is my third great grandmother in the McDowell line. She was born in Maryland or Washington, D.C. on Feb. 5, 1822. She married Uriah in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania March 25, 1841. She died August 5, 1899 in Decatur County, Iowa. She had 5 children, the oldest son dying at the age of 3 and being buried in Pennsylvania. She, along with her 4 remaining children, traveled with her husband first to Knox County, Illinois and from there to Decatur County, Iowa. She raised a granddaughter in her later years. Her story is far from complete in my research. I would like to find her exact birthplace and parents. I would love to know where she grew up and who her siblings were and how she met Uriah. More research to be done!

Tombstone Tuesday

Uriah Died Feb. 28, 1881. Aged 62Y.11M.&24D.

Margaret Died Aug. 5,1899. Aged 76Y.10M.5D.

Dear parents tho we miss you much

We know you rest with God.

Uriah and Margaret McDowell

Oak Hill Cemetery

Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa

Military Monday

Photo on the right: "A lovingly carved memorial left at the 3rd Marine Cemetery on Iwo Jima." Source: USMC Photo, www.ww2gyrene.org/spotlight_9.html

Robert Lee McDowell

Born 16 March 1921 in Ringgold County, Iowa.

Died 11 March 1945 on the island of Iowa Jima.

Son of Jesse L. McDowell, brother of George Earl McDowell and first cousin to Lester Harold McDowell.

"Robert L. McDowell was the only child born to Jesse and Marie (Reasoner) McDowell. He arrived on March 16, 1921. He went to school in Beaconsfield, IA graduating in 1938. He was employed in Detroit, MI when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp during WWII. He reported to duty Aug. 5, 1942 for his basic training at Camp Elliott and Camp Pendleton in CA and left for overseas duty in Jan. 1943.

A letter received from him says as follows: "I have been in New Zealand, stationed near Auckland. At present I am on a tropical South Sea Island. Our camp is in a large coconut grove and is so pretty with the moon and stars shining through those large leaves. There are bananas, lemons, papayas, limes and pineapples on this island. I've always been looking for Holly (Dickerson perhaps) but of all the ships I've been on I haven't seen one fellow I knew. I really appreciate letters."

Bob became a corporal and a member of the Third Marine Division which had taken part in the invasions of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, Bogainville, Saipan and Guam.

He served in actual combat for 26 months and had never been granted a furlough during his period of service with the Marines. Cpl. McDowell was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; three Presidential Citations, namely: three ribbon bars with three battle stars, Asiatic, Pacific Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal.

Robert, who was 23 years old, lost his life on Iwo Jima on Mar. 11, 1945. He is buried at Oliver Cemetery with his parents." -Dorine (Pidcock) Jones

Beaconsfield Centennial Book.

"McDowell, Robert L., Cpl., USMCR, Father, Mr. Jesse L. McDowell, Norwalk."

World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945.

Pictures and Information About the Third Marine Division in WWII

http://www.ww2gyrene.org/spotlight_9.htm

Sentimental Sunday

Lester Harold McDowell and Nina Muriel Young McDowell about 1972. 609 N Poplar, Creston, Iowa. Sitting in the backyard. Otherwise known as "Mom and Dad" and "Grandma and Grandpa."

Surname Saturday

Welcome to the new McDowell Musings Family Blog. It's only right that we start out with the surname McDowell. There seem to be several McDowell lines in the United States and quite a few in Scotland and Ireland. The brick wall on our line has always been connecting our family with those outside of the United States.

Myself and some other researchers of our line have been able to get as far back as Uriah McDowell born in 1818 in Adams County, Pennsylvania. We think his mother is Catherine but who is his father? Catherine Williams is listed with him in the 1850 census in Adams County, PA and is of the age to be his mother. His youngest daughter is Sarah Catherine. His wife, Margaret Schlaugenhaupt's, mother was Sarah. His oldest son was David Calvin. Following naming traditions of the time that could have been his father's name. David died early and is buried in Pennsylvania.

We continue to search the David McDowells of the area but so far there haven't been any breakthroughs.

My McDowell line thus far:

Stacey McDowell b. 15 April 1963 in Lincoln, Nebraska

Jackie Ray McDowell b. 3 December 1939 in Leon, Iowa

Lester Harold McDowell b. 11 May 1911 in Decatur County, Iowa

George Earl McDowell b. 5 February 1873 in Decatur County, Iowa

Peter Leander McDowell b. 27 February 1851 in Adams County, Pennsylvania

Uriah McDowell b. 24 April 1818 York County, Pennsylvania