Farmer, municipal official.
Born in Durham County, Ontario on 2 April 1860, son of William Northcote Down and Elisabeth Summerfield, he was largely self-educated. He came to Glenboro in 1899 and purchased his father’s farm, where he lived until 1917. Active in municipal affairs, he was first elected to the council of the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk in 1896 and served for several years. He served for six years on the council of the unincorporated village of Glenboro, including two years as Reeve. He was elected Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Victoria in 1922 and served from 1923 to 1928. He also served as Chairman of the Glenboro School Board. He declined three nominations to stand for a seat in the Manitoba Legislature.
He was married twice, on 5 July 1887 to Mary Parkinson (1864-1910) at Portage la Prairie then, after her death, to Lizzie Nesbitt. He had four sons and six daughters, including Rosetta Down (b 1887), Jane Edna Down (b 1889), Elda C. Down (b 1890), William Roy Down (b 1892), Annie P. Down (b 1894), Edward Franklin Down (1895-1917), James A. Down (b 1899), Herbert Down (b 1901), and Mary Down (b 1903). He was a member of the IOOF and the United Church.
Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 27 March 2012
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