Venable

 

 

 

Born in September 1836 in Charlotte, Virginia, McDowell Reid Venable came from a prominent family. Enlisting in the Civil War on 1861 at Yorktown, he was wounded in the hip at the Battle of Antiertam. Following recovery he served as First Lieutenant in the Confederate Engineer's Corps, being stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Following the completion of his military service, Venable resided in Texas for a short time before moving back to Virginia. He would begin the practice of law there and after two years decided to move to California. Arriving in 1868 in San Jose, McDowell relocated to San Luis Obispo soon after.

Within a few years Mr. Venable became a prominent member of the San Luis Obispo community. In addition to operating a law practice, we was elected as County Judge in 1872 as served in that role until 1880. In 1882 McDowell married Alice Watkins and would foster five children. 

Serving at various times as president of the school board and president of the San Luis Obispo Board of Trade, in 1888 he helped in the establishment of the Commercial Bank of San Luis Obispo. He served as president in this capacity until his death on April 12, 1907. He is buried in the San Luis Cemetery in San Luis Obispo.