Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-31
EARLY SETTLER DIES
HON. $. B. DOWNING, PIONEER OF
DAVIS COUNTY. PASSES TO
- HIS REWARD. 4
Was Born in Pennsylvania in 1925 and
Removed to Iowa With His Parents
in 1s37-Was in the Mexican War
/ 5our Times Assemblyman.

pour Times Assemblyman.
v
Bloomfield, Oct. -(Spec:aD =
Hon. S. B. Downing died at his home
IN Fox River township Tuesday night,
October 81, at the age of " years, s.
months and 2S days. Death was due
10 gradual failure of the vital pow
ers on account of age. His wife pre-
ceded him in death by only about one
Week. BY the death of Samuel b.
Downing, Davis county loses a prom
lnent citizen, Mr.. Downing having for
years been we'll known in religious,
financial and political life. While his
means for securing a liberal education
We're limited, yet by his native ability
ana strong common sense he placed
himSen among the foremost citizens of
the county.
Sketch of His Life.
Samuel Bell Downing was born in
VARIANCE county, Pennsylvania, Feb
ruary :, 1925. He was the son of Alex
ander end Elizabeth (Burns) Downing,
the father being of German-Irish de-
seem the mother being a native of
scotland. S. B. Downing came to Iowa
wlLh his parents in 1887, stopping a
Snort tine in Van Buren, county. The
parents selected home in "a section
~ Lie SOuiliS WHICH DIT TIE Time WAS
supposed to be a part of Missouri, but
when the dispute as to the boundary
line between Iowa and Missouri was
Sertled it was found that the Down
sng farm lay in Roscoe township, Da-
Wis county. Iowa. The family We're
tine nrst white people to settle in that
township. On April 80, 1S43 the FAM
lily removed to Fox River township,
and were also the first white settlers
VINO came into that township. Soon
after, the subject of this sketch Went
TO Missouri where he secured employ
nl3nt for a time on Il steamboat which
FLIED the waters of the Mississippi and
later he worked as ii farm hand. When
the Mexican war broke out Mr.. Down
ing and twelve friends enlisted in Com
pany e, Third Missouri Mound volun-
tcers. Oh the thirteen who enlisted
at this time, but two of them returned
from the war. namely S. b. Downing
and j. B. Paris.
Held Political Offices.
Mr.. Downing then returned to Fox
River township where, on July %, 1919,
he was united in marriage to Talitha
Stark. To this union twelve children
were born, all of whom survive him
Save one. In 1879 Mr.. Downing be-
came a greenbacker politically and
was the choice of his party for repre-
sentative to which Office he was elect
Nineteenth general assemblies, and
subsequently in the Twenty eighth
and Twenty ninth general assemblies.
In 1858 he united with the Christian
church and soon decided to preach the
gospel, which he did for many years.
Became Preacher.
During the winter OF 1864 he held a
) number oil revival meetings through
= out Davis county, securing a total of
Z sos converts TO the church. Mr. Down
ing was also frequent political,
speaker and participated in many re-
ligious and political debates, meeting
in these intellectual combats a num-
Der of men of considerable prominence.
He was also quite successful finan-
ciaily and by thrift and industry ac-
auired large landed interests in Fox
River township. 1t may truthfully be
said that his life was a useful and
honorable one.
Funeral Held Today.
The funeral services occurred this
morning at Drakeville in the church
at that place conducted by Rev. j. III.
z Reagan Of Des Moines. The remains
We're placed in the family vault at
Drakeviile.
Residence Burglarized.
The residence of Frank F'ite in Salt
Creek township WAS burglarized Tues
day evening. Entrance to the house
was gained through Il window. The
:. culprits secured about $50 in money
$40 of which was in a pocketbook and
was dropped just outside the window
through which the burglars made their
escape, and was found in the morn
ing by Mr.. Fite. The family We're all
at home.
Mr.. Fite had sold some calves and
hogs just a few days previously. On
account of the heavy frost upon the
ground the following morning Mr..
Fite was able to trace the parties for
more than a mile from his house,
where it appeared a buggy was in
waiting, but on account of travel along
the highway he was unable to follow
the buggy tracks. The parties went
south from his premises
Mr.. and Mrs. *. 7. Hotchkiss spent
wednesday in Ottumwa on bust
ness.
Rev. G. w. Wilson of Mt. Pleasant,
was a guest Wednesday at the home
of his sister, Mrs. A. Power.
Alonzo Hannas of Ashgrove trans
acted business Wednesday in Bloom
Other Bloomfield News.
The initial number of the lecture
course for the season of 10000, by
the Boston Ladies' Symphony orches-
ira, was given Tuesday evening at
the Methodist church. and was we'll at
tended. The various numbers on the
program We're highly appreciated by
the audience and the entertainment
was rare treat for lovers of mu-
sic.
S. H. Mains formerly of this place
but now of Burroalz, Kan, is visiting
relatives and friends in this county.
He accompanied his aged mother, who
is about 80 years of age, to Julina
McMains'.
Messrs S. A. Baughman and E. j
,Ausspurger of Pulaski, accompanied by
Misses May Baughman and Lora
Nusbaum attended the musical given
by the Boston Ladies' orchestra al
Methodist Episcopal church last
ng.
ETERAN CONDUCTOR DIES.
Den FreeI of Charlton Passes Ava,