San Diego County Biographies
 
THOMAS J. DOWELL

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


One of San Diego's promising young business men, was born in Calaveras County, 
December 21, 1855. His father, John A. Dowell, was a native of Virginia, born in 
1828; most of his life was spent in Missouri. He came to California in 1851, and 
was foreman of the Meadow Valley Mining Company. He had charge of the first 
train loaded with machinery, taken to Pioche, Nevada. Mr. Dowell's mother was 
Calista Palacio, born in El Rosario, State of Sinoloa, Mexico. They had but one 
child, Thomas. His early education was entirely Spanish; later he attended Santa 
Clara College. In 1874 his father gave him money to start in the mercantile 
business in Pioche. The firm name was A. D. Reccabarren & Co. At the end of a 
year he sold out and engaged in mining with his father. Five months later his 
father was killed by falling down a shaft in the mine. Mr. Dowell went from 
there to Silver Reef, Utah, and opened a book store, which he sold out two years 
later and went to Tombstone. He was there engaged in mining for four years, one 
year of which time he was in the service of the Mexican government in the 
Palomina custom-house. After this he was in the store of Max Marks & Co. In 1886 
he came to San Diego and was engaged in bookkeeping four months. He afterward 
entered the service of the International Company of Mexico. Finally he formed a 
partnership with Pedro Aguirre, in Mexican and American custom-house brokerage 
and commission. They are opening and developing a trade with Mexico, which will 
no doubt result in an increase of business between San Diego and Mexico. Mr. 
Dowell is an Odd Fellow and a Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, 
and a member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  343-344