A Downing

DOWNING

Posted By: Tina Keister (email)
Date: 1/14/2006 at 16:11:29

A Downing, editor; was born in Carroll county ,Illinois, March 11, 1838; in 1852 removed to Bureau county, same State, and there engaged in Business, which he followed till 1861, when he enlisted; he was promoted to the office of first lieutenant and served for over three years; during his military career he was with his regiment in various parts of Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee, and took part in many of the arduous campaings and hotly contested battles of that region, he was present at the first sale of lots at Boone Station, purchasing at that time the lot on Story street, where he soon after erected a two-story frame building; this was the first business house erected in Boone ,and the grocery store which he opened during the same season was the first business enterprise of the place; earning in the year 1866 a post office was established at Boone and Mr Downing was appointed postmaster, the office being lacated in his building; in 1869, his term of office expired, and after the lapse of eight years he was again appointed postmaster, which office he holds at the present time; beside the office of postmaster Mr Dowing has filled two other offices since coming to Boone couty, that of county treasurer and mayor of the city of Boone in 1872 he became connected with the Boone county Republican by purchasing a half interest in the enterprising journal, since his connection with the "Republican" that journal has rapidly grown in ability and importance, and it is as a newspaper man that Mr Downing is widely and favorably known throughout the State; he was married in 1861 to Miss Mattie J Gibson, who is a native of Ohio, they ahve one child: Sumner.

From the 1880 Boone co History Book

Boone Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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