Alexander Dowie


Alexander Dowie was an 1851 emigrant from Scotland to South Australia. He is known as a businessman, who developed a major footwear manufacturing, tannery, and retail store in Adelaide.

Early life and education

Dowie was born in 1827, the third son of John Dowie and his wife Margaret Dowie. He had a younger brother, John Murray Dowie. His father and sister died when he was around four years old. Later he lived in Portobello, Scotland, where he was apprenticed to a bootmaker.

Marriage and emigration to South Australia

In April 1851 Dowie married Jane Cockburn and they emigrated to South Australia on the Blundell in May that year, partly sponsored by Caroline Chisholm. They arrived at Adelaide in August. He joined the gold rush to Mount Alexander, but soon returned to Adelaide, opening a bootmaker's shop and factory in Rundle Street. His businesses were located at the far end of the street, then moved closer to the centre, at numbers 69 and then 63. He also opened a tannery in Bowden.
In 1904 Dowie transferred his business to sons Norman Dowie and Stuart Dowie; they sold it to A. W. Barlow and Co. in 1908.
Dowie was a friend of John Darling, and influenced him to also emigrate to South Australia. They continued to associate: Darling hired at least one of the Dowie boys; the two families worshipped at the same church, and two daughters of Dowie married Darling boys.
Dowie was appointed President of the Board of Conciliation, serving from 1885 to 1896.

Religion

He joined the Congregational Church before he left Scotland, and was active in the Adelaide church as Sunday-school teacher, lay preacher, and deacon.

Family

Alexander Dowie married Jane Cockburn in April 1851. Their children included:
  • John Alexander Dowie married Jessie Blair Crawford. She was a sister of merchant R. H. Crawford. Not to be confused with his identically-named cousin, "Elijah Dowie".
  • Jessie Dowie married John Darling, jun. on 14 October 1875.
  • Jane Dowie married her cousin Rev. John Alexander Dowie on 26 May 1876. As "Overseer Jane Dowie" she held high office in his church.
  • Margaret "Maggie" Dowie married Arthur Faulkner Gardiner on 28 May 1875.
  • Mary Dowie married S. Stevenson in Chicago, Ill. on 25 July 1900
  • Bessie Dowie married James Darling on 26 October 1882; moved to "Glenarona", Kilmore, Victoria
  • Adelaide Dowie
  • George Cockburn Dowie
  • Norman Dowie worked in father's business.
  • Stuart Dowie worked in his father's business. He married Gertrude Phillis Davey on 21 December 1910.
His brother John Murray Dowie emigrated c. 1861 aboard Shah Jehan; active Hindmarsh Square Congregational Church, left for Chicago 1896.