Francis Marion McDowell

Francis Marion McDowell (June 12, 1831 – March 22, 1894) was an American banker and farmer and a co-founder of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a fraternal organization in the United States.

Francis Marion McDowell was born in Wayne, New York, in 1831, of British ancestry, his four grandparents being Scotch, English, Irish and Welsh.

McDowell suffered a severe illness, from which he never made complete recovery, and consequently he returned to his native town of Wayne, and engaged in grape growing on the shores of Lake Keuka.

It was therefore upon his suggestion that the hierarchical ordering of members in a series of seven "Degrees" was built, and he was selected as the first High Priest in the Assembly of Demeter.

In December 1874, he married Miss Eva Sherwood of Woodhull, New York, who shortly after joined the Grange, became deeply interested in its work and succeeded her husband as treasurer upon his resignation.