Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Downer Family Biography

The Downer family so prominent in Fayette county for more than a century and a half, is now represented in this branch by Miss Caroline A. Downer, the only one living of the ten children of Levi Downer. As none of these ten ever married, Miss Downer is literally the "last of her race." Although she has passed the scriptural allotment of years, she is very active and intelligent, and so courteous, quiet and charming in manner that one loses all thought of her years and sees only the gracious, gentle lady. She resides in the old Downer home at No. 33 North Gallatin street. The family was founded in Fayette county by Jacob Downer, born in Germany, where he was educated, grew to manhood, and married Elizabeth Starner. In 1778 they came to Pennsylvania, locating in Lancaster county, remaining two years. They then started west, intending to settle in Ohio or Kentucky, but winter overtook them and they passed the winter in Fayette county. In the spring Jacob left his family in comfortable quarters and continued his search for a location. Some evil befell him, as he was never again heard from. After becoming convinced that her husband would not return, Mrs. Downer came to Uniontown where she saw her family grow up and prosper before her final summons came at the wonderful age of one hundred and five years.

(II) Jonathan, eldest son of Jacob Downer, came to Fayette county with his parents, and when his father failed to return became the head of the family and the strong arm on which his mother leaned. The family came to Uniontown, where Jonathan, who had learned the tanner's trade, established and operated a tannery. He finally sold out to his son Levi and retired to the eastern part of Fayette county, in the mountains, and there again established a tannery which he operated until his death. He was a man of strong character and fought well the battle of life. He married Drusilla, daughter of Levi Springer, one of the early settlers of Fayette county, Children: 1. Levi, of whom further, 2. David, died unmarried. 3. Jacob, died unmarried. 4. Hiram, served in the Mexican war, and died on the return home, 5. Ann, married Henry Beeson. 6. Rachel, married Isaac Johnson. 7. Ruth, died unmarried. 8. Sarah, died unmarried. 9. Elizabeth, married Jonathan Allen, 10. Drusilla, married Jonathan West.

(III) Levi, eldest son of Jonathan and Drusilla (Springer) Downer, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1788, died of apoplexy, October 2, 1854. He learned the tanner's trade with his father, and worked with him in the Uniontown tannery, later becoming its owner by purchase and continuing its operation until his sudden death at the age of sixty-six years. He was a man of high character and great industry. He was held in highest respect in his community, deserving and receiving the friendship of his neighbors.

He married Elizabeth Hall, born January 24, 1792, died October 5, 1868, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Butler) Hall, the latter connected with the Virginia Lees, and a relative of General Robert E. Lee, the great Confederate general. Hugh Hall was born near Hot Springs, Virginia, and became the owner of a large plantation and many slaves. He came to Fayette county in 1785 and purchased a large tract of land in North Union township, now partly the site of the Rankin farm. He then returned to Virginia and married the aristocratic Elizabeth Butler, also of a wealthy family. The young couple then came to the Fayette county farm, Mrs. Hall bringing with her, as part of her wedding dowry, ten negro slaves. As the laws of Pennsylvania did not permit slavery, eight of them were returned to Virginia. Two old men, Phincas and Thaney, who were very much attached to their mistress, were retained, set free, and remained as body servants, being well cared for as long as they lived. Mrs. Hall had been brought up in luxury and had no idea of even the simplest housewifely duties, but pioncer life and stern necessity developed her naturally good trails of character, and she became one of the noted housewives of the county. About 1800 Hugh Hall sold his Fayette county estates and moved with his family to Hamilton county, Ohio, where he invested largely in farm lands near Springfield. Here both Hugh and Elizabeth (Butler) Hall died.

Children of Levi and Elizabeth (Hall) Downer: 1. William H., born April 15, 1814, died of dropsy, May 12, 1885; after the death of his father, William H. and his brother Jonathan A. conducted the tannery in Uniontown. 2. Jonathan Allen, born January 7, 1816, died of apoplexy, October 2, 1882; he continued the operation of the Uniontown tannery from 1854 until his death. 3. James Paul, born February 7, 1818, died of bright's disease, April 5, 1893. He served in the Mexican war, rising to the rank of lieutenant; he was with Scott at Chapultepec, serving in Colonel Roberts ' regiment, and was one of the scaling party who placed the ladders against the walls and gained entrance to the city. The fall of Chapultepec opened an easy entrance to the city of Mexico and virtually ended the war. He removed to Kansas after the Mexican war, and when the war between the states broke out he enlisted and went to the front under command of his intimate friend General Lyon. He was wounded in the knee in battle, and rose to the rank of major before the war closed; after the war he was Indian agent to the Utes and became a large land owner of Kansas. 4. Hugh Hall, born April 5, 1819, died of paralysis, March 2, 1888. He settled in Iowa City, Iowa, and in 1849 joined the "gold seckers." making the trip to California overland by ox team. He later settled in San Jose, where he owned considerable real estate. He died in Uniontown. 5. Daniel, born November 27, 1820. He was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, studied law with Judge John Dawson, and practiced law in Uniontown for many years. He enlisted during the civil war as a private in the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Colonel Berrs, later was commissioned lieutenant in another regiment, serving until the close of the war. He returned to Uniontown, but did not again practice law. He purchased a farm, and thereafter devoted himself to agriculture, stock raising and dealing. 6. George W., born March 20, 1823, died by accidental drowning at Brookfield, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1885. 7. Eliza Melvin, born January 1, 1826, died. 8. Jacob, born January 8, 1829, died of dropsy, October 8, 1888. He was a merchant of Uniontown for a few years, then went west, joining his brother Daniel in Kansas. 9. David, born January 5, 1832, died of bright's disease April 9, 1911. He learned the printing trade, went west, and at various times edited and published four different newspapers in the states of Kansas, Colorado and California, 10. Caroline A., the only living member of this most remarkable family. They all lived to ages fifty-nine to seventy-nine; all were useful workers and successes in the various walks of life, and none ever married. So peculiar a record does not elsewhere exist in any other family, to the writer's knowledge, and one most interesting to preserve.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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