Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Downs, Arthur K. 1886 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 17, 2011, 12:04 am Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Page 668 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company ARTHUR K. DOWNS, manufacturing optician, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, in 1886 and is a son of William Edward and Edna (Smith) Downs, who were married in Wheeling, West Virginia. They came to the Pacific northwest in 1888 and for several years his father was a traveling salesman for Olds & Summer, of Portland, also representing Nathan & Dohrman, a San Francisco firm, in the same capacity. Arthur K. Downs was a child of two when the family came to Portland his education was obtained in the local schools. At the age of ten he was struck on the knee by a baseball and the injury resulted in blood poisoning. In order to save his life it was necessary to amputate the leg, a misfortune which was borne with much fortitude by Mr. Downs, who has made notable progress in business affairs in spite of this handicap. His first position was with the Munsell Optical Company of Portland and later he went to San Francisco, entering the service of Hirsch & Kaiser, an optical firm, with which he remained until 1901. After leaving that city he was associated with the Portland Optical Company and later was employed along the same line in San Francisco and Seattle. In 1909 he went to San Antonio, Texas, and was with the Reiss Optical Company for a time. His first independent venture was at Brownwood, Texas, and on disposing of the business he located in Dallas, that state. On November 1, 1909, he returned to Portland, taking charge of the manufacturing department of the Staples Optical Company, which he successfully managed for three years. In 1912 he organized the Downs Optical Company but later disposed of his holdings therein and became head of the optical department of the business of Woodward-Clarke, a large drug firm of Portland. At the end of two years he tendered his resignation and in 1914 opened a dispensing optical establishment. His attention has since been given to this line of work with the exception of three years, which he spent on a ranch in eastern Oregon in order to regain his health. The business is located in the Journal building and in its conduct he brings to bear the knowledge and wisdom gained by many years of practical experience in optical work. He also has the requisite executive force and has placed the business on a substantial financial basis. His plant is completely equipped and turns out work of the highest grade. In 1912 Mr. Downs was married in Portland to Miss Laura Downs, and their daughter, Dorothy Margaret, is now a public school pupil. Mr. Downs belongs to the Knights of Pythias and is secretary-treasurer of the Izaak Walton League and a director of the Portland Gun Club. His leisure is spent in the open and the sports of hunting and fishing afford him needed relaxation from business cares. Strong and self-reliant, Mr. Downs has overcome circumstances, bending them to his will, and is deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished. Throughout life he has followed the course dictated by conscience and honor, thus winning and retaining the respect, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/downs1348gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb