Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Downey, John  January 9, 1832 - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 6:20 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 498
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    John Downey was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, January 9,
1832; came with his parents, Darby Downey and Lydia Stafford Downey, to
Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, in the spring of 1836; is of
Welsh, German and English lineage.
    His grandfather, John Downey, was born near Woodstock in the Shenandoah
Valley, Virginia, in 1778.  On arriving at his majority he came to
Monongalia county, now West Virginia, and engaged extensively in the
business of flat-boat building at the mouth of Scott's Run on Cheat river
on what is now known as the Costello farm.  The premises were then in the
possession of a young widow, Gillespie, whose husband was a brother to
the mother of the Hon J G Blaine.  The widow's maiden name was Llewellyn.  
    John Downey was married to her in 1799.  Of this union there were born
three children: Nancy Downey, intermarried with William Scott; Darby
Downey, and Delilah Downey.  
    The elder John Downey was a man of excellent mechanical skill and well
endowed mentally.  He possessed indomitable push and energy, and but for
the immoderate use of whiskey would have been an eminent man in his day.
He died at the age of fifty, leaving his widow, by improvidence in
strained circumstances.
    John Downey's father, Darby Downey, was born in 1802 in Monongalia
county, West Virginia, was unlettered in the severest sense, was a man of
fine presence, possessed of extraordinary mechanical ability and endowed
with a good memory.
    In 1827 he was married to Miss Lydia Stafford, daughter of John
Stafford, a woman of more than ordinary intellectual capacity, and
endowed in an eminent degree with motherly qualities.  Of this union there
were born five children: Mary Jane Downey, intermarried with George
Robinson; Abagail Downey; John Downey; James Downey, and Nancy Downey,
all of whom are living and comfortably fixed in life.  Lydia, the mother,
died in February, 1838.  Darby Downey remained a widower two years when
he married Orpha Harvey.  Of this union there were born three more
children: Francis M Downey, intermarried with Matilda Blosser; William
Downey and Elizabeth Downey, all of whom died of consumption after reaching 
man and womanhood.  Orpha Downey died in 1858 and Darby Downey in 1863.  
    John Downey, after the death of his mother, lived with Captain James M
Oliphant with whom he remained thirteen years.  He attended the common
schools a few months in the winter season and obtained only a rudimentary
education.  In the twentieth year of his age he engaged with the Rev Lewis
Sammons to learn the cooper trade at Smithfield.  Having a natural
aptitude for the mechanical arts, in less than one year he became
proficient in the business and commenced to work as a journeyman.  He
remained with Rev Sammons two years and carefully husbanded his earnings.
He then went to Iowa, remained one year working at his trade, returned to
Smithfield, bought the property of his old boss, together with the shop,
tools and good will of the trade and commenced what subsequently proved
to be a lucrative business.  
    On the 12th day of May, 1859, he was married by Rev Jesse Hull to Miss
Harriet R Linton, daughter of Zetus Linton of Masontown, Penna.  Of this
union there were born four children: Ewing L Downey; Harriet A Downey,
intermarried with C D Crow; Wallace M Downey, and Edward Downey, the last
named died in infancy.  Mrs Downey died September 5, 1874.  
    John Downey remained a widower two years when he married Mrs Jane Sutton
with whom he still lives.  He is a republican in politics, was elected
commissioner of Fayette county in 1884, discharged the duties of the
office very acceptably to the people.  He is a member of the Order of
Ancient York Masons and a charter member of Gallatin Lodge 517, I O  O F,
he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Smithfield, and
adorns his profession by a correct and orderly life.  He is well informed
on the current topics of the day, has accumulated considerable property,
is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, lives comfortably and enjoys
the society of his friends and neighbors.  Ten years ago he commenced in
addition to his other business, the sale of all kinds of agricultural
implements, has a large and commodious salesroom, and supplies an
extensive trade.  

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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