Alexander G. Downing

DOWNING, STANTON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 3/21/2017 at 10:48:13

19 May 1932 - The Tipton Advertiser

Alexander G. Downing, 89, pioneer Iowan and a life member of the Drake University board of trustees, died early Tuesday at the home of Mrs. Emma Prather, 1122 Twenty-sixth street.

Mr. Downing was widely known in Drake University circles. With his wife, Mary A. Downing, who died several years ago, he established two annual scholarships for Drake students.

Mr. and Mrs. Downing also endowed a medical chair at Drake for which they gave $25,000. Later they gave $5,000 for a medical library. When the school of medicine was discontinued at Drake in 1913 the money was transferred to the school's general endowment fund.

Among other gifts, Mr. and Mrs. Downing made to the school are a collection of history books for the library, the campus flag pole and a flag fund.

Mr. Downing had been ill at Mrs. Prather's home since early in January. He was a Civil War veteran and had been an active member of University Church of Christ for many years.

Born in a log cabin in Bloomfield, Ind., Mr. Downing came to Iowa with his father in May, 1854. The trip was made with horses and oxen. Mr. Downing, then 1 12-year-old boy drove a herd of cows on the trip which took 22 days.

The family settled near Tipton, Ia., where Mr. Downing's father had purchased land. An old stage road from Davenport to Cedar Rapids crossed the Downing farm. It later was abandoned when the first railroad engine having been brought across the Mississippi River on the ice piece by piece, was assembled in Davenport.

During 1860 Mr. Downing observed keen political excitement as prairie settlers discussed the attitude of the south and the advantages and disadvantages of slavery.

He joined the disciples of Christ Church in 1860.

When his father had finished harvesting in 1861 Mr. Downing enlisted in the Civil War. He participated in its battles and skirmishes and was mustered out in July 1865. On his return he farmed for six months and then bought an interest in a general store in Lowden, Ia.

He returned to farming in 1867 and that year married Miss Mary F. Stanton. Mr. and Mrs. Downing built a house in 1878 in York Prairie, two miles north of Bennett, Ia. He farmed there for 17 years, during which he built one of the largest barns in Cedar County at that time.

Because of ill health he moved to Colfax, Ia. He remained there until he came to Des Moines March 1, 1887.

He was the author of "Downing's Civil War Diary", edited by Prof. Olynthus B. Clark, Drake University professor of history and published in Des Moines in 1916.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at University Church of Christ. Burial was in Glendale cemetery. No immediate relative survives. -- Des Moines Register.