Laura was born in Alabama but was brought up at "The Cedars" plantation in Plantersville, Grimes County, TX.
She married first, John William Hutcheson on 9/11/1855. They had one child, a daughter, "Willie". Laura's husband became the first Captain of the Grimes County Greys. He was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, VA on 6/27/1862 and died on 6/29/1862 in Richmond. Laura had traveled to VA with her baby when her husband was deployed and returned to Anderson, TX by 1863.
She married second, Dr. Greensville Sledge Dowell in 1868 in Galveston, Texas. During her second marriage, the guardianship of her only child, was granted to the child's uncle, Joseph Chappell Hutcheson, by the Grimes County Court in 1874. This was to ensure that Willie's inherited property from her father was properly utilized on the child's maintenance and schooling.
In March of 1883 her recently widowed brother-in-law, J. C. Hutcheson, spoke of her in his letter to his daughter, Elise: "I have gotten your Aunt Laura to stay with us awhile, how long will depend on how she and the children get on. They already seem to love her." Unfortunately, it was to prove entirely too short. Laura's health failed and she returned to her daughter's home where she passed away.
The Galveston Daily News Saturday, November 29, 1884 states:
"Mrs. Laura Baker Dowell died this morning at 11 o'clock at the residence of Mr. Robert E. C. Wilson. Mrs. Dowell was the wife of the late Dr. Greensville Dowell, one of Galveston's most noted surgeons; also the sister of Mrs. Frank R. Dean of Galveston, and of Colonel Jack Baker of Plantersville, and Mrs. I. G. Searcy of Austin. She had been in bad health for the past two years and during the past two months had been here at the home of her daughter Mrs. Robert E. C. Wilson. Her remains will be forwarded to Plantersville tomorrow morning, where they will be interred."
She married first, John William Hutcheson on 9/11/1855. They had one child, a daughter, "Willie". Laura's husband became the first Captain of the Grimes County Greys. He was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, VA on 6/27/1862 and died on 6/29/1862 in Richmond. Laura had traveled to VA with her baby when her husband was deployed and returned to Anderson, TX by 1863.
She married second, Dr. Greensville Sledge Dowell in 1868 in Galveston, Texas. During her second marriage, the guardianship of her only child, was granted to the child's uncle, Joseph Chappell Hutcheson, by the Grimes County Court in 1874. This was to ensure that Willie's inherited property from her father was properly utilized on the child's maintenance and schooling.
In March of 1883 her recently widowed brother-in-law, J. C. Hutcheson, spoke of her in his letter to his daughter, Elise: "I have gotten your Aunt Laura to stay with us awhile, how long will depend on how she and the children get on. They already seem to love her." Unfortunately, it was to prove entirely too short. Laura's health failed and she returned to her daughter's home where she passed away.
The Galveston Daily News Saturday, November 29, 1884 states:
"Mrs. Laura Baker Dowell died this morning at 11 o'clock at the residence of Mr. Robert E. C. Wilson. Mrs. Dowell was the wife of the late Dr. Greensville Dowell, one of Galveston's most noted surgeons; also the sister of Mrs. Frank R. Dean of Galveston, and of Colonel Jack Baker of Plantersville, and Mrs. I. G. Searcy of Austin. She had been in bad health for the past two years and during the past two months had been here at the home of her daughter Mrs. Robert E. C. Wilson. Her remains will be forwarded to Plantersville tomorrow morning, where they will be interred."
Laura was born in Alabama but was brought up at "The Cedars" plantation in Plantersville, Grimes County, TX.
She married first, John William Hutcheson on 9/11/1855. They had one child, a daughter, "Willie". Laura's husband became the first Captain of the Grimes County Greys. He was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, VA on 6/27/1862 and died on 6/29/1862 in Richmond. Laura had traveled to VA with her baby when her husband was deployed and returned to Anderson, TX by 1863.
She married second, Dr. Greensville Sledge Dowell in 1868 in Galveston, Texas. During her second marriage, the guardianship of her only child, was granted to the child's uncle, Joseph Chappell Hutcheson, by the Grimes County Court in 1874. This was to ensure that Willie's inherited property from her father was properly utilized on the child's maintenance and schooling.
In March of 1883 her recently widowed brother-in-law, J. C. Hutcheson, spoke of her in his letter to his daughter, Elise: "I have gotten your Aunt Laura to stay with us awhile, how long will depend on how she and the children get on. They already seem to love her." Unfortunately, it was to prove entirely too short. Laura's health failed and she returned to her daughter's home where she passed away.
The Galveston Daily News Saturday, November 29, 1884 states:
"Mrs. Laura Baker Dowell died this morning at 11 o'clock at the residence of Mr. Robert E. C. Wilson. Mrs. Dowell was the wife of the late Dr. Greensville Dowell, one of Galveston's most noted surgeons; also the sister of Mrs. Frank R. Dean of Galveston, and of Colonel Jack Baker of Plantersville, and Mrs. I. G. Searcy of Austin. She had been in bad health for the past two years and during the past two months had been here at the home of her daughter Mrs. Robert E. C. Wilson. Her remains will be forwarded to Plantersville tomorrow morning, where they will be interred."
She married first, John William Hutcheson on 9/11/1855. They had one child, a daughter, "Willie". Laura's husband became the first Captain of the Grimes County Greys. He was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, VA on 6/27/1862 and died on 6/29/1862 in Richmond. Laura had traveled to VA with her baby when her husband was deployed and returned to Anderson, TX by 1863.
She married second, Dr. Greensville Sledge Dowell in 1868 in Galveston, Texas. During her second marriage, the guardianship of her only child, was granted to the child's uncle, Joseph Chappell Hutcheson, by the Grimes County Court in 1874. This was to ensure that Willie's inherited property from her father was properly utilized on the child's maintenance and schooling.
In March of 1883 her recently widowed brother-in-law, J. C. Hutcheson, spoke of her in his letter to his daughter, Elise: "I have gotten your Aunt Laura to stay with us awhile, how long will depend on how she and the children get on. They already seem to love her." Unfortunately, it was to prove entirely too short. Laura's health failed and she returned to her daughter's home where she passed away.
The Galveston Daily News Saturday, November 29, 1884 states:
"Mrs. Laura Baker Dowell died this morning at 11 o'clock at the residence of Mr. Robert E. C. Wilson. Mrs. Dowell was the wife of the late Dr. Greensville Dowell, one of Galveston's most noted surgeons; also the sister of Mrs. Frank R. Dean of Galveston, and of Colonel Jack Baker of Plantersville, and Mrs. I. G. Searcy of Austin. She had been in bad health for the past two years and during the past two months had been here at the home of her daughter Mrs. Robert E. C. Wilson. Her remains will be forwarded to Plantersville tomorrow morning, where they will be interred."
Gravesite Details
No stone has been found at The Cedars Cem. with her name on it; however, there are several unmarked graves.
Family Members
Siblings
