Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Downs, David September 9, 1812 - ????
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 6:25 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 492
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    David Downs, one of the old and highly respected citizens of New Geneva,
was born in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna, September 9, 1812,
and is a son of Jonathan Downs and Mary Miller Downs.  
    Jonathan Downs was a son of Jeremiah Downs, an early settler and
well-to-do farmer of Redstone township.  Jonathan Downs was reared and
educated in his native township, where he purchased a farm of 150 acres
of desirable land and worked at his trade of a carpenter.
    He married Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Peter Miller, a farmer and
early settler of Redstone township.  They had ten children: Lucinda Downs,
David Downs, Margaret Downs (dead), Joseph M Downs, Alexander C Downs,
William B Downs, Jonathan Downs, Caleb B Downs, Isaac N Downs, and Mary
Downs.  Mr Downs was a whig, an exemplary citizen and a worthy member of
the Baptist church.  He died September 3, 1844, and was buried at
Uniontown.  
    David Downs was reared on a farm, educated in the subscription schools
and learned the trade of carpenter.  In 1836 he located at Brownsville in
the manufacture of threshing machines.  Two years later he removed to New
Geneva, purchased a lot, erected a dwelling house, and continued in the
threshing machine business until 1863, when he in company with Mr James
Davenport, a very respectable merchant of New Geneva, bought the Mellier
Flouring Mill in that year, and operated it with his other business until
1885 when the partnership was dissolved.
    On December 21, 1836, he married Miss Anna Harford, who died August 15,
1844.  His second wife was Miss Sarah Campbell, to whom he was married
November 2, 1845.  She died September 9, 1850, leaving two children: Anna
Downs, wife of Mathias Hartley, now living in Illinois; Caroline Downs
(now dead).  
    He was married March 18, 1852, to Miss Ellen Thompson, and to this third
union were born two children: Mary Downs, wife of John A Simpson, DD of
Washington, Penna; and Ashabel F Downs, an attorney at law and treasurer
of Fayette county.  Mrs Downs died September 6, 1855, and he was remarried
April 16, 1862, to Miss Mary A Way, daughter of Mr Gideon, an early
settler of this county, who died in 1866 in his eightieth year.
    David Downs has been over fifty years a prudent, economical,
straightforward, and successful business man.  He was a member of the Sons
of Temperance, and is a republican.  He is a substantial member of the
Baptist church at Greensboro, Greene county, Penna, of which is wife is
also a member.  Mr Downs has lately retired from the cares of active
business life.  He stands high, wherever known, as an honest business man
and a Christian gentleman.  

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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