Colorado Pioneer and Lawyer. Downing was educated at the Albany Academy. At age fourteen became a clerk at Albany City Bank; while there studied Greek, Latin and law. Traveled through the southern states and Mexico in search of health and adventure for two years.
In 1851 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1855 he moved to Chicago and then started on a tour of the West. visited Iowa, Missouri and Kansas Territory, and seeing considerable numbers of Pawnees, Sioux, and other tribes of Indians on the Plains. Then returned to Chicago and finished law studies with the firm of Ward & Stanford. The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1859 called him toward Colorado. Eventually took up residence in the city of Auraria (now Denver).
The times were turbulent with murders, duels and general lawlessness keeping the people on edge. A vigilance committee finally quieted things down.
In 1860, he was active in inaugurating a city government and was elected Judge of the Municipal Court (Court of Common Pleas). Downing issued the warrant for and sentenced Park McClure, who was then Postmaster, for the deadly assault on Professor Goldrick. This created great excitement at the time, as McClure had the reputation of being a desperate man.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers composed mostly of miners and joined the 1st Regiment of Colorado Cavalry. Downing was in the battle of Apache Canyon (March 26, 1862) and also in the battle of Pigeon's Ranch, two days after, where forty-two out of eighty men were lost. Promoted to major and later was in the battle of Peralto under Gen. Canby.
In the spring of 1864 the Indians began killing people along the Platte River and he came under the command of Col. Chivington, then commanding the District of Colorado. He particpated in several Indian battles and scurmishes. Then he fought along side of Chvington at the Sand Creek Massacre. Later, after Sand Creek, he returned to Denver and was mustered out. A commission was convened to try Col. Chivington for the Sand Creek Massacre, and defended him successfully by getting him acquitted.
In 1867 Downing was elected Probate Judge of Arapahoe County in which Denver was then located. He later owned a ranch of some 2,000 acres located on the present site of the Denver Federal Center west of Denver and engaged in raising purebred shorthon cattle and arabian horses. He introduced alfalfa into Colorado in 1862 from Mexico and used it for years before contemporaries finally accepted it as cattle feed. He also developed two areas in the city of Denver and a street there bears his name.
He was married at Glen Falls, N. Y., on 1 November 1871 to Caroline E. Rosecrans.
In 1851 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1855 he moved to Chicago and then started on a tour of the West. visited Iowa, Missouri and Kansas Territory, and seeing considerable numbers of Pawnees, Sioux, and other tribes of Indians on the Plains. Then returned to Chicago and finished law studies with the firm of Ward & Stanford. The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1859 called him toward Colorado. Eventually took up residence in the city of Auraria (now Denver).
The times were turbulent with murders, duels and general lawlessness keeping the people on edge. A vigilance committee finally quieted things down.
In 1860, he was active in inaugurating a city government and was elected Judge of the Municipal Court (Court of Common Pleas). Downing issued the warrant for and sentenced Park McClure, who was then Postmaster, for the deadly assault on Professor Goldrick. This created great excitement at the time, as McClure had the reputation of being a desperate man.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers composed mostly of miners and joined the 1st Regiment of Colorado Cavalry. Downing was in the battle of Apache Canyon (March 26, 1862) and also in the battle of Pigeon's Ranch, two days after, where forty-two out of eighty men were lost. Promoted to major and later was in the battle of Peralto under Gen. Canby.
In the spring of 1864 the Indians began killing people along the Platte River and he came under the command of Col. Chivington, then commanding the District of Colorado. He particpated in several Indian battles and scurmishes. Then he fought along side of Chvington at the Sand Creek Massacre. Later, after Sand Creek, he returned to Denver and was mustered out. A commission was convened to try Col. Chivington for the Sand Creek Massacre, and defended him successfully by getting him acquitted.
In 1867 Downing was elected Probate Judge of Arapahoe County in which Denver was then located. He later owned a ranch of some 2,000 acres located on the present site of the Denver Federal Center west of Denver and engaged in raising purebred shorthon cattle and arabian horses. He introduced alfalfa into Colorado in 1862 from Mexico and used it for years before contemporaries finally accepted it as cattle feed. He also developed two areas in the city of Denver and a street there bears his name.
He was married at Glen Falls, N. Y., on 1 November 1871 to Caroline E. Rosecrans.
