Jeremiah Dowell was born in Virginia, in about 1802. He married a woman by the name of Elizabeth in about 1825. In 1830, they are found in Orange County, Virginia, with one male and one female under the age of five. The female was Ann Eliza, born in 1828. The male was Richard William Dowell, born in about 1826 (his name was found in his father's will). They were next door to Atwell Dowell, who was the son of William Dowell (from his marriage record). Jeremiah and Atwell were in the same age category, with small children. Atwell married in 1825 in Albermarle County, Virginia. I am guessing they could have been brothers, but may have been cousins.

Jeremiah and Elizabeth were the parents of at least eight children: Richard William, Ann Eliza, John, Laten Edward, an unknown female, David Crockett, Leonidas W., and Andrew Jackson Dowell.

By 1840, Jeremiah and Elizabeth were found in Franklin, Howard County, Missouri.

Name: Jeremiah Dowell
Home in 1840: Franklin, Howard County, Missouri
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:2 (David and Leonades)
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9:2 (Laten and John)
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:1 (Richard William) born 1826)
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:1 (a family member?)
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:1 (Jeremiah)
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:1 (unknown daughter born about 1832-1835)
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:1 (Ann Eliza)
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:1 (Elizabeth)
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20:7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:3
Total Free White Persons - 10

In 1850, they were in Moniteau County, Missouri.
Name: Jeremiah Dewel [Jeremiah Dowell]
Home in 1850: District 58, Moniteau County, Missouri
Gender: Male
Family Number: 176
Jeremiah Dewel 48 Virginia
Elizabeth Dewel 47 Maryland
John Dewel 19 Virginia
Laten Dewel 16 Missouri
David Dewel 14 Missouri
Leonidas Dewel 11 Missouri
Andrew Dewel 9 Missouri
Jane Baker 18 Arkansas
Ann Dunn 21 Virginia (Ann Eliza Dowell who married Benjamin Franklin Dunn)
John Dunn 2 Missouri

Jeremiah married again after the death of his first wife, Elizabeth. He married Elizabeth Finley Winn from Howard County, Missouri, the widow of John T. Winn. They probably met in Howard County prior to Jeremiah moving his family to Moniteau County. They married on September 29, 1859, in Miller County, Missouri. They were the parents of three children; Lucetta Alice, Jeremiah "Jerry", and William Finley Dowell.

Jeremiah died between 1870 and 1877, most likely in Lee's Summit, in Jackson County, Missouri, where they had lived since prior to 1866. He was a hotel keeper.

Elizabeth Finley Winn Dowell married a third time in 1877. That marriage ended in divorce.

Bio from contributor Janice Peay #47222780