by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

THOMAS J. DOWNEN

   Among the successful stock-raisers and ranchmen on the Arkansas River, the name of Thomas J. Downen stands prominently. He was born a farmer. When only nine years of age, his father died and he was left in charge of 360 acres of land. Mr. D. was born August 8, 1844, in McDonough County, Ill., where he lived until he was eighteen years of age. He attended the common school. In July, 1862, although too young according to military regulations, he enlisted in the United States Army, and served until he was disabled by a gun-shot wound, and discharged. The wound caused a permanent disability, for which he receives a pension. His regiment was the Seventy-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; he served with Company I. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. He was with the army about two years. After his discharge, he returned home where he remained but a short time before entering Union Christian College, located at Merom, Indiana. On account of failing health, he was obliged to discontinue his studies. He was preparing for a professional life. For two years he was an invalid. After his recovery, he entered mercantile life at Industry, McDonough Co., Ill., in company with an older brother, with whom he remained three years. In the fall of 1868, he was married to Miss Jennie McCollum, of West Virginia. She died in 1870. Soon after this, he sold out his interest in the store to his brother, on account of poor health. His family was predisposed to pulmonary diseases, and fearing a fatal result in his own case, he removed to Colorado in 1872, to engage in ranching and stock-raising. He has made a success both in his enterprises as well as in regaining his health. Mr. D. settled at Rocky Ford, Bent County, on the Arkansas River. By homesteading, pre-empting and purchases, he acquired land until he owned 800 acres, which he inclosed with a wire fence. In 1873, he bought 250 head of Texas cows and calves of Reynolds Bros. These he retained eighteen months and sold them, For two years afterward Mr. D. was engaged in raising horses. Before disposing of these he again purchased a small bunch of American graded cattle and a thoroughbred bull, which was the foundation of his present herd. In the fall of 1875, Mr. D. was married to Miss Susan McCollum, a sister of his former wife. In 1879, his brother John Downen joined him and they formed a partnership under the firm name of Downen Bros. Since then they have added to the original farm 4,500 acres. The ranch now consists of 5,300 acres, all inclosed with wire fence. Mr. D. is an advocate of alfalfa, of which he has forty acres, and he will continue to increase his acreage year by year. In his opinion it is the grass for Colorado. At the time his brother joined him he brought with him eleven head of pure breed short-horn heifers and two bulls. They also bought of Albert Crane, of Durham Park, Kansas, two imported short-horn bulls, and from other parties 250 head of American cows and heifers, from which they are raising a high grade of bulls. He is disposing of his original cows as the herd increases, thereby improving his stock. He is furnishing a superior grade of animals for crossing purposes, to roam on the range. He has been unable to supply the demand made upon him for this class of stock. They have also a small bunch of pure-bred short-horn cows, from which they are raising pure-bred calves. In addition to cattle, they have a small herd of pure-bred Berkshire hogs, direct from the imported stock, for which there is quite a demand. They are building up a reputation for furnishing a high grade of animals, and in a short time their bulls will be nothing under three-fourths pure blood. Mr. Thomas Downen is confident there is no better place for consumptives than the valley of the Arkansas in Colorado.