James Downey (1910)

DOWNEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/22/2020 at 07:39:32

The Stuart Herald
Stuart, Iowa
October 21, 1910
Page 7, Column 3

DEATH OF JAMES DOWNEY

Dexter Loses an Old and Respected Citizen, a Man Loyal to His Town. Helpful to the Community

James S. Downey of Dexter was found dead in his bed at five o’clock Saturday morning. He was one of the oldest as well as most loyal and helpful men of the town. He had been in failing health for several years but his death was no doubt hastened by his grief over the death of a much loved daughter about six weeks ago.

From an article in Sunday morning’s Register and Leader, written by Mr. C. C. Pugh, who was a long time friend of the deceased, we take the following words of sincere praise.

James S. Downey was a noble man, loyal to friends forever and one who devoted his life to the family and to the community in which he lived for nearly forty years. He was active in politics, being the leader in that community for the past twenty to twenty-five years and I that capacity he became most closely associated with Hon, E. H. Conger, their relationship being like that of brothers. Major Conger used to say that his closest friend in all the world of politics was Mr. Downey.

James S. Downey lived earnestly. He loved his family most devotedly and gave them of his very life most liberally. His affection was touching and the loss of the daughter a few weeks ago crushed his life and so nearly broke his heart that it seemed he could not recover. Only last Saturday in giving a photograph of her to the writer he said, “My heart lies buried with Vinnie out on the hillside”. The writer was so intimately associated with him for many years and there was such a bond of friendship, that it is hard to write of him with the thought of death having taken him away, to think of his going so suddenly and leaving the family with the double grief to bear.