by Joyce Woods Cox
Descendants of William Harvey Dowell and Mary
Elizabeth Stephens met for their annual family reunion at Mother Neff
State Park on Sunday, August 5, 2001. Jimmy and Phyllis Atkins of
LasCruces, New Mexico came the furthest. The youngest was 2 month old
Amanda (Mandy) Cox, daughter of Billy and Maggie Cox of Temple. Viola
Dowell, of Liberty Hill community was the eldest. She will be 81 August
31, 2001.
Shelia Ruth Ivy Eyers is family genealogist. Her
mother is, Johnnie Ruth Porter Ivy. Her mother was Bessie Marie Dowell
Porter Tindell. Eyers showed her family and friends a long copy of the
family tree. She said, "I really enjoy learning about the lives and
adventures of my ancestors."
On July 11, 1872, in Macon County, North Carolina, a
son was born to Mr. And Mrs. Melvin Dowell. He was named William Harvey
and joined brothers Will and John and sister Dora. Six years later on
January 9, 1878, in Georgia, John Thomas Stephens and Clifford Cordelia
Henderson became the parents of a daughter they named Mary Elizabeth.
William Harvey Dowell met Mary Elizabeth Stephens,
and on August 10, 1897, they were married. They moved to a farm in the
Liberty Hill area of Moody Texas, and their eleven children were born
there:
Melvin, Della, Delia, Lela, Bessie, Cecil, Johnnie, Estelle, Dick, Cutie
and Jessie. They continued to live there until their death; his on Aug.
14, 1944, and hers on Feb. 12, 1960. Both are buried at Moody Cemetery.
The first reunion was held in 1956 at which all the
children were present, and has been held yearly in the Moody area. Most
often at Mother Neff State Park. At this time two children are living,
Mrs. Cutie Ellington, and Mrs. Jessie Mars. Neither was able to attend
this year's reunion. But 100 plus were in attendance. Aging from 80 years
to 2 months. This was the smallest gathering in several years.
