Dowell, James R., 1822-1876

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James R. Dowell was an executive of the Western Union Telegraph Company in the nineteenth century. Born on December 23, 1822, in Dumfries, Virginia, Dowell became involved in telegraph work before the Civil War. When the war broke out in 1861, he served as the superintendent of the American Telegraph Company. That company was taken over by the Southern Telegraph Company, and Dowell was made general superintendent of the combined corporation in Richmond, Virginia. He continued to oversee telegraph operations within the Confederacy during the Civil War. After the conflict, Dowell became superintendent of Western Union Telegraph Company’s Southern Division. He remained in that position until he passed away on February 25, 1876.

Dowell was very active as a Freemason. He was married to Margaret Ann Sewell and had at least six children. Dowell is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. (The Central Presbyterian, Richmond, VA, March 1, 1876; Henry Putney Beers, The Confederacy: A Guide to the Archives of the Government of the Confederate States of America, 397; FindaGrave)

See also: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57969811/james-r-dowell

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