Biographical Sketch of Alexander T. Downing, De Kalb County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888,
				Goodspeed Publishing Company

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Alexander T. Downing, a physician of Adams Township, was born in 
Harrison County, KY., on February 19, 1815.  He is the son of Alex-
ander and Mary (Bracken) Downing, both natives of Pennsylvania, the
former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of German-English descent.  Soon
after their marriage in Pittsburgh, Penn., they came to Kentucky, where
the mother died in 1824.  In 1826 the father broke up housekeeping, and
accepted a position in the surveying department of the United States, a
business he continued for a number of years.  Before this he has been 
engaged in the mercantile business in Kentucky.  He was appointed 
surveyor-general by President Harrison or Tyler, and did a great deal 
of work in Missouri.  He was a fine mathematician, and was widely known
in the West.  He died in Vicksburg, Miss.  He and wife were both members
of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a ruling elder for a number
of years.  Alexander T. was the second of five children, four sons and
one daughter.  His education, begun in Kentucky, was finished at Bloom-
ington College, Ind., from which he graduated in 1835.  He taught school
for several years, during which time he read medicine.  He graduated in
the medical department of the Transylvania College, Lexington, KY., in
1842, after which he returned to his native county, and practiced and
practiced his profession at Cynthiana up to 1849.  He then came to 
Missouri, and was soon living where he now resides, being one of the 
first settlers of this township.  He continued actively in the practice
of his profession until a few years ago, when he virtually retired.  He
is an extensive farmer, and since 1856 he has been a breeder of Durham
cattle.  He has been twice married: first in 1848 at Warsaw, KY., to
Miss Margaret Conrad.  She died May 28, 1851, having borne one son and
one daughter, of whom the daughter is living.  She was a member of the
Methodist Church.  He was next married to Miss Mary E. Owen, who was
born in White County, TN.  Six children have blessed this union, three
sons and three daughters.  Politically, Dr. Downing is a Democrat.  He
has been judge of De Kalb County Court.  He and wife are members of the
Christian Church.

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