History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

14 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
tliToiigli wide reading with the world's progress, he converses most
interestingly upon subjects of vital moment to city, state and
nation. Y^et Major Downing w^as one of the supporters of Fremont
in 1856 and was one of the earliest merchants of northex'n Illiuois.
His birth occurred at North Hempstead, Queens county, New York,
in 1835 and he is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, his
ancestors having been among the earliest settlers of the Empire
state. The old colonial farmhouse which was the family homestead
was the birthplace of his great-grandfather and of succeeding
generations down to the present tune. George Downing, the great-
grandfather, spent his entire life in New Hampshire and was a
soldier in the Continental army, serving under General Woodhull
in the struggle for American independence.
After spending the first fifteen years of his life in Queens
county, Long Island, New York, Major Downing made his way
westward to Chicago to accept the position of clerk in the store of
his uncle, Obadiah Jackson. That year the railroad was extended
westward and Mr. Jackson, who was the proprietor of one of the
leading wholesale houses of Chicago of that day, plaimed to extend
his business by establishing branch stores. He carried a complete
line of general merchandise and people came from a distance of one
hundred and fifty miles to trade with him. In 1853 wdth the build-
ing of the railroad he opened the first store in Kankakee, Illinois,
and placed his ne])hew, Major Downing, in charge. The latter suc-
cessfully managed the business until 1855, when with the building
of the railroad to Warren, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, Mr. Jackson
sent him there to open another store. A year later ill health com-
pelled Major Downing to resign his position and he returned to
New York, where he engaged in farming and took up the study of
law.
At the beginning of the Civil war, however, he put aside all
business and personal considerations and joined the first cavalry
regiment organized for service in the IFnion army. On account of
delay in effecting the full organization, however, it was organized
as the Second New Y^ork Regiment of Cavalrv and was attached
to the army of the Potomac, in all of the battles of which Major
Downing took an active part with the exception of the first battle
of Bull Run. On the 2d of May, 1864, at Richmond, Virginia, he
was captured and was not exchanged until the 22d of February,
1865, ill the meantime suffering all of the hardships of southern
prison life. When released he rejoined his regiment and as a
member of the staff of General Custer served xmtil the clo«« of the