Emanuel Ethelbert Downham (March 23, 1839 – September 17, 1921), known by his initials E.E., was an American businessman, miner, and mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, from 1887 to 1891. He was a prominent leading member of the Masonic Order in Virginia, and helped in the development and raising funds for the

George Washington Masonic National Memorial The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic building and memorial located in Alexandria, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C. It is dedicated to the memory of George Washington, first president of the United States and charter ...

. He died in 1921.

Biography

Early life

Downham was born March 23, 1839, in Newport, New Jersey, the son of Emanuel Downham, and his wife Eleanor. He was a descendant of Thomas Downham, who had settled in Delaware by 1705. He, along with his younger sister Rachel, were orphaned at a young age, and they grew up in the care of their relatives. In his youth, he went west as a

Fifty-Niner {{no footnotes, date=April 2023 A "Fifty-Niner" is the term used for the gold seekers who streamed into the Pike's Peak Country of western Kansas Territory and southwestern Nebraska Territory in 1859. The discovery of placer gold deposits along th ...

during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush in the then

Kansas Territory The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the Slave and ...

. He was among the earliest miners, and settlers in the area. After a period in the territory, he returned to New Jersey in 1861, and later moved to Alexandria, Virginia at the onset of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

and started a liquor business.

Career

After moving to Alexandria in 1862, Downham decided not to directly join the war effort, and instead focused on the development of a grocery, and later alcohol business. During the war, he sold liquor and other commodities to Union troops. In 1869, he was involved in a legal dispute with the city of Alexandria, which reached the Supreme Court and was decided in ''Downham v. Alexandria''. This case became a legal precedent and is cited to the present day. Later in his career, he entered into local politics. In 1874, he was elected to the Alexandria City Council, and upon the death of mayor, John B. Smoot, in 1887, he was elected by the council to fill out his term. His tenure proved very popular amongst the population due to his efforts to improve city infrastructure and civic life within the city. He was elected outright in 1888, serving with distinction until 1891, before retiring from public office.

Family

Downham married Sarah Miranda Price, the daughter of a prominent local merchant, on November 16, 1865. Together they had 6 children, 5 of which lived into adulthood. All of his surviving sons followed him into local politics and business. * Henry A. "Harry" Downham (b. 1867 - d. 1918) * Emanuel Francis "Frank" Downham (b. 1869 – d. 1950) * Horace English Downham (b. 1871 – d. 1872) * Horace English Downham (b. 1874 – d. 1902) * Robert Forsythe "Bob" Downham (b. 1876 - d. 1956) * Sarah Maude Downham (b. 1877 - d. 1964) His son, Robert Forsythe Downham, bought the Lee–Fendall House in 1903. The museum contains several photos of the Downham family. In 1914 the Downham family hosted President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to serve as president during the Prog ...

for a reception following that year's George Washington Birthday Parade. The house was kept in the Downham name until 1937. Downham and his sons Robert, and Harry, were prominent

Freemason Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...

s, and patrons in northern Virginia. They were involved with the Friendship Fire Association, and helped in the raising of funds for the

. Another son, Horace English Downham, along with his company, was involved with mining operations in Arizona, and Mexico in the 1890s.

Death

Downham died on September 17, 1921, at the age of 82, and was buried in The Presbyterian Cemetery in Alexandria.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Downham, Emanuel Ethelbert 1839 births 1921 deaths 19th-century mayors of places in Virginia People from New Jersey Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia Businesspeople from Alexandria, Virginia Mayors of Alexandria, Virginia American miners