December 2021 • Nebraskaland 27
which resulted in the instant death,
he was apparently in perfect health,
erect, ruddy and cheerful looking,
more like a man of 50 than past 80,"
Cramb wrote.
Newspaper accounts of McDowell's
life say he was an honest, generous,
hard-working man. While he owned
one of the first automobiles in Fairbury,
he lived in small apartments above
businesses in downtown Fairbury.
"He lived simply and saved his money
and left a modest fortune, 875 [acres]
of land and considerable property,"
Cramb wrote.
His generosity was revealed upon
his death. Nine years before he died,
he signed the deeds to two quarter
sections of land to brothers Paul and
Arthur Zimmerman, who for years had
rented them. He told no one about
the move, however. Just 18 months
before his death, he left envelopes for
each brother with another man with
instructions to deliver them if he met
his demise. A week after his death, the
Zimmermans were speechless when
they learned of his generous gift.
Notes McDowell left behind also
stated he wished the farm on which
he built his mausoleum go to the State
of Nebraska and become a park and
game reserve, something that made
headlines in both the local papers
and the Lincoln Star. No reports
can be found as to why that wish
didn't become a reality. It can only
be assumed that with no will and
no official documents supporting
the idea, McDowell's four surviving
siblings, who inherited the remainder
of his property, chose to do otherwise
with the farm.
People continued to visit the
mausoleum throughout the years with,
and likely some without, permission of
subsequent landowners.
So it is somewhat ironic that in 1995,
58 years after his death, McDowell's
wish came true when the property was
purchased by Game and Parks. Now
anyone willing to take a short hike can
be amazed at what one man can do
with his hands and a few tools.
N
A slab of sandstone that slid from the cliff face overlooking Rose Creek is covered with graffi ti.
