Alexander C. and Samuel R. Downey scrapbooks
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: V044
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a memorandum book and four scrapbooks. The memorandum book contains notes of Samuel Downey’s business. Some of the pages have been pasted over with recipes from the newspaper. The scrapbooks contain clippings of interest to the Downeys, some of which pertain to the family and Alexander and Samuel individually.
Dates
- 1870-1891
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Alexander Cummins Downey was born on September 10, 1817, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Dearborn County, Indiana. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 and practiced with Amos Lane and Theodore Gazlay. When Ohio County, Indiana was formed in 1844, Downey moved to Rising Sun, the county seat. On April 19, 1846, he married Sophia Jane Tapley with whom he had eight children, including Samuel, Daniel, Harry, George, Anna, and Frank.
Downey quickly ascended to the judge’s bench, becoming president judge of the 3rd circuit in 1850. He held this post for two years before moving to the 1st circuit (1852-1858). Downey then resigned his post to return to the practice of law. He also organized the law school at Indiana Asbury (DePauw) University and was a professor there from 1854 to 1858. During the Civil War, he served as a brigadier general with the 4th Brigade, Indiana Legion (1861).
In 1862, Downey was elected to the State Senate and served until 1866. He then became commissioner and manager of the newly established Indiana House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders (1867-1870) and continued to practice privately. In 1870, he was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court and served one six-year term. Downey declined re-nomination, choosing to return to private practice instead. He took the bench once more from 1891 to 1897 for the 7th circuit court. He died on March 26, 1898, in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Samuel Reed Downey, son of Alexander C. Downey, was born on May 26, 1847, in Rising Sun, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana Asbury (DePauw) University with an A.B. in 1867 and an A.M. in 1870. He then practiced law in Rising Sun for the remainder of his life. On January 24, 1871, Downey married Henrietta B. Ashford. He was also editor of “Indiana Statutes at Large” from 1884 to 1887. He died on February 3, 1893.
Sources:
Ridpath, Martha J., ed. Alumnal Record, DePauw University. Greencastle, IN: DePauw University, 1920. Ancestry Library. Indiana State Library. 8 May 2006. .
A Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men of the State of Indiana, Volume I. Cincinnati: Western Biographical Publishing Company, 1880.
Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Indiana State Bar Association, held at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 11 and 12, 1922. Indianapolis: Harrington & Folger, 1922.
Shepherd, Rebecca A., Charles W. Calhoun, Elizabeth Shanahan-Shoemaker, and Alan F. January, comp. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, Volume 1, 1816-1899. Indianapolis: The Select Committee on the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly, 1980.
Downey quickly ascended to the judge’s bench, becoming president judge of the 3rd circuit in 1850. He held this post for two years before moving to the 1st circuit (1852-1858). Downey then resigned his post to return to the practice of law. He also organized the law school at Indiana Asbury (DePauw) University and was a professor there from 1854 to 1858. During the Civil War, he served as a brigadier general with the 4th Brigade, Indiana Legion (1861).
In 1862, Downey was elected to the State Senate and served until 1866. He then became commissioner and manager of the newly established Indiana House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders (1867-1870) and continued to practice privately. In 1870, he was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court and served one six-year term. Downey declined re-nomination, choosing to return to private practice instead. He took the bench once more from 1891 to 1897 for the 7th circuit court. He died on March 26, 1898, in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Samuel Reed Downey, son of Alexander C. Downey, was born on May 26, 1847, in Rising Sun, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana Asbury (DePauw) University with an A.B. in 1867 and an A.M. in 1870. He then practiced law in Rising Sun for the remainder of his life. On January 24, 1871, Downey married Henrietta B. Ashford. He was also editor of “Indiana Statutes at Large” from 1884 to 1887. He died on February 3, 1893.
Sources:
Ridpath, Martha J., ed. Alumnal Record, DePauw University. Greencastle, IN: DePauw University, 1920. Ancestry Library. Indiana State Library. 8 May 2006. .
A Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men of the State of Indiana, Volume I. Cincinnati: Western Biographical Publishing Company, 1880.
Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Indiana State Bar Association, held at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 11 and 12, 1922. Indianapolis: Harrington & Folger, 1922.
Shepherd, Rebecca A., Charles W. Calhoun, Elizabeth Shanahan-Shoemaker, and Alan F. January, comp. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, Volume 1, 1816-1899. Indianapolis: The Select Committee on the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly, 1980.
Extent
3 Cubic Feet (5 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Alexander C. Downey.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed by Christina Baich during April 2006. Finding aid revised by Edythe Huffman on 2015/11/16. EAD finding aid completed by Bethany Fiechter on 2018/05/18.
- Title
- Alexander C. and Samuel R. Downey scrapbooks
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
