Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

TIMOTHY MCDOWELL

It may be said with trust that Timothy McDowell was one of the most enterprising as well as early settlers in Casco. He was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1801, and in 1825 married to Emmeline Reynolds at Lockport, N.Y., both of New England extraction. In 1845 they moved to Casco and both were very interested in this new West. They were the first settlers in Casco, then a dense forest and Newark was their nearest post-office and trading place, a journey of fifteen miles. His farm included 320 acres of forest and they built a log cabin 18 x 26 fret which was made as comfortable as those times allowed. Their oldest son, Mortimer, was fifteen years old at that time and was a great help to his parents. Two sons died after reaching mature years, John having fallen a victim of Andersonville prison.

Mr. McDowell's death took place at his fine home which he hewed out of the wilderness and which became one of the finest estates in the country, in 1877. He became one of the most influential and affluent residents of the section and had been for several years a director of South Haven First National Bank. Even today, fifty years since his passing, people speak of the McDowell settlement.