Colorado Pioneer and Lawyer. Downing was educated at the Albany Academy. At age fourteen became a clerk at Albany City Bank; while there studied Greek, Latin and law. Traveled through the southern states and Mexico in search of health and adventure for two years.
In 1851 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1855 he moved to Chicago and then started on a tour of the West. visited Iowa, Missouri and Kansas Territory, and seeing considerable numbers of Pawnees, Sioux, and other tribes of Indians on the Plains. Then returned to Chicago and finished law studies with the firm of Ward & Stanford. The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1859 called him toward Colorado. Eventually took up residence in the city of Auraria (now Denver).
The times were turbulent with murders, duels and general lawlessness keeping the people on edge. A vigilance committee finally quieted things down.
In 1860, he was active in inaugurating a city government and was elected Judge of the Municipal Court (Court of Common Pleas). Downing issued the warrant for and sentenced Park McClure, who was then Postmaster, for the deadly assault on Professor Goldrick. This created great excitement at the time, as McClure had the reputation of being a desperate man.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers composed mostly of miners and joined the 1st Regiment of Colorado Cavalry. Downing was in the battle of Apache Canyon (March 26, 1862) and also in the battle of Pigeon's Ranch, two days after, where forty-two out of eighty men were lost. Promoted to major and later was in the battle of Peralto under Gen. Canby.
In the spring of 1864 the Indians began killing people along the Platte River and he came under the command of Col. Chivington, then commanding the District of Colorado. He particpated in several Indian battles and scurmishes. Then he fought along side of Chvington at the Sand Creek Massacre. Later, after Sand Creek, he returned to Denver and was mustered out. A commission was convened to try Col. Chivington for the Sand Creek Massacre, and defended him successfully by getting him acquitted.
In 1867 Downing was elected Probate Judge of Arapahoe County in which Denver was then located. He later owned a ranch of some 2,000 acres located on the present site of the Denver Federal Center west of Denver and engaged in raising purebred shorthon cattle and arabian horses. He introduced alfalfa into Colorado in 1862 from Mexico and used it for years before contemporaries finally accepted it as cattle feed. He also developed two areas in the city of Denver and a street there bears his name.
He was married at Glen Falls, N. Y., on 1 November 1871 to Caroline E. Rosecrans.
In 1851 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1855 he moved to Chicago and then started on a tour of the West. visited Iowa, Missouri and Kansas Territory, and seeing considerable numbers of Pawnees, Sioux, and other tribes of Indians on the Plains. Then returned to Chicago and finished law studies with the firm of Ward & Stanford. The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1859 called him toward Colorado. Eventually took up residence in the city of Auraria (now Denver).
The times were turbulent with murders, duels and general lawlessness keeping the people on edge. A vigilance committee finally quieted things down.
In 1860, he was active in inaugurating a city government and was elected Judge of the Municipal Court (Court of Common Pleas). Downing issued the warrant for and sentenced Park McClure, who was then Postmaster, for the deadly assault on Professor Goldrick. This created great excitement at the time, as McClure had the reputation of being a desperate man.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers composed mostly of miners and joined the 1st Regiment of Colorado Cavalry. Downing was in the battle of Apache Canyon (March 26, 1862) and also in the battle of Pigeon's Ranch, two days after, where forty-two out of eighty men were lost. Promoted to major and later was in the battle of Peralto under Gen. Canby.
In the spring of 1864 the Indians began killing people along the Platte River and he came under the command of Col. Chivington, then commanding the District of Colorado. He particpated in several Indian battles and scurmishes. Then he fought along side of Chvington at the Sand Creek Massacre. Later, after Sand Creek, he returned to Denver and was mustered out. A commission was convened to try Col. Chivington for the Sand Creek Massacre, and defended him successfully by getting him acquitted.
In 1867 Downing was elected Probate Judge of Arapahoe County in which Denver was then located. He later owned a ranch of some 2,000 acres located on the present site of the Denver Federal Center west of Denver and engaged in raising purebred shorthon cattle and arabian horses. He introduced alfalfa into Colorado in 1862 from Mexico and used it for years before contemporaries finally accepted it as cattle feed. He also developed two areas in the city of Denver and a street there bears his name.
He was married at Glen Falls, N. Y., on 1 November 1871 to Caroline E. Rosecrans.
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