Berkeley County, West Virginia Biography of Hon. Harry Allen DOWNS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Pat C. Johns March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II Pg. 472-473 HON. HARRY ALLEN DOWNS. Berkeley County became the home of the Downs family during the eighteenth century, and many of its descendants are now within this and adjoining states. One of them is Harry Allen Downs of Martinsburg, a prominent lawyer, a representative in the Legislature, and a recognized leader in the affairs of the Eastern Panhandle. The earlier generations of the family were pioneer farmers, and did their part in transforming the wilderness into a landscape of beauty and culture. Harry Allen Downs represents the fourth successive generation of the family in what is now Berkeley County. His great-grandfather was Charles Downs, who erected the first flour mill in what was then Northern Virginia, located at Falling Waters, Berkeley County. The only transportation facilities then available were by wagon trains and, later, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which proved an outlet for his products to the eastern markets. Charles Downs was born in the latter part of the eighteenth century, not long after the Revolutionary war. He became one of the largest land owners in Berkeley County. He died in the seventy-sixth year of his age at the old Downs homestead at Falling Waters. His son Davenport Downs, who was born at Falling Waters in Berkeley County in 1826, after attaining his majority married Miss Ann LeFevre, and they removed to the State of Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1886. His wife, Ann, died in 1856, at the birth of her second son, Joseph Allen Downs. Joseph Allen Downs was born at his father's Iowa homestead in Wapello County, and soon afterward his father took the motherless child back East and he was put in the care of Miss Mary Cookus, on the farm of a relative, Sayle Van Metre, in Berkeley County. Here Joseph Allen Downs was reared, attending the public schools of the county and graduating from Hyde's Seminary in Martinsburg. He is well remembered as a successful teacher, and for fifteen years prior to his death, on April 19, 1901, was principal of the Fifth Ward schools in Martinsburg. The wife of Joseph Allen Downs was Caroline Jeannette Evans, daughter of Tillottson Evans, a farmer of Berkeley County, whose name introduces another interesting pioneer family of this section. Tillottson was a son of James Evans, one of the first settlers in the state and an Indian fighter. James Evans put up a fort or blocade against the Indians at what was known as Big Spring in Berkeley County. On one occasion, when the settlement was attacked by Indians, the men folk being away, the women sought safety in the blockade and Polly Evans, a daughter of James, began beating a drum, which frightened the Indians, causing them to flee and, thereby, saving the unarmed women from death. Tillottson Evans married Mary Ann Orr. To this union were born three children: James W. B. Evans, Emma Virginia and Caroline Jeannette. James W. B. Evans died in 1919, survived by his widow, Millie Orcutt Evans and six children, all of whom reside in Berkeley County. Emma Virginia Evans was married to George Davenport Swimley, who died at Martinsburg in 1821, being survived by his widow and one daughter, now the wife of Russell S. Sperow. Caroline Jeannette, who became the wife of Joseph Allen Downs, survives with three children, William Smith, Harry Allen and Mary Ethel. William Smith Downs was born at Martinsburg in 1883, attended public schools in that city, graduating from the high school in 1901, and immediately entered West Virginia University at Morgantown, graduating in 1905 with the degree Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following his graduation he was for two years in the service of the Bolivian Government of South America in railroad building. Then, returning to the United States, he located in Kingwood, West Virginia, and engaged as engineer for the Pittsburg Hydro Electric Company in water power enterprises. At this time he is division engineer for the State Road Commission of West Virginia, with headquarters at Morgantown. He married Miss Nellie Jane Albright, of Kingwood, and they have three children. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mary Ethel Downs, who was born at Martinsburg, August 20, 1894, graduated from the Martinsburg High School in 1913, and subsequently from Randolph-Macon Woman's College at Lynchburg, Virginia, with the A. B. degree. She was married to Edgar Sites, now connected with the Shenandoah Valley Bank & Trust Company of Martinsburg. They have two children and are members of the Lutheran Church. Hon. Harry Allen Downs, whose record is now taken up, was born at Martinsburg, February 14, 1886. As a boy there he attended the public schools, graduating from high school in 1905, and in 1907 received his LL. B. degree from the Law School of West Virginia University. Since his graduation in law he has been engaged in practice at Martinsburg, with offices in the People's Trust Building. While in college Mr. Downs was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a member of the Delta Chi law fraternity, and Theta Nu Epsilon, cap sheaf of great fraternities. He played on the varsity baseball team for three years and on the football team three years. He was also treasurer of his graduating law class. During his professional career Mr. Downs had made a splendid record in various offices of trust and responsibility assigned him. From 1911 to 1913 he was congressional committeeman, representing the republican party of Berkeley County in the second district. He was his party's nominee for state's attorney in 1912 and in 1916, being defeated at both elections by close margins. In January, 1913, he was appointed United States commissioner for the Northern District of West Virginia by the Hon. Alston G. Dayton, then judge of the United States Court, for a term of four years. In 1917 he was reappointed for a second term, and he discharged the duties of this responsible office through two terms until January, 1921. In the meantime, from 1918 to 1921, he served as solicitor for the City of Martinsburg under the administrations of Dr. H. G. Tonkin and C. M. Seibert as mayor. Mr. Downs was nominee of his party for the House of Delegates in 1920, and led the county legislative ticket at the elections. During the 1921 session he received assignment to six committees, including the committee on judiciary, and his service was marked by the closest attention to the important program of legislation before the committees and also before the House as a whole. Mr. Downs is a past exalted ruler of Martinsburg Lodge No. 778, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a past state officer of the West Virginia Elks Reunion Association. He is a member of Robert White Lodge No. 67, A. F. and A. M., at Martinsburg , is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Outside of his profession he is prominently identified with apple culture in the Panhandle. He is a director and secretary of the Shepherdstown Light & Water Company and a director of the Hodges-Lemen Company, grain exporters. In August, 1920, Mr. Downs married Mrs. Ethel Boyer Lemen, widow of David Lemen, of Shepherdstown, and they have one daughter, Harriett Aileen, born November 29, 1921. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.