USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
منتـ
1
-
1
ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
OF THE
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY
A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation
ILLUSTRATED
"Ry universal consent biography is the most fascinating form of literature, its charm growing out of the fact that it is the story of life. The books that have ushered in new epochs for society have generally been biographies." -- REV. NEWELL DWIGHT HILLIS.
VOLUME II.
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO 1904
1782360
JF. Downing
tung
HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
JEROME FRANCIS DOWNING.
The name of "Erie" is replete with ass ciations which recall to every patriotic American a flood of historic recollections. It is con- nected with a great lake, a great railroad. a great canal and a great naval victory. In addition to this it is the designation of a large and prosperous city of northwestern Pennsylvania, which boasts the finest harbor on the chain of great lakes, the burial place of Anthony Wayne. and a history which touches some of the most interesting points of the pioneer period To this thriving and historic town the reader is invited for the purpose of making the acquaintance of one of its most dis- tinguished and enterprising citizens, whose career it is the intention to unfold in the accompanying biography.
The Downing family, long so well known in Pennsylvania, origin- ated in that celebrated commonwealth which has been happily described as the mother of states and statesmen. James Downing, father of the prominent Pennsylvanian with whose affairs we are herein dealing, was born in Boston in 1775. After his marriage he settled in what was then Roxbury, but which by annexation in 1867 became a suburban addition to the adjacent city. A few years later he removed to Hamp- shire county and located in the town of Enfield on a farm, which, after the lapse of over a hundred years, is still in possession of one of his descendants. On this homestead most of his twelve children, consisting
33
546
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE. ILOGY
of eight sons and four daughters, were born, and the youngest of these is the subject of this sketch.
The birth of Jerome Francis Downing occurred in the locality above mentioned on the 24th of March. 1827. His youthful training was of the kind which, in thousands of cases, has been proved the best for young men, and consisted principally of hard and steady work, either on the farm or in some one of the factories or machine shops then established in the neighborhood. In addition to the valuable lesson derived from this Spartan discipline it had the added advantage of en- abling him to lay up some surplus money from his wages, which was utilized to pay his way for a term or two at Amherst College. Ile en- tered the freshman class in 1848, and two years later we find him in- stalled as editor of a newspaper in Holyoke, Massachusetts. From this novitiate in the journalistic world he soon obtained promotion to the chief editorship of the Troy ( New York) Daily Post, which responsible position he retained for some time, and acquitted himself of its duties very creditably for one so young. His dominant ambition, however, was to become a lawyer, and after considerable preliminary study he readily obtained admission to the bar and settled at Erie. Pennsylvania. in the fall of 1855. That he succeeded in the practice as well as in mak- ing a good impression on the public is evidenced by the fact that in 1863, or seven years after his advent, he was elected district attorney of the county.
The fates, however, had other plans for the legal neophyte, and he was destined to find a quite different field for the display of his natural ability than that offered in the courts. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune: neglected, all the current of our lives is bounded in shallows and in miseries." This fateful opportunity was presented to young Downing. he was wise
547
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIAI.
enough to grasp it promptly, and in time was carried on the flood-tide to that fortune foretold by the great poet. His opportunity took the shape of a business offer of great value when presented. but full of promise, if wisely used. of much greater value in the future. The old Insurance Company of North America, whose headquarters were in Philadelphia, and then as now one of the strongest and best known in the country, was looking for an agent especially suited to do certain work of importance which the managers had mapped out. They were anxious to extend the company's operations into the western states and selected Mr. Downing as their general agent for that entire section. lle was at first somewhat abashed by the unexpectedness of the proffer, as well as the magnitude of the responsibilities involved, but after mature consideration decided to accept.
This important event in his career occurred in 1864. and from that time until the present, a period of nearly forty years, he has retained this highly responsible trust. The long tenure with such a company as the "Old North America" speaks for itself as to his qualifications for the place and the ability displayed in discharging his duties. Ilis depart- ment embraces the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky. Ten- nessee, Illinois, Wisconsin. Minnesota, North and South Dakota, lowa. Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and the territories of Oklahoma and New Mexico. In this vast field of operations over four thousand agencies have been established, all under the direct control of Mr. Downing, and managed from his headquarters at Erie. The busi- ness is organized with an elaborateness and thoroughness of discipline equal to that of the best appointed army. The large force of experienced assistants required. both in the office and the field. ask and receive in- structions from Mr. Downing, and these are always forthcoming with a promptness and clearness that bespeaks the resourceful commanding
548
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE.ILOGY
officer. Experts say that no department office of any of our most prom- inent underwriting institutions has been conducted with more skill and business acumen than that presided over by Mr. Downing. His office in Erie is one of the best equipped and most conveniently furnished of any of its kind in the United States, its orderly arrangement furnish- ing additional testimony to the organizing ability of the presiding genius.
