Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Downs, Ashbel Fairchild September 7, 1854 - ????
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 6:23 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 164
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Ashbel Fairchild Downs, an active young attorney of the Uniontown bar
and at present the efficient treasurer of Fayette county, was born at New
Geneva, Fayette county, Penna, September 7, 1854, and is a son of David
Downs, whose biography appears in this volume.  His mother's maiden name
was Eleanor Thompson, born in County Down, Ireland.
    A F Downs attended the public schools of his native county, and at the
age of seventeen years he entered the State university of West Virginia
at Morgantown, and was a student there for three years.   While at college
he displayed marked ability in literature and oratory, taking three
prizes, the last of which was the Regents' prize for the best declaimer.
Afterward he taught several school terms and in 1876 he entered the
Philadelphia school of elocution and oratory, and was graduated from
there with class honors in 1877.  (It may be well to remember that this is
the only chartered school of its kind in the United States.) He has given
many readings from Shakespeare and other poets, and has taken high rank
as a recitationist.  The late professor J  W Shoemaker has over his own
signature, spoken in most unbounded praise of Mr Downs' talent as a
delineator of the passions.
    A F Downs became a student at law in the office of the Honorable C E
Boyle, and was admitted to the bar of Fayette county in August, 1880, and
has been successfully practicing in the courts of the county much of the
time ever since.
    A F Downs has always adhered to the long established doctrines and
principles of the democratic party, and has been most active and zealous
in the support of that organization, particularly in the way of public
address, having earned the deserved reputation of being one of the best
political speakers in Western Pennsylvania.
    He showed exceptional moral courage during the great coke strike of 1886,
boldly taking the platform and presenting through the region the
grievances and demands of the strikers, while other, with calculating
shrewdness, were watching the direction of the wind.  And he is credited
with having done more to achieve the victory won by the workingmen than
any other one man, and when the passions of the hour had subsided, his
moderation and fairness and his great influence in preventing disorder
were greatly acknowledged.
    In 1886 Mr Downs received 2,171 votes at the democratic primaries for the
nomination of district attorney, receiving next to the highest vote.  The
nomination to the same office at the next election was conceded to him,
but he became the candidate on the regular Democratic ticket in 1887 for
county treasurer, and was elected in a hotly contested campaign, in which
most of the candidates on the same ticket were defeated.  He has executed
the duties of his office with all fidelity to the State and county,
enforcing claims due in a way that to some seems severe, but which was
demanded by his oath of office.
    In obedience to that oath, Mr Downs knows no fear, favor, sect or party,
and those of a domineering, dictatorial, scheming or greedy spirit have
found him a rock in their pathway.  They have at times vented their spleen
and disappointment in harsh criticism, but have not injured him among
honest and right thinking men.
    He displayed a talent for literary work early in life, which he has since
cultivated, and at one time was offered a place in the list of lecturers
in a leading lyceum bureau.  His forthcoming book entitled "Heroes and
Heroic Deeds or Uncrowned Kings," now in the hands of his publishers, the
Franklin Printing Company of Philadelphia, will in addition to a new
matter, include some of her former productions: Notably his "Robert
Emmet," which has been highly recommended by such men as the Hon James G
Blaine and the Hon Chauncey Black.
    Mr Downs is a married man whose family consists of a wife and two boys.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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