Born in 1822 in Louisiana. The earliest documentation for Louis is in the 1850 census of Sabine Louisiana. He is 27 years old and his wife, Jelina is 21; they have a one year old daughter, Jane.
Ten years later he is in Williamson County, Texas living close to the Gabriel Mills post office. Lewis, wife Jelina and three children are listed. The children are Elizabeth Jane age 11, Mary J age 4, and William Joseph age 2.
Lewis was a teamster. He kept a journal of his travels as he sold to area neighbors such articles as coffee, fabric, tobacco, etc. This journal is now in the possession of a descendant of his oldest daughter Elizabeth Jane.
After Jelina's death during the birth of her fifth child, John David McDowell , Lewis remarried the next year to Nancy Ann Cartwright and moved to McCullough County.
In 1868 Lewis, in a drunkard stupor, was murdered; shot in the back by a local bar patroon.
He was buried by Jelina in the Cox Cemetery in Brady, McCullough County, Texas.
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| Front cover of journal kept by Lewis McDowell |
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| Lettter to James Dykes from Nancy Cartwright |
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| Lewis McDowell tombstone |
