From the Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

   Hon. McDowell Fogle, one of the foremost lawyers of the State, was born in Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 30, 1815, and was the second child, and first male child, born in that now flourishing city.  He was educated in the district and private schools and in St. Mary's College in Marion county;  adopted the legal profession and studied law privately and under the direction of one of the learned lawyers of that locality, and after being admitted to the bar, he began the practice of his profession at Liberty, the county seat of Casey county; continued there until about 1853, when he removed to Owensboro, accompanied by his brother-in-law and pupil, the late William N. Sweeney, who became one of the most prominent and powerful pleaders at the bar in Western Kentucky.  Mr. Fogle practiced law in Owensboro for only a short time, when he returned to Liberty and resumed the practice there and in adjoining counties until 1872, and then retired from regular practice.  For many years he was a member of the firm of Fogle & Fox, the latter subsequently becoming judge of the Eighth judicial district. He was also for many years associated in the practice of law with Col. Silas Adams -- who has since represented the Eleventh district in Congress -- under the firm name of Fogle & Adams. His party frequently honored him by electing him to office; he served two or three terms as county attorney; was appointed master commissioner and receiver of the Casey Circuit Court; was a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1855-57 and 1859-61, representing the counties of Casey and Russell; and Democratic elector for his district.
   When he gave up the practice of law in 1872 he retired to his farm in the country -- but a short drive on the turnpike road leading from Liberty to Middleburg -- where he is independently situated, and with his interesting family is enjoying the fruits of an honorable and well spent life. He was quite successful in his profession and succeeded in accumulating a large property, and is now one of the largest land owners of his county. He is a member of the Methodist Church, as was his wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, and his home has always been a hospitable retreat for the ministers of his church and for others, who have been royally entertained thereat.
   He married Miss Emily J. Sweeney, of Liberty, February 17, 1841, who was born there June 4, 1821, and died at Liberty, October 14, 1852, and is buried in the Liberty cemetery near her father and mother. She was the mother of six children: Marietta, Isabelle, Sarah Frances, Jesse Edwin, William McDowell, and a daughter who died in infancy, a few days preceding the death of its mother.
   Subsequently Mr. Fogle married Miss Sallie Barger, of Russell county, who died after about a year of wedded life.
   His third marriage was to Miss Martha J. Murphy of Casey County. By this marriage there were seven children: James M., Elizabeth A., Robert B., Joel, Lena J., D. Edgar and George Preston.
   Joel died in infancy, and William McDowell died September 3, 1883.
   When war was declared against Mexico Mr. Fogle, then a young lawyer in Liberty, lent his active aid in organizing a company in his own county and himself volunteered for the service, but Kentucky's quota of troops was already complete and the company in which he would have served was not mustered in.
  During his active political life he was a Democrat in politics and his party frequently honored him by electing him to office.  In 1844 he was the Democratic elector for his district on the ticket which elected Jas. K. Polk to the Presidency.  He served two or three terms as County Attorney and while as a lawyer he was faithful to all of the duties committed to him, he prosecuted, never persecuted, and in his private practice he sought always, by his counsel and advice, to prevent unnecessary and improper litigation, refusing to undertake such cases himself and advising against their prosecution, and because of the confidence and esteem in which he was held he was often able to adjust differences which would otherwise have resulted in useless litigation and bitterness.  He was a member of the Kentucky Legislature in 1855-57 and 1859-61 representing the counties of Casey and Russell.  In those dark days immediately before the outbreak of the Civil War he was an earnest advocate of peace and a supporter of the union and made trips with members of the legislatures of Kentucky and Tennessee to visit some of the cities of the North and counsel with the Ohio legislature at Columbus with a view to averting if possible the calamity of war.
   In the later years he became an independent in politics and gave his influence and vote to the cause of temperance and other reforms which seemed to him to promise good to the country.  To the end of his life he did not lose interest in the current happenings and the great movements of the times and few men had a more intelligent understanding of their significance.  His interests and sympathies were world-wide.
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