LEVI DOWNS
Among the prominent dry goods houses of Atlantic, there are none that deserve mention more than that of Levi Downs. In April, 1881, Mr. Downs purchased this business of S. M. Childs, and engaged in the trade which he still continues. In March, 1884, he removed to his present commodious quarters, formerly occupied by I. L. Cady. The salesroom is 24x85 feet in floor area, and is well filled with every description of dry goods, notions and gents' furnishing goods, the stock being complete in every particular. Mr. Downs carries, at nearly all times, about $l5,000 to $20,000 in stock, and has a large share of those patrons who look for bargains.
Levi Downs is a native of Sullivan county, New York, and was born on the 24th day of October, 1840, his parents being Sigmund and Mary Sophia (Howell) Downs. Mr. Downs, Sr., is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-six years, and carries on farming and dairying, which he has followed for many years. His wife died in the fall of 1880. He is a staunch Democrat in politics. Levi was reared on a farm, and received a common school education, but finished at the Monticello academy, after which he taught school for several winters. In 1857 he left home, and went to Knox county, Illinois, locating in Galesburg, where he embarked in the grocery business. In December, 1863, he was married to Laura Bassett, a school-mate, who is the daughter of Samuel Bassett, of Sullivan county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are the parents of four children - Pluma, Arthur L., Katie V. and Birdie. Mr. Downs was engaged in a grocery store in Attorna for a few years. He then returned to Galesburg, Illinois, where he formed a partnership with a gentleman named Olmsted, the firm name being Olmsted and Downs. His health failed him, and he went to Kansas, where he handled cattle for one and a half years. He then returned again to Galesburg, and was in the employ of O. T. Johnson for three years, at the expiration of which time he embarked with A. P. Johnson in the dry goods and banking business at Attorna. This partnership existed for three years, Mr. Downs selling his interest to Mr. Johnson. In 1872 he came to Cass county, and purchased 320 acres of land in Franklin township, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has the distinction of having brought the first full-blood Shorthorn into the township. In 1880 he traded his farm to S. M. Childs for a dry goods store in Atlantic, in which business he is still engaged, having one of the leading dry goods houses in the city. He owns 360 acres of land in Audubon county, under cultivation, and which is valued at $10,000.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 857-858.
