Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Downer, Daniel November 27, 1820 - ????
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 6:18 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 163
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Daniel Downer.  One of the solid and substantial families of Fayette
county, distinguished for over a century for moral standing and business
ability, is the Downer family of Uniontown; and one of its highly
respected representative members is Daniel Downer, a gentleman of
stainless character, and a good lawyer of reputable standing at the
Uniontown bar.
    Daniel Downer was born in the house he now resides in, at Uniontown,
Fayette county, Penna, November 27, 1820, and is a son of Levi Downer and
Elizabeth Hall Downer.
    His great grandfather, Jacob Downer, was a native of Germany, where
he married Elizabeth Starner and in 1778 came to Lancaster county, Penna.
Two years later he removed to Fayette county; leaving his family here, he
went to seek a permanent home in Kentucky where it is supposed he was
killed by Indians, as he never returned or was heard of afterwards.  His
wife and family removed to Uniontown, where she lived to be 105 years of age.
    One of the sons, Jonathan Downer, was born in 1754 and died at seventy
nine years of age, a highly respected citizen of the county.  He erected
and successfully conducted a larger tannery, married Miss Drusilla
Springer and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom Levi Downer
was one, the father of Daniel Downer.
    The former (Levi Downer) was born November 11, 1788, reared at
Uniontown, and died there October 2, 1854.  He was a quiet, industrious,
and successful businessman, and one of the well and favorably known
citizens of his native town, where he successfully operated the
celebrated Downer Tannery.  He married Miss Elizabeth Hall.  Her father,
Hugh Hall, was a native of Berkeley Springs, Virginia, and owned and
resided on the Rankin farm in North Union township near Uniontown
previous to 1812.
    Mr and Mrs Downer reared one of the most remarkable families in the
history of the county.  Ten children were born; none died under fifty
years of age; all lived honorable, upright lives; and none of them were
ever married.
    Daniel Downer, Carolina A Downer and Eliza M Downer reside at Uniontown.
    Major James P Downer served under Scott in Mexico, and was a commissioned
officer of a Kansas regiment for four years during the late war, served
two terms in the state legislature, and now resides in Colorado.  David
Downer resides in Colorado, and has been editor or proprietor of over
thirteen newspapers.  J Allen Downer died at Uniontown, July 24, 1882.
William H Downer died at Uniontown, May 12, 1885.  Lieutenant George W
Downer served through the Civil War and was drowned at Brookville, Penna,
September 21, 1885.  Dr Hugh H Downer of California died at Uniontown in
1888, and Jacob Downer, a Uniontown merchant, died February 22, 1888.  Mrs
Downer, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born February 24, 1792, and died
April 5, 1868.
    Daniel Downer was reared at Uniontown, attended Madison College, and
was so well prepared for college that on entering Jefferson College in 1839,
he was immediately promoted to the sophomore class, and was graduated
from this renowned old institution of learning in 1842.  While at
Jefferson he was a member of the celebrated Philo Literary Society and
was one of its most enthusiastic members.
    He read law with Judge John Dawson (then a prominent attorney of the
Fayette county bar) and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts
of Fayette county, September 2, 1845.  Immediately after admission to the
bar, he opened an office at Uniontown, and has continued successfully in
the practice of law up to the present time-a period of over forty years.
    Daniel Downer is attentive to all business matters entrusted to his
care, and is always prompt in having them receive proper attention.  His
clients' interest are his own, and are carefully looked after while he is
in charge.  He is a careful, learned and successful lawyer, and has
enjoyed a large and remunerative practice.  For the past two years,
however, he has virtually retired from active practice.  He is not, and
never was, a politician always preferring to give attention to the duties
of his profession rather than to enter the field of politics.
    He is a gentleman of pleasing manner, strict integrity and
unquestionable business ability, and enjoys the confidence and respect of
the whole public and of his numerous acquaintances.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 5.0 Kb