William P. Dowdy, farmer, was born in Stoddard County, Mo., in 1858, and is the son of Judge C.M. and Mary (Antony) Dowdy. The father was born in Middle Tennessee about the year 1808 and resided there and farmed until he moved to Kentucky, where he lived six or seven years. Subsequently he moved to this county and located about seven miles southeast of Bloomfield. He was justice of the peace in his district for a number of years, and in 1876 was elected judge of the county court, which office he held for two years. He died in 1881. He had eleven children, five living, viz: James P., B.F., Frances, Albert J. and William P., all of whom are married except Albert J. and Frances. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until he was twenty-one years old, when he married, and shortly afterward commenced farming. He married Amanda Galloway in 1884, and they have had two children, little May being the only one living. Both Mr. And Mrs. Dowdy are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Dowdy is a member of the Agricultural Wheel.