Perhaps the key to Mr. Downing's great personal success and the resultant increase in his company's business is found in his just and hon- orable dealings with all his patrons in the settlement of losses and re- markable facility for making friends of those with whom business brings him in contact. This savoir-faire, as the French would call it, or quick appreciation of what circumstances require, in other words the possession of that invaluable quality termed "tact." has undoubtedly proved a prime factor in both the personal and official success obtained by Mr. Downing. Fire underwriting is a science, and this science Mr. Down- ing has thoroughly mastered in all its intricate details, while at the same time fully comprehending the broad principles which constitute the foundation of insurance in general.
But aside from his life work Mr. Downing has found time to dis- play many valuable traits as a citizen in various lines. Public improve- ments at Erie have found no firmer friend or more generous contributor. It is often remarked that a man should show his good will "by deeds, not words." It is a characteristic of Mr. Downing that he uses both these agencies with force to push forward the interests of his community. He talks well, as well as acts promptly, in their behalf. Examples of his public spirit are abundant, but it is only necessary to specifically mention a few.
To him the city owes its largest and finest business building, in fact the first erected in Erie which contained all the modern improvements
549
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
and conveniences. It is a massive structure, eighty-two and a half by one hundred and sixty-five feet on the ground and six stories high, ex- clusive of basement, the heavy exterior walls being faced with the finest quality of pressed dark-red brick. The entire building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity as well as gas.
The establishment of "Glenwood Park," adjoining the city on the south, owed its inception to Mr. Downing, and since its inauguration he has been its most liberal supporter. It was his urgency and personal advocacy that gave the chief impetus to the movement for securing the grounds and inspired others with his own enthusiasm for the completion of the great undertaking. He has invested liberally in manufacturing enterprises and in the erection of a large number of fine dwelling houses for the accommodation of such as do not own their own homes.
But his activities for the general good extend into many other channels besides that coming strictly under the head of business. While serving as a school director and member of the city council, he displayed at every turn his rare talent for organization and promotion. He did more than his share of the public duties and bore more than his propor- tion of civic responsibilities. Nor can the value of his personal influence in the direction of progress and improvement, whether in or out of office, be overestimated. Had he been called to higher legislative spheres. there can be little doubt that he would have exhibited constructive states- manship of a rare kind, but he has never exhibited any desire for office. and, indeed, has shown a positive aversion to office-seeking. Like the true philanthropist, though he gave liberally to all worthy causes and deserving persons, he always did so quietly and umostentatiously, pre- ferring that his left hand should not know what his right hand doeth,
Like many other busy intellectual men Mr. Downing has shown a marked tendency to find relief from business cares by retouching Mother
550
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE.ILOGY
Earth and communing face to face with nature. This yearning has found expression in the ownership of a farm near Erie, which he visits frequently for relaxation and rest, and by the superintendence of its op- erations recalls the fond recollections of his byhood home. But this is by no means his only farm property. He carries on two wheat farms in North Dakota, one of four thousand and one of five thousand acres. all under cultivation. Though the management of these vast estates is not undertaken in person by the owner, he looks closely after their opera- tions and keeps in close touch with the experienced superintendents to whom he has confided the immediate direction of affairs. The master hand is always at the helm, the principal engineer is ever at the throttle. He touches the button: the agents do the rest. One valuable result of Mr. Downing's efforts in this direction has been its proof that judicious and scientific farming will pay. Another is the encouragement it gives to the young to seek gratification of their ambition and an outlet for their energies in agricultural pursuits, which ever were and always will be the mainstay of the nation.
The foregoing view of the sterner features of Mr. Downing's career would be incomplete without a glimpse of his softer side, of his home life and above all the endearing relations so long existing between himself and the wife of his bosom. The writer of the present memoirs, feeling some delicacy in approaching this subject, prefers to allow another and an intimate friend to draw aside the curtain and present in person the mistress of the home. The writer of a sketch of Mr. Downing, pub- lished in the "History of Erie County," has this to say. "This home, attractive as it is, it is but just to say, owes much of its real charm to the wife who has for so many years been its loving center and directing spirit. Although the devoted mother of seven children, Mrs. Downing. aside from her domestic obligations, has found time to administer to
551
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANLL.
the needs of the unfortunate and make their pathway in life brighter and happier, exemplifying the truth that it is a duty to make our lives a blessing to others, as well as to ourselves. Mrs. Downing's early home was in western Massachusetts, in the town of Worthington, where she was born in 1830. She is a lady of culture, of much natural artistic talent, a great admirer of the beauties of nature and fond of travel. having seen much of the old world as well as the new." Mrs. Downing departed for the "better land" a few months after the celebration of her golden wedding anniversary in 19oo, and it will be appropriate here to add the tribute to herself and husband from the pen of one of Erie's most respected and cultured citizens-a compeer of a third of a century- which was also published, before her death, in the history above men- tioned : "Coming from the hills of New England with a community of thought, of needs and of hopes, their efforts, their toils and trials have been mutual. As the way was opened and their position in life became secure, cach advance found both equal to all the requisites which their surroundings imposed. Whether in the church or state, at home or abroad, in the whirl of society or in the graver exactions of organized effort for the alleviation of misery or mitigation of distress, their means, their influence and their time could be counted upon as a factor, to all such calls a deaf car was never turned. And now, in the serenity of a fully rounded career each can review with a complacency unalloyed with selfishness the full fruition of their early hopes, the complete accom- plishment of each one of their noble aspirations."
