John Clark Dowdle was born in Pendleton, Alabama, the son of Robert and Sarah Ann Robinson Dow­dle. He came to Elk­horn Ranch in 1855 and helped build the first cabins there during that terrible winter, he walked to the lower valley and brought back a sack of flour which kept John C. Dowdle the settlers from star­vation. He also saved the life of William Garr, whose feet were frozen.

On November 13,1856, he married Orpha Warner. She was born December 19, 1833, at New Portage, Ohio, to Solomon and Rebecca Billington Warner.

They made their home in Willard, Utah.

On May 25, 1867, he married Mary Ann Chandler as a plural wife. She was born April 16, 1847, at Hamsbrough, England, and was the daughter of Samuel and Mary Jarvis Chandler.

In 1879, John moved his family to West Millville (now College Ward). Here he was instrumental in building a school and church so the children could be educated close to home. He taught the school for one winter. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School, and when the West Millville area became a ward in June 1891, he was called as Ward Clerk and Counselor to Bishop Charles Oscar Dunn.

Orpha died May 19, 1913; and Mary Ann died December 30, 1930. They are buried in Willard Cemetery.

John and Orpha were the parents of: Orpha Rebecca, Or­phina (Mark Nelson), Lucina Elvira, Mary Caroline, Harriet Martha (Jefferson Wilcox), John Solomon (Christina Anderson), Jerucia Jane, Hanna Ellen, Robert Amos (Mary Ann Larson), Phoebe Annie and Joseph Bent (Wilma Dudley). Children of John and Mary Ann Chandler were: Samuel Clark (Rosa Bell Williams), Elizabeth Ann, Eliza Ruth (Franklin Leavitt), William James (Lucy Almond), John Joseph and Hanna Esther.

From Millville Memories, A history of Millville, Utah, From 1860 to 1990, Copyright February 1990, by The Cache County Historic and Preservation Commission.