James Ferguson Dowdell (11/26/1818-9/6/1871) was born in Pine Mountain, Georgia, graduated from Randolph-Macon University and practiced law. In 1845 he became president of Oakbowery Female College (LaFayette, Alabama), served three terms in the United States Congress, became a Methodist minister in 1858, represented Chambers County as a secession delegate in Montgomery in 1861. During the Civil War he served as a colonel for the 37th Alabama Regiment (CSA) until poor health forced him to return home after the fall of Vicksburg. He became a professor at East Alabama Male College (now Auburn University) in 1861 and served as president of the school, 1866-1871.