William H. Downs

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

William H. Downs

William Herman DOWNS, one of the successful, self-made business men of Morristown, New Jersey, is regarded in the commercial world as both progressive and aggressive in his methods. Progressive because he is the first to seize an idea, and aggressive because he puts that idea into execution before many of his competitors have turned it over in their minds. His name indicated that he is of English or Irish descent, but of this he is not certain. He is perhaps a descendent of Herman DOWNS, who came to America in 1678. His father was William Herman Downs, born on Long Island, and now deceased.

William Herman DOWNS was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, May 27, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of that place, and at an early age left school to earn his living. He laid the foundation of his present prosperous business career as a conscientious, painstaking salesman in the Boston Store in Jersey City, where for four years he pleased his employer and customers by his affability and sincere desire to please. Looking around for an opportunity to make his way upward at a faster pace than that of salesman, he conceived the idea of establishing a laundry business. This he succeeded in doing, and with practically no capital. He gave it his closest attention, ran it for ten years, increasing its capacity as his state of finances would permit, until at the end of that time he had four branches to his business and employed over forty people. Disposing of his laundry interest he went to Morristown in 1903, and clerked for Isaac KATZ for seven years, or until the death of the former, when he purchased the business and has since conducted it along the most improved lines of up-to-date and original methods. Since taking over the business it has doubled, trebled its earning capacity. He expended over three thousand dollars in improvements, and that where they would have the most telling effect, and he has now the model store of Morris county. He has unusual progressive ideas, which he puts into effect, and that, combined with shrewed business acumen, the determination to please, a reputation for honesty and veracity all go toward the further up-building of his interests and give him unassailable position in the commercial world. He is an Independent Republican and works for his party. He is an active member of the Morristown Business Men’s Association, promoting its best interests on all occasions.

He married (first) Lena BOCKMAN in 1898, in Hoboken, who died in 1903. By her he had one child,

Walter William, born May 4, 1899.

He married (second) Frances KATZ, a daughter of his employer, in Morristown, April 21, 1907. She was born and reared in Morristown, and is the daughter of Isaac KATZ and his wife Rekah (NEWHOUSE) KATZ. Mrs. KATZ is living in Morristown. By the second marriage there are two children:

Raymond William, born May 21, 1908;
Phyllis, April 15, 1911.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).