William J. Downs

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

William J. Downs

William J. Downs, whose extensive business interests place him among the leaders in mercantile circles in Wharton, Morris county, New Jersey, has achieved that success which is the natural result of systematic effort, straightforward dealing and resolute purpose. He has climbed upon a ladder of his own building to prominence and prosperity, and has earned the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, and has become an expert in his line of business.

John DOWNS, his father, was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1853. For a time he lived in Bound Brook, removing from that place to Wharton, Morris county, New Jersey, where he died December 31, 1903. He was a miner thirty-five years, and in the mercantile business for a period of ten years. He was a Democrat in political affairs, and a Catholic in religious belief. Mr. DOWNS married, in 1855, Mary GALLAGHER, born in Ireland, 1830, came to the United States with her brother Peter, 1852, and lived at Rockaway, Morris county, New Jersey. They had children:

Thomas, who has forty years been a machinist in the employ of Thomas H. HOAGLAND, of Rockaway, and his father, Mahlon H. HOAGLAND;
James, died in Boulder, Montana, where he had been a merchant;
John, who was in business with his brother, William J., resides at Wharton;
Annie, married John LOUGHIN, shipping clerk at the Richardson & Boyton Works, Dover, New Jersey;
William J., of whom further.

William J. DOWNS was born in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, November 8, 1867. He received his education in the public day schools of Dover and Mount Pleasant, and supplemented it with study at the night schools after he had commenced his business career. He entered the employ of Oram & Hance, of Port Oram, Morris county, New Jersey, in the post office department, and subsequently worked for six years in the store of the same firm. In 1888 he established himself in the general mercantile business in Wharton, and has made an unqualified success of this enterprise. He has now been actively engaged in this line of industry for a period of a quarter of a century, and his methods have always been those of an energetic and progressive business man who keeps well abreast of the time in every particular. He is a Democrat in his political views, and entered the political arena when he attained his majority. He has filled all the offices of the borough with the exception of that of mayor, and during all this time was defeated for office but once. He was freeholder two terms; assessor three years; clerk of the borough of Wharton two terms; six years a member of the borough council, having been in office since the town was organized into a borough. Mr. DOWNS married, 1889, Eliza, daughter of John and Elizabeth (JEWEL) KNUCKEY. They have had children:

John, who is his father’s assistant in the store;
Genevieve, also in the store.

Mr. DOWNS and his family are communicants of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, of Dover.

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