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James Dowd

1870 - 1932

James E. Dowd, age 62, widely known real estate agent, was instantly killed August 22, 1932, when a Milwaukee Road passenger train struck the automobile in which he was driving. The crash occurred at Twelfth Street, just east of the malt house, and wreckage containing the driver was carried to Ninth Street before the train was brought to a stop.

The accident occurred at 6:40 pm, within a few steps of the home of Dowd at 409 Sixth Street.

The crossing is considered a dangerous one and has been the scene of other fatalities.

Reports said Mr. Dowd suffered a stroke about two years earlier and his hearing had been affected.

The train was westbound, from Milwaukee to Madison. Mr. Dowd’s body was badly mangled. He was on his way home from the Breakenridge farm south of the railroad tracks and stopped his auto as a freight train was going east, and as soon as it passed he started across the double tracks when passenger train No 23 going west hit his car and crushed it to pieces.

The body was removed to the James W. Boyle chapel after Louis Auerbach, Jefferson County coroner, arrived in the city for an investigation. He announced there would be no inquest.

Deceased was born in the town of Shields on May 12, 1870, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dowd. On November 27, 1895, he married Miss Ellen Hilker of the town of Portland. He located in Watertown with his wife some years later and for many years was engaged in the livery business at North Second and Cady streets.

Survived by one son, A. Errol Dowd of Beaver Dam and two daughters, Miss Eleanor Dowd of this city and Mrs. George Opem of Minneapolis, Minn. Four sisters, Mrs. Dennis Kelly of St. Paul, Mrs. Jack Fallon, Miss Margaret Dowd and Mrs. Peter Ferwerda of Beloit and five brothers, George of Waterloo, Mose of Reeseville, Albert of Watertown and John and Robert of Minneapolis also survived.

He was a member of St. Henry’s and of Branch 120, Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.

His funeral took place from the Boyle chapel with services in St. Henry’s, the Very Rev. Dean F. X. Schwinn officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Waterloo Courier, 08 25 1932

Watertown Gazette, 08 25 1932

Cross-References:

Fathers John

and Patrick Dowd

Father Patrick Dowd was ordained in 1959 and celebrated his first Mass at St. Jerome’s in Oconomowoc. Father John Dowd, Patrick’s brother, was ordained in 1962 and also celebrated his first Mass at St. Jerome’s. Although both graduated from the Oconomowoc High School, both might be considered sons of St. Henry’s, as their father was former parishioner A. Errol Dowd, for many years a member of the choir and a lifelong friend of its director, R. M. Hahn. They are also the grandsons of James Dowd, who for many years operated a livery service on North Second and Cady Streets, little more than a block from the church.

Riedl, Kenneth M., A Church Built on the Rock: The 150-Year History of St. Henry’s Catholic Church, Watertown, Wisconsin, 1853-2003, (Madison: Omnipress), 2003, p 312.