James Ferguson Dowdell, a strong proponent of states' rights, signed the Ordinance of Secession as a member of the Convention of 1861 in the state of Alabama. He was commissioned as a colonel in the spring of 1862 in the 37th Alabama Infantry, a regiment that he raised. Dowdell was taken prisoner of war in 1863 at the siege of Vicksburg, MS, and was paroled, returning home due to ill health.
Prior to the war, Dowdell practiced law, was president of Oak Bowery Female College, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1853-1859, became a Methodist minister, and in 1860 was listed as a farmer in the census with personal and real estate wealth valued at $78,000. After the war, he served from 1866-1870 as professor of moral philosophy and president of East Alabama College, which later became Auburn University. By 1870, his wealth as listed in the census had diminished to only $7,000 and his profession is listed as teacher. Dowdell died September 6, 1871 and is buried in Auburn's City Cemetery.
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