Tulare County Biographies

CHESTER DOWELL

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        In the financial circles of Tulare county, California, few men are 
better known or more highly respected than Chester Dowell, who exercises 
supervision over the branches of the Pacific Southwest Trust & Savings Bank in 
Exeter, Lindsay, Porterville and Strathmore. He is a native of Cumberland, Iowa, 
where his father, W. A. Dowell, was one of the prominent merchants. His mother's 
maiden name was Martha J. Ash.
        After attending the local public and high schools, Chester Dowell 
completed the collegiate course in Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa. Upon 
leaving college he went into his father's store as a clerk and occupied that 
position for about five years. On December 1, 1904, he entered the employ of the 
First National Bank of Cumberland, beginning in one of the humblest positions, 
and eighteen months later was assistant cashier. At that time he left Iowa and 
came to California. Locating in Hanford, he was made assistant cashier of the 
Farmers & Merchants Bank of that place. While occupying this position he 
assisted in the organization of the Lindsay National Bank, which opened its 
doors for business on April 1, 1910, and f which he was the first cashier. Later 
he was elected vice president of the bank and took an active part in its 
management.
        In 1917 Mr. Dowell purchased a controlling interest in the Pioneer Bank 
of Porterville. He remained at the head of that institution as president until 
January 1, 1924, when it was merged with the Pacific Southwest Trust & Savings 
Bank. Eighteen months later, on July 1, 1922, the Lindsay National Bank was also 
merged with the Pacific Southwest Trust & Savings Bank. Since that time he has 
had the supervision of the four banking institutions mentioned in the first 
paragraph of this sketch.
        Mr. Dowell has a fine country estate on the Fremont Trail, where he 
resides in a beautiful modern home, which is one of the show places of the 
county. Besides his banking interests he owns olive and orange orchards and is 
associated with other local interests. He was one of the organizers and is now 
treasurer of the Lindsay Ripe Olive Company, whose ripe olive packing and 
canning plant is the largest in the world. His progressiveness, public spirit, 
and the high order of his executive ability have combined to make him one of the 
financial and industrial leaders of Tulare and the contiguous territory. He is a 
prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce and was one of the organizers of the 
Tulare County Golf and Country Club, of which he is treasurer. He finds much of 
his recreation upon the links, thus identifying himself with the social as well 
as the business life of his adopted city.
        On January 9, 1907, Mr. Dowell and Miss Belvia Worthington of 
Cumberland, Iowa, were united in marriage. They have one son, Virgil C., who is 
now a junior in the Lindsay high school. Mr. Dowell is a republican in politics. 
In fraternal circles Mr. Dowell is likewise a familiar figure. He is a charter 
member of the Lindsay Lodge, F. & A. M., belongs to the Porterville Chapter, R. 
A. M., and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 289