History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

144 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. Downing was born in Kane county, Illinois, in 1875, and
is a son of Major O. J. Downing. He suppleuiented his publicschool
education by a thice years' collegiate coui'se in the Dixon
Normal School and then made his initial stejj in the business world
as an employe of J. H. Morris & Sons, grocers, with whom he remained
for eight years, his long connection with that establishment
plaiidy indicating his fidelity and cajjability. Ambitious,
however, to engage in business on his own account, he carefully
saved his earnings and in 1900 opened a general grocery store,
handling a full line of both staple and fancy groceries. The tastefid
arrangement of the estajjlishment, the reasonable prices and
his reliable business methods have brought to him a growing
patronage and his success is most gratifying. As prosperity has
attended his efforts Mr. Downing has become interested in real
estate. He erected one of the largest buildings in Dixon at Nos.
110-116 First street. It has a frontage of one hundred and one
feet and the main floor is used for an express office, garage and
steam I'ubl^er works, while on the second floor is the armory.
On the 13th of Se]itember. 1909. INlr. Downing was united in
marriage to Miss Gi»lda Coburn. of Elgin. Illinois, and they have
many warm friends in Dixon, the number continually iiicreasing as
the circle of their acquaintance widens. Mr. Downing is a member
of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and als(i has mem-
bership with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights of
Pythias. He has never figui'ed prominently in public connec-
tions aside from business, pi'cferring always to concentrate his
energies upon his commercial interests which, capably directed,
have constituted the foundation and source of his success. He
deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and he enjoys
in large measure the confidence and I'espect of colleagues and con-
temporaries.
CHRISTIAN C. FABER.
Christian C. Faber is one of the progressiA'e and successful
business men of Paw Paw, where he has been established in business
since twenty-two years of age, having now conducted a meat
mnrket on Main street foi- twenty-eight years with such marked
success that he has come to be recognized as one of the most sub-
stantial men of his citv. A native of Illinois, he was bom in Clar-