Born in Darlington County in 1859, William Dowling was a descendant of Robert Dowling, who had settled in S.C. in the Parish of St. David by 1773. William served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1899 to 1900 and was Darlington County Supervisor when the 1902 to 1903 courthouse was built. His home stood about one-half mile east of here.