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Of inestimable worth to a
community is the man who aids in developing the natural resources of the
country, utilizing the advantages that nature has stored up and
converting a raw commodity into a product that is of general use. Into
this field of activity James H. Dowdell has directed his labors and is
now one of the well known coal operators of the province of Alberta.
Since 1920 he has made his home in Edmonton, coming here as one of the
officials of the Crown Paving Company, since which time he assisted in
organizing the Crown Coal Company, of which he is the president. He
continues his connection with both enterprises and is one of the
representative and progressive business men of the city. He was born in
Lanark district, Ontario, on the 6th of October, 1880, and is a son of
Thomas and Eliza (Deacon) Dowdell, who were also natives of Lanark
district, where the father still resides but the mother Passed away in
October, 1918. The father was a son of John Dowdell, who was born in
Ireland, became a pioneer settler of Ontario, and married a Miss
Cameron, who was a native of Scotland. The maternal grandfather of James
H. Dowdell was Thomas Deacon, also a native of the Emerald isle
and a pioneer settler of
Ontario, where he became prominent as a farmer and miller, meeting with
substantial success in the conduct of his affairs. Thomas Dowdell, the
father of James H. Dowdell, was a successful farmer and drover. Starting
on a brush farm he cleared the land and converted it into a rich and
productive field. In addition to the production of crops he conducted a
dairy and was a stockholder in a cheese factory. He holds membership in
the Presbyterian church and in politics is a Conservative. He filled the
office of councilor for a number of years, was also justice of the peace
and has occupied other positions of public honor and trust, including
that of road commissioner. He has always kept abreast with the trend of
public thought and progress, broad reading keeping him in touch with all
that was vital to the interests of the community and of the country at
large. He has ever found his recreation as a follower of Nimrod and has
displayed considerable prowess as a hunter. He and his wife had a family
of eleven children, ten of whom are living, James H. of this review
being the ninth in order of birth.
At the usual age James H.
Dowdell became a pupil in the country and high schools of Perth,
Ontario. He was first employed on his father's farm, thus working until
he reached the age of nineteen years, when he went to New Ontario and
there conducted a warehouse for three years. About 102 he made his way
westward to Manitoba and became identified with cement work. He devoted
his energies to business of that character in Manitoba until he removed
to the province of Alberta, settling in Medicine Hat, where he engaged
in laying cement sidewalks. He afterward went to Calgary and with a gang
of men laid twenty miles of sidewalk in that city in one season. He was
the representative of the Crown Paving Company, which he assisted in
organizing in 1910 and of which he became the first vice president. He
is still identified with this company and it was in that connection that
he came to Edmonton in 1920, having been engaged in paving here,
however, for a number of years before he took up his abode in the city.
In partnership with Jack Starkey he opened the Penn mine under the name
of the Crown Coal Company, which was organized as a subsidiary of the
Crown Paving Company. This company handled coal for a number of years
before purchasing the mine. Mr. Dowdell is the vice president of the
coal company and president of the Penn mine, which is being operated to
full capacity at the present time. It is thoroughly modern in every way
and employs one hundred and twenty-five men, turning out about seven
hundred tons of coal per day. The development of the business is
attributable in large measure to James H. Dowdell, who has also been an
important factor in the successful conduct of the interests of the Crown
Paving Company.
In 1910 Mr. Dowdell was
united in marriage to Miss Mabel Cummings, who was born in Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba, and there was reared and educated. They have become
parents of two children: Clarence and Reggie, both in school. The family
attend the Baptist church. Mr. Dowdell belongs to the Masonic fraternity
and is a loyal follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft. In
politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the
dictates of his judgment. He finds recreation in various sports,
especially hunting and has killed all kinds of wild game. In his younger
days he won fame as a boxer and was regarded as the best amateur boxer
in the whole countryside. The major part of his time and attention now
is devoted to his coal interests and in this connection he has developed
one of the most important industries of this section of the province. |
