Biographical Sketch of Thomas DOWNING (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, page 836. "THOMAS DOWNING, one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Uwchlan township, who is well known for his success in agriculture and the promi- nent part he takes in political affairs, is the second son of William S. and Tamison (Mason) Downing, and was born at Lionville, Uwchlan township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1830. His paternal great-grand- father, Joseph Downing, was a life-long resident of Chester valley, where he died. Hon. Thomas Downing (grandfather) was born in the Chester valley, West Caln township, about 1757, and lived there until 1761, when he removed with his parents to what is now Lionville, Uwchlan township, where he continued to reside until his death in 1827, at the advanced age of seventy years. He was to some extent a farmer by occupation, but for a number of years was engaged in merchandising at Lionville. Politically he was an old-line whig, very prominent in the politics of his day, and was elected and served as a member of the legislature from Chester county. He was also a justice of the peace for many years, and came to be regarded as the legal adviser of his neighborhood. In religion he was a member of the Society of Friends, and prominent in the affairs of that religious body. He married Sarah Smith, and was the father of eight children: George, Joseph, William, Thomas, Betsy, Tamison, Mary A. and Sarah Hoopes, all now deceased. William Downing (father) was born at Lionville in the initial year of the present century, and passed his entire life at that place, dying August 29, 1874, in his seventy-fourth year. After receiving such education as could be obtained in the schools of his neighborhood, he engaged in farming, and continued to make that his main business during life. In politics and religion he followed the example of his honored father, and at the advent of the Republican party in Pennsylvania became a firm supporter of that political organization. He united in marriage with Tamison Mason, a daughter of Isaac Mason, of Uwchlan township, this county, and to them was born nine children, five sons and four daughters, only four of whom are now living: Henry, Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Mary, and Sarah, the latter of whom became the wife of a Mr. Beitler. "Thomas Downing was reared on the old Downing homestead near Lionville, and received his education in the public schools of that village. He has always resided on the farm where he was born, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, including stock raising and marketing. His farm contains two hundred and five acres of valuable land, most of which is improved and in a fine state of cultivation. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Downing has always been a republican, and takes an active part in the politics of Chester county. He never married."