Mr. and Mrs. Downing were long members of the First Presby- terian church and liberal supporters of all its religious werk, as well as of the charitable and benevolent enterprises connected therewith. In politics Mr. Downing was first a Whig and later by natural inheritance a Republican, but while firm and earnest, he is also conservative in his
552 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE. ILOGY
political views, never indulging in ultra partisanism or holding extreme views on any public question.,
But there is still another and not the least interesting side to Mr. Downing's character. We are now to view him from a literary stand- point and tell something of his achievements and services as a public speaker, especially as the deliverer of addresses upon set occasions. If anything were wanting to show the versatility and many-sidedness of this remarkable man, it will be supplied by this feature. The literary taste is seldom markedly developed in the strictly business character. and certainly it is rare to see a man whose mental and physical energies have for decades been absorbed by exacting business cares not only passionately fond of the higher literature but a devotee of the muses in the best sense and an ardent lover of the fine arts. Such a man is Jerome F. Downing. His services have been in eager demand for years as speaker on various important occasions-for addresses before socie- 'ties, literary and artistic clubs, to young men, and especially at public celebrations of an imposing nature. Mr. Downing has great facility in composition and equal readiness in delivery. His published addresses are models of style. Good taste, good sense, sound judgment, clear appre- hension, capacity to grasp great principles, wide familiarity with history both national and general, amplitude of comprehension, interspersed with occasional and easy flights of eloquence growing naturally out of the sub- ject-these are some of the many beauties found in the orations of Mr. Downing. His style is, indeed, admirable, and may be studied to ad- vantage by all who are ambitious to excel in forensic oratory.
Space will not permit of extended quotations. but a few excerpts from two or three of his principal orations will prove acceptable here. while demonstrating the truth: fulness of the foregoing complimentary criticism. On the occasion of the celebration of "Columbus Day" at
4
553
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Erie, in 1892, Mr. Downing was one of the four speakers invited to de- liver brief addresses; the subjest assigned. to him being "The Develop- ment of Four Centuries"-a theme so comprehensive that suitable treat- ment, in the time allowed, was a very difficult task. But the speaker managed to say much of absorbing interest in a comparatively limited space. After a graphic portrayal of modern indebtedness to the Middle Ages, and calling attention to the fact that, while we justly glory in the achievements of the present age, we should not overlook what belongs to an earlier age: in other words, in taking an inventory of present possessions, the results of human effort. ingenuity and learning, we should not overlook the stock on hand at the beginning of the four centuries under consideration-that the accomplishments of a prior period had their influence in hastening on the more illustrious epoch in which we are privileged to live-Mr. Downing went on to briefly contrast the present with the past, as follows :
"In tracing the progress of modern civilization-the advancement in knowledge and the developments of the powers and resources of the human intellect-it is somewhat remarkable that so little was accom- plished during the century immediately succeeding the discovery of Am- erica. It is true that there was a great intellectual awakening-a mighty revolution in popular thought, which had long been the slave of dogma and superstitious faith which still held to the belief or doctrine that the earth was not a sphere but a great level expanse: but the period of rapid advance in science and sound learning was reserved for a later period. Following the discovery of America the attention of the European nations, when not engaged in wars, was directed almost exclusively to the prosecution of discoveries in the new and unexplored regions of the world and laying the foundations of new empires. . \ great impetus was given to navigation and improvements in ship-building: but that was
554
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE. ILOGY
about all. It was more than one hundred years before the first telescope was invented : and that long before the demonstration by Harvey of the circulation of the blood. Vaccination was introduced by Jenner as late as 1798: and galvanism or voltaic electricity was made known about the same time. But it is during the last threescore years and ten-the psalmist's limit of a single lifetime-that such bewildering changes have taken place, that it seems almost impossible to believe that we have not reached the 'Ultima Thule' of invention-the end of wonders in utilizing the forces of nature for the benefit of the race. Consider the wonders wrought by steam. There are many persons living who can recall the time when a stage coach was the only mode of conveyance by land and a sailing vessel at sea. And compare the ride and cumbersome locomo- tive of Stephenson with the magnificent iron horse of to-day: the cranky little paddle-boat of Fulton with the gorgeous and fast running modern steamship and the mighty engines of war used to compel nations to be polite to each other. Within the span of a single life steam has multiplied a million-fold our possibilities in all the ways in which mechanical force is required. But we cannot dwell upon it; and its glories may be of the past. Electricity has now come to the front, and in many ways steam has to take a back seat. Truly may we exclaim: 'What hath God wrought " Electricity-that flashing, dazzling thunderbolt of Jove-has been harnessed and made to subserve the needs of man as a powerful agent to move the wheels of industry; to propel our street- cars : to greatly improve the safeguards of navigation by making more plain to the mariner the dangers of our coasts: to dispel the night from our homes, our streets, our places of business and resorts of pleasure ; to act as our swift messenger for the conveyance of thought and assist in the easy and rapid transaction of business: to convey the dispatches of diplomacy, bringing nations, as well as individuals, face to face.
555
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
and hastening the time when all people of the earth shall become as one common brotherhood."
The concluding portion of this address, spoken in 1892, will im- press the reader as having special application to the conditions in 1903. when so much is being said respecting the right of labor and capital :
"As for the discoveries, inventions, and general progress of the coming generations, it is useless for us to speculate. There are some few things, however, which we all ought to pray and work for. It will be unfortunate if the future progress of our race and country shall consist only in the discovery and appropriation of new forces in nature : new and useful things in science; new appliances in the line of our conveniences and personal comfort : a more general education and in- creased popular intelligence : and further advance in all the arts of a high civilization-if, with these good and desirable things, there shall not come also an improvement in the condition of society generally. Improvements in machinery, especially labor-saving machinery. cannot be of general benefit unless it serves to lessen the hours of human toil. Increased intelligence and the better general education of the masses should be attended by better modes of living and a more felicitous home life. Capital and labor should and must 'get together and agree upon some scheme based upon mutual confidence and respect and an intelli- gent understanding of the rights of each, to the end that the wages of toil and the rightful recompense of capital may not be frittered away in strikes and lockouts. Where every citizen is a free man, with equal political and civil rights, regardless of birthplace. color, or previous condition-a state which we have but recently reached in the 'land of the free and home of the brave'-there must, there will be, such amelior- ation in the situation of the so-called 'laboring classes' as to make life less and less a burden and more of a benediction. Less political wran-
556
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
gling and thirst for public office : less unreasoning and unreasonable party spirit : more tolerance still in matters of religion : more unity of purpose and action in all things concerning the weal of the people .- will each and all largely contribute toward the bringing in of that day when the human race shall have attained to the highest possibilities vouchsafed by the Great Creator when he looked first upon man, his creature, and pronounced his work good. In the furtherance of this object let us feel our own personal responsibility as we step upon the threshold of the fifth century after Columbus."
Another notable utterance of Mr. Downing was his address on the occasion of the dedication of the Erie Public Library, February 16, 1899, in the establishment of which he had taken a special interest. as is evidenced by the fact that he has been the president of the Board of Trustees from the first until now ( 1903). An important truth is enunciated in this brief extract : "The Public Library in America is coming to be recognized everywhere as the essential complement of the schools. Its great educational value is not only manifest in the case of the young during their school years or period of childhood, but it serves to stimulate a thirst for knowledge on the part of the entire community. It raises the standard of general intelligence, and we must not forget that a free government like ours cannot permanently endure unless the masses of the people are properly educated. King Solomon says "A man of knowledge increaseth strength: a truth which Lord Bacon ex- presses in the phrase, 'Knowledge is power.' "
The following remarks on public libraries as a part of our educa- tional system are wise and statesmanlike: "Our system of free schools no longer needs to be defended against assaults from any quarter; and yet there are some features of that system, as we find it at the present time, which did not receive general support in the carly part, or so late
557
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIAI.
as the middle, of the nineteenth century. Our present ideas of popular education are the result of gradual growth and development. What once was deemed unnecessary or impossible we now approve and de- mand. The result is that in all our cities and larger towns we find facilities provided in the public schools for an educaton which a few years ago only the best equipped academies could furnish. In this process of development it would be wrong to say that the public library has been overlooked or forgotten at any time. The wise men and states- men of former generations urged its employment as an important means of promoting education and the more general diffusion of knowledge wherever practicable: but it has been held back in large portions of our country partly because of a lack of knowledge as to how to make it a success and partly because of the indifference of the people. So far as we are concerned these objections cannot now be said to exist. We are prepared to look upon the public library as a necessary adjunct in the work of education, and not only in our colleges and higher institutions of learning but also in our public schools-the colleges of the plain people.' In this it cannot be said that we have made a new discovery : we are simply carrying out the views of those to whom we ascribe the credit of laying so broad and deep the foundations of our civil govern- ment "
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.