{{Short description|American politician and businessman (1839–1921)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Emanuel Ethelbert Downham | image = File:Ee downham.jpg | caption = Downham {{circa|1890s}} | image_size = 200px | birth_name = Emanuel Ethelbert Downham | office = Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia | term_start = 1887 | term_end = 1891 | predecessor = John B. Smoot | successor = Henry Strauss | birth_date = March 23, 1839 | birth_place = Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = September 17, 1921 (aged 82) | death_place = Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. | resting_place = Presbyterian Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia | party = Democrat | spouse = Sarah Miranda Price | children = 6 | profession = Politician, businessman, miner }} '''Emanuel Ethelbert Downham''' (March 23, 1839 – September 17, 1921), known by his initials '''E.E.''', was an American businessman, miner, and politician who was mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, from 1887 to 1891.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayors and Postmasters of Alexandria, Virginia |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/VA/ofc/alexandria.html |website=Political Graveyard |access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref> He was a prominent leading member of the Masonic Fraternity in Virginia, and helped in the development and raising funds for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.<ref>{{cite web |title=E.E. Downham: a Prominent Figure in Alexandria's History and Development |url=https://gravestonestories.com/e-e-downham-a-prominent-figure-in-alexandrias-history-and-development/ |website=Gravestone Stories |access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> He died in 1921.
== Biography ==
=== Early life === [[File:Pikes Peak miners.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|left|Gold prospectors in the Rocky Mountains of western Kansas Territory during the gold rush]] Downham was born March 23, 1839, in Bridgeton, New Jersey,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/alexandria-gazette-obituary-for-emanuel/178141520/ "E. E. Downham Ex-Mayor Succumbs"], ''Alexandria Gazette'', September 19, 1921. Accessed August 4, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Mr. Downham was born in Bridgeton, N. J.. March 23, 1839, in ihs early manhood located in Alexandria and for, many years was engaged in business here."</ref> the son of Emanuel Downham, and his wife Eleanor (née Sockwell). 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 cousin Lorenzo D. Lore. In his youth, he went west as a Fifty-Niner during the Pike's Peak gold rush in the then Kansas Territory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Across The Plains, Mountains, And Deserts | url=https://www.nps.gov/cali/learn/historyculture/upload/Across_the_Plains-Mountains-_and_Deserts-508.pdf| access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> 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 started and operated a hotel with a cousin. Later he moved to Alexandria, Virginia at the onset of the Civil War, where he would spend the rest of his life, to start a grocery, and later liquor business.<ref>{{cite web |title=North and South: Tales of Two Whiskey Men |url=https://www.fohbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NorthSouthWhiskeyMen_NovDec2007.pdf| access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref>
=== Career ===
thumb|Alexandria in 1862, the 'Crossroads of the Civil War', the year Downham moved to the cityAfter 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. A prominent War Democrat in the area, he sold liquor and important commodities to Union soldiers and officials during the war. 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''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Downham v. Alexandria. |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/76/659|access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref> This case became a legal precedent and is cited to the present day.
During his time in Virginia, Downham was initiated into the Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge of Alexandria, and he later served as the Grand Master of the Lodge from 1880 to 1881. He would also go onto to be initiated into the Knights Templar, a Christian oriented order of Freemasonry.
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 six children, five 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 I (b. 1871 – d. 1872) * Horace English Downham II (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 for a reception following that year's George Washington Birthday Parade.<ref name="Liqour Dealer">{{cite web |title=The People of Lee-Fendall House: The Liquor Dealer |url=https://www.vamonde.com/posts/the-liquor-dealer/4842/ |website=Vamonde |access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> The house was kept in the