William J. Downey

DOWNEY, WELDON, COLEMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2015 at 23:58:08

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

William J. Downey, one of the successful and enterprising members of the Sioux City Live Stock Exchange, is a member of the well-known firm of Rice Brothers & Company. His career since coming to this city has been characterized by persistent and well-directed effort and the splendid prosperity which has come to him has been well merited. Born near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the 13th day of February, 1877, he is a son of William and Margaret (Weldon) Downey. His father was a native of Ireland, whence he came to Canada as a young man in his teens. He was employed several years as a farm hand and later engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he engaged in the hotel business at Erindale, Ontario, which commanded his attention to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, at the age of forty-four years. Mrs. Margaret Downey died when her son William was but two years old and his father was later married to Miss Alice Curtis, who is still living.

William J. Downey was educated in the public schools of Erindale and then took a commercial course in Wells’ Business College, graduating in bookkeeping. He then obtained a position in the office of one of the largest law firms in Toronto. Here his salary was small, but the experience he gained was valuable and had a great bearing on his future business success. Later he was made manager for a firm of cigar importers in Toronto and in 1898 he went with his stepmother to Omaha, Nebraska, to visit the World’s exposition. From there he came on to Sioux City, which made a favorable impression on him and he determined to stop here. On September 15, 1898, he began work in the Sioux City stock yards as assistant bookkeeper and stenographer for Becker & Degen, live stock broker, with which firm he remained about six months. He then went to work for the live stock firm of Ryan, Smith & Lacy, which was later succeeded by the Sioux City Live Stock Commission Company and those businesses, was in turn taken over in 1904 by the firm of Rice Brothers. Mr. Downey remained with this firm as manager for about ten years and was then made a member of the firm and placed in charge of the cattle department, in which capacity he is now serving. Mr. Downey served three years as president of the Sioux City Live Stock Exchange, as vice president for two years and for the past eight years as a member of the board of directors. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Interstate Fair, which is held annually in Sioux City.

On October 4, 1904, Mr. Downey was united in marriage to Miss Grace Coleman, of Sioux City, who died September 30, 1908, leaving a son, James Melvin. The son is an accomplished musician, and is also a well-known golf player; having played in state tournaments from the time he was fifteen years of age. Mr. Downey is a member of Sioux City Lodge No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of the Knights of Columbus and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He also belongs to the Sioux City Country Club and the Riverside Boat Club. He is a communicant of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic church. Personally he is friendly and cordial in his social relations, is widely known throughout this city and enjoys to a marked degree the respect of his business associates and the esteem of all who know him.