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- DOWNARD, William--The oldest resident of the city of Marengo, wasbornJune 3, 1808, at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, thirty-six milesfromLondon bridge. He was the son of Henry and Sarah Downard. Hisfather wasa carpenter and filled many large contracts in building atTunbridgeWells and the adjacent country, and died in 1856. His motherdied in1858. At sixteen years of age young William was bound to JohnYoung tolearn the tailor's trade where he remained five years. He thenworked athis trade in Brighton, London, his native city and Hastings.He came withhis wife and children to the United States in 1843;passing throughAlbany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit he reachedChicago. While on theschooner across the great lakes they encountereda storm after leavingMackinaw and a whole week was consumed inendeavoring to pass the ManitouIslands, during which they lost alltheir sails and were obliged to throwoverboard all the deck cargo. Thecaptain, who was a religious man,thought the misfortunes encounteredin the storm were attributable tohaving left the port of Mackinaw onSunday night before twelve o'clock.Mr. Downard followed his trade oneyear on Lake Street, Chicago. On thefirst day of November, 1845,started from Chicago by private conveyanceto Johnson county, Iowa, andsettled on Old Man's Creek. There he lefthis family and clerked forGeorge Andrews in Iowa City for sometime. Inthe summer of 1847 hebrought a stock of goods to the old trading post,and commenced tradingwith the Indians, and the following year came toMarengo and commencedselling goods in his own log house which he hadconstructed while atthe trading post. This was the first store as alsothe first house onthe original town plat of Marengo. This was on thesecond street westof the public square. He lived on a farm seven mileswest of the townfrom 1853 to 1857. While here he was justice of thepeace andpostmaster. He removed to town and in the spring of 1861entered theUnion army. He saw much service in Missouri, Tennessee,Mississippi,Louisiana, Alabama, and other points in the Western army. Hewas in theUnion army nearly five years and served his adopted countrywell,holding several important positions there. He has since residedinMarengo where he has sustained the highest respect for his sterlingworthas a citizen. Their family consists of five sons and onedaughter. Theeldest son, William, was born in England and now lives inArizona. Thesecond, Edward, now living in Topeka, Kansas, where he hasbeen assistantSecretary of State for nine years. George, also born inEngland, is nowfarming in Kansas. John died in London when nearlythree years of age.Betsy was the fourth child, born in London, now thewife of JohnCartwright, of Audubon county. Stephen, born in London, isa printer inKansas. Albert, born in Chicago, now deputy postmaster atMarengo.Thomas, born at Marengo, died when one and half years old.Sarah, born inMarengo, died when one and a half years old. (p.521-2
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1808 - Yes, date unknown
