JESSE M. DOWNING.

JESSE M. DOWNING.
Jesse M. Downing, superintendent of the Acme Cement Plaster Company of Laramie, where he is a valued citizen, was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, October 9, 1875, a son of Alexander and Johanna (Dixon) Downing, who were also natives of Tennessee. The father removed eventually to the state of Washington, where he remained to the time of his death, which occurred in Wilbur in November, 1913. During his residence in the northwest he was actively engaged in farming. His wife was reared and educated in Tennessee, where their marriage was celebrated, and her last days were spent in that state, where her death occurred in 1896. In their family were eight children: Mrs. Laura Sherrill, living at Martins Mills, Tennessee; John, who is located at Lutts, Tennessee; Jesse M., of this review; Charles, whose home is in Almira, Washington; Joseph, living in Spokane, Washington; Horace, who also makes his home in Almira; Etta, who married Harvey Spencer and died at Iron City, Tennessee, aged twenty-seven; and Ida, who married Starling Bratcher and died in Acme, Texas, at the age of twenty-three years. In his boyhood days Jesse M. Downing attended the public schools of his native state and afterward entered the Southern Normal College, from which he was graduated on the completion of an academic course with the class of 1896. He then turned his attention to farming, which pursuit he followed until 1903, after which he went to Texas and became connected with the Acme Cement Plaster Company of Acme, that state. He continued a resident of Texas and of Oklahoma until January, 1917, when he was sent to Laramie to assume the superintendency of the large plant of the Acme Cement Plaster Company in this city. He has since been identified with the business interests here and is regarded as a valued addition to manufacturing circles. He is also a director of the Siegel Consolidated Mining Company of Laramie. On the 10th of January, 1898, Mr. Downing was united in marriage to Miss Mazie Bedford, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Bedford, who still retain their residence in Waynesboro. Mr. and Mrs. Downing have become the parents of five children: Pearl, who was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, March 10, 1899, and is now a high school student in Laramie; J. Matthew, who was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, March 17, 1900, and is associated with his father in business; Roy E., whose birth occurred in Waynesboro, Tennessee, in June, 1903, and who is attending school in Laramie; Lance, who was born in Acme, Texas, August 11, 1905, and is pursuing his education in Laramie; and Harold, who was born in Acme, Texas, in April, 1907, and attends school in Laramie. In his political views Mr. Downing is a republican and filled the office of justice of the peace while in Acme, Texas. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. He is a self-made man whose advancement in business circles is attributable entirely to his persistency, his individual effort and his indefatigable energy. Already he has become widely and favorably known during the period of his residence in Laramie and ranks high as one of its representative citizens.

Jesse M. Downing, superintendent of the Acme Cement Plaster Company of Laramie, where he is a valued citizen, was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, October 9, 1875, a son of Alexander and Johanna (Dixon) Downing, who were also natives of Tennessee. The father removed eventually to the state of Washington, where he remained to the time of his death, which occurred in Wilbur in November, 1913. During his residence in the northwest he was actively engaged in farming. His wife was reared and educated in Tennessee, where their marriage was celebrated, and her last days were spent in that state, where her death occurred in 1896. In their family were eight children: Mrs. Laura Sherrill, living at Martins Mills, Tennessee; John, who is located at Lutts, Tennessee; Jesse M., of this review; Charles, whose home is in Almira, Washington; Joseph, living in Spokane, Washington; Horace, who also makes his home in Almira; Etta, who married Harvey Spencer and died at Iron City, Tennessee, aged twenty-seven; and Ida, who married Starling Bratcher and died in Acme, Texas, at the age of twenty-three years.
In his boyhood days Jesse M. Downing attended the public schools of his native state and afterward entered the Southern Normal College, from which he was graduated on the completion of an academic course with the class of 1896. He then turned his attention to farming, which pursuit he followed until 1903, after which he went to Texas and became connected with the Acme Cement Plaster Company of Acme, that state. He continued a resident of Texas and of Oklahoma until January, 1917, when he was sent to Laramie to assume the superintendency of the large plant of the Acme Cement Plaster Company in this city. He has since been identified with the business interests here and is regarded as a valued addition to manufacturing circles. He is also a director of the Siegel Consolidated Mining Company of Laramie.
On the 10th of January, 1898, Mr. Downing was united in marriage to Miss Mazie Bedford, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Bedford, who still retain their residence in Waynesboro. Mr. and Mrs. Downing have become the parents of five children: Pearl, who was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, March 10, 1899, and is now a high school student in Laramie; J. Matthew, who was born in Waynesboro, Tennessee, March 17, 1900, and is associated with his father in business; Roy E., whose birth occurred in Waynesboro, Tennessee, in June, 1903, and who is attending school in Laramie; Lance, who was born in Acme, Texas, August 11, 1905, and is pursuing his education in Laramie; and Harold, who was born in Acme, Texas, in April, 1907, and attends school in Laramie.
In his political views Mr. Downing is a republican and filled the office of justice of the peace while in Acme, Texas. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. He is a self-made man whose advancement in business circles is attributable entirely to his persistency, his individual effort and his indefatigable energy. Already he has become widely and favorably known during the period of his residence in Laramie and ranks high as one of its representative citizens.