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The Dowis Children -- All Nineteen of Them

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William Calvin Dowis (1861-1933) married Hannah Jane Burdett (1875-1927) and began their farming family in Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, they had moved a short distance north to Duluth in Gwinnett County, Georgia. There they continued to farm and attended the Baptist Church in town. Upon their deaths, William and Hannah were laid to rest under the trees in the Duluth Baptist Church cemetery.

In the far corner of their southern-styled, gravel covered family plot is a large marble memorial standing taller than the rest. On it is a listing of all nineteen of the Dowis children. It seems Hannah started giving birth around the age of 16 and didn't stop until she was 43. Along with the children's names, their birth and death dates, as well as their burial locations are also recorded. It's a genealogist's dream discovery.

The Children of
William Calvin Dowis and Hannah Jane Burdett

Solomon Dowis: b. 5/19/1891, d. 11/4/1967, bur. Westview, Atlanta, GA
Victor Dowis: b. 8/8/1892, d. 5/5/1923, bur. Duluth, GA
Ferd Dowis: b. 8/22/1893, d. 3/19/1958, bur. Lawrenceville, GA
Susie Dowis: b. 10/21/1894, d. 11/8/1894, bur. Mt. Paran, Atlanta, GA
Herbert Dowis: b. 12/30/1895, d. 3/22/1966, bur. Westview, Atlanta, GA
Carrie Bell Dowis Hunt: b. 4/13/1897, d. 6/27/1984, bur. Duluth, GA
Seaborn Dowis: b. 5/23/1898, d. 9/2/1898, bur. Mt. Paran, Atlanta, GA
Ezra B. Dowis: b. 1/18/1900, d. 6/9/1900, bur. Mt. Paran, Atlanta, GA
Vivian Dowis Huff: b. 10/15/1901, d. 1/11/1967, bur. Bonaventure, Savannah, GA
Olice Dowis: b. 1/16/1903, d. 8/14/1968, bur. Park Hill, Columbus, GA
Ruth Dowis Bell: b. 2/8/1905, d. 4/5/1953, bur. Cairo, GA
Jetta Dowis: b. 9/2/1906, d. 1/20/1995, bur. Duluth, GA
Curtis Dowis: b. 12/7/1908, d. 1/17/1978, bur. Duluth, GA
Bertha Dowis: b. 8/31/1910, d. 11/17/1910, bur. Duluth, GA
Burdett Dowis: b. 8/31/1910, d. 11/17/1910, bur. Duluth, GA
Mary Dowis Pass: b. 9/23/1912, d. 1/24/1991, bur. Gwinnett Memorial Gardens, Lawrenceville, GA
Calvin Dowis: b. 9/13/1914, d. 12/21/1914, bur. Duluth, GA
Lola Dowis Teague: b. 1/1/1916, d. 9/27/2001, bur. Memory Hill, Milledgeville, GA
Infant Son: b. 10/27/1918, d. 10/27/1918, bur. Duluth, GA

William and Hannah raised Baptist preachers, military men, policemen, and teachers, just to name a few. I found it interesting that though some did move away from the family home, none seem to have left the state of Georgia (not without returning, at least).

This family intrigues me; I might just have to learn more about them. Don't worry, I'll share.
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Comments

Janet Iles said…
What a great monument with so much information provided. It would be a great help to anyone researching this family.
January 8, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Jenny said…
Fantastic find, Stephanie! I want to visit that cemetery. BTW I love your new header. Just beautiful. Happy 'taphing in the new year!
January 8, 2011 at 4:07 PM
S. Lincecum said…
Thanks, Jenny. I was worried it was too big, but liked it enough to go with it anyway! :-)
January 8, 2011 at 5:45 PM
Taphophile said…
Great post! I can't even begin to imagine 19 children, but my father had 11 brothers and sisters. . .
January 9, 2011 at 4:41 PM
Unknown said…
I've come across a few Dowis graves while walking cemeteries in Gwinnett - including one of the names listed on this stone. Now I see how prolific this family was, I wont be surprised when I find more.
January 12, 2011 at 12:32 PM
A.Dowis said…
This is actually my family. And these stones were dreams to my grandfather who has become 'keeper of family records" so to speak, years ago when he found them. Its nice that some one with no family connection takes an interest in another family's story.
July 23, 2011 at 2:48 AM
S. Lincecum said…
Thank-you for the nice comment. I can imagine how thrilled your grandfather was when he found the stones. I would be overjoyed to find such to add to my family history! :-)
July 23, 2011 at 4:25 PM
William M. Dowis said…
I am glad I found this. I am researching my ancestors and this is a big help. Thank you so much.
November 23, 2014 at 5:23 PM
S. Lincecum said…
Glad the information was helpful, William!
November 23, 2014 at 5:35 PM
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The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)