DOWLING, John S. - Putnam

Illustrated 1910: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers Indianapolis, Indiana Author: Jesse W. Weik

Page: 603

Tracing his ancestry back to excellent Irish ancestry. John Sibley Dowling. the efficient agent of the Vandalia railroad at Greencastle. is an example of what thrift, industry and energy properly and honestly applied may accomplish, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and by reason of these worthy qualities he has become well established in reference to this world's affairs. He was born in Terre Haute. Indiana. May 15. 1858, the son of Thomas and Sarah J. (Sibley) Dowling. the father having been born December 21, 1809.in county Carlow. Ireland, the fourth son of Peter and Katherine (Fenelon) Dowling. Thomas Dowling came to America in 1817 with his parents, both of whom died soon afterwards, having located in Washington City. They left a family of six children, all small. Thomas apprenticed himself to Gales & Seaton, publishers of the Washington Intelligencer, spending his time out and working himself up to an editorship. Having learned thoroughly the newspaper business he came West, in 1832 and located in Terre Haute and on June 13, 1832, bought of Col. John Osbon the Wabash Courier, a morning paper, now known as The Star, and published it until 1840, when he sold it to Jesse Connard. A year or two later he established the Wabash Express, which he published until 1845, selling out to David Danielson. He then assisted in the building of the Wabash & Erie canal, with which he held the very responsible position of resident trustee or manager in Indiana from 1849 to 1874, in which year the affairs of the company were wound up. In 1864 he built Dowling Hall, for many years the only place of amusement in Terre Haute and a fine theatre in that day. He purchased a farm in White county in the fifties, consisting of two thousand acres, which he operated for ten years. He was a very successful business man and was one of the influential men of Vigo county and that section of the state. He was a brilliant writer and wielded a potent influence through the columns of his paper, always taking a .stand for the right as he saw and understood the right and he was always interested in the development of his community. He was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He was prominent in state politics and was elected to the Legislature. He was a member of the national Democratic committee from this state when he died, December 5, 1876.

Thomas Dowling married Sarah J. Sibley, March 7, 1857. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (May) Sibley, who lived near the city of New York. Her father was a native of Vermont; coming West in an early day. He was one of the first settlers in Indiana, living first at Ft. Harrison, where he sought protection from the Indians, who were then numerous and hostile. However, he did not live at the fort long, until he pushed out into the wilderness and developed a farm. Mrs. Thomas Dowling survived her husband many years, passing to her rest on December 19, 1904. She was born August 16, 1837. Five children were born to them, named as follows: John S., of this review; Mary is the wife of John Palmer Hallman, and is living in New York City; Jennie is the wife of Arthur H. Brower, of New York; Fenelon E. is in the employ of the government in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands; Elizabeth is the wife of H. C. Hampton, living in Terre Haute.  John S. Dowling was educated in the public schools, where he made rapid progress, entering Asbury (now DePauw) University when thirteen years of age, where he remained two years, then entered Racine College. Racine, Wisconsin. where he remained for two years.

Thus well equipped, he began his business career in 1875 by entering the office of the Wabash & Erie canal as secretary to his father, where he remained for two years, then spent one year in the office of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad Company, then one year in the general freight office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, in Chicago, where Paul M(5rton. now the noted railroad magnate, was also employed. Then for a period of two and one-half years he worked in the office of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, at Chicago. In 18S1 he entered the Vandalia offices at Indianapolis. October 1, 18S3, he was appointed agent of this road at Greencastle, Indiana, and he has since been discharging the duties of the same in his usual faithful and conscientious manner, this company regarding him as one of its most efficient and trusted employes.  Fraternally Mr. Dowling is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge Xo. 1077, also the Ben Hur lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Democrat and belongs to the Episcopal church.  Mr. Dowling was married on January 1, 1898, to Nellie Fee. daughter of J. F. Fee. a highly respected family of Greencastle. and this union has resulted in the birth of two children, Thomas Francis, now attending school, and Sarah, who died at one year old.