Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 886.
 
ALBERT STEPHEN DOWN

     has followed the sea a great many years and probably has seen as much of
the world as any man in the state of Oregon. He is now a farmer and stock raiser
residing two and one-half miles south from Lakeview, Oregon, where, he says, he
is content to spend the remaining years of his life. He is a native of the
historic city of Hastings, England, born July 9, 1837, the son of John and Mary
(Stace) Down. The latter attained the age of seventy-eight years, dying in
Hastings, October 8, 1895. Mr. Down is the eldest of a family originally
comprising four children, only two of whom, himself and his youngest sister, are
living. This sister is now Mrs. Mary Ann Clark, and is living at Hastings,
England. She and her brother have not met since she was two years of age.
     Mr. Down went to sea on board a fishing boat at the age of ten years, and
remained with this craft for four years, after which time he shipped with a
merchant vessel as a common seaman. He was at his home in Hastings for the last
time in 1855, thence went to Gothenburg, Sweden. He was in Constantinople in
1856, when peace was declared between Russia and the allied powers. From this
city he voyaged to different parts of the civilized and uncvilized world, and in
1858 he left the sea to engage in mining in Australia. There he became
interested in many different mines, but in 1866 he abandoned the business and
sailed for San Francisco, California, arriving at that city March 25, 1866. He
left his ship and went to Sonoma county, where for four years he worked in the
redwoods, and on February 23, 1870, he was married to Carrie Elizabeth Ballard,
a native of Atchison, Missouri.
     Mrs. Down crossed the plains in a "prairie schooner" with her father in
1862, to Sonoma county. Her parents were Smithfield and Delina Ballard.
     In 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Down went to Colusa county, California, and in the
spring of 1879 came to the Goose Lake valley, Oregon, and settled eleven miles
west from Lakeview. Mr. Down purchased his present home in 1896. He has two
hundred and sixty acres of land, the major portion of which is choice hay land
and well improved with good farm buildings, orchard, and so forth. Formerly, Mr.
Down owned sheep, but he has disposed of them and is now engaged in raising
cattle and horses in connection with farming.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Down have been born six children: Mrs. Effie Vernon,
Lakeview; George, married to Myrtle Grimes, Lakeview; Mary, wife of Flint
Vernon, Lakeview; James, deceased since 1886; Anna, wife of Homer Pollard, San
Jose and Stephen. The first named has five children, the second, one, and the
third, four.
     Mr. Down was made a Mason in 1868 and is now a member of the Lakeview lodge
of that order. Both he and Mrs. Down are members of the Eastern Star.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2011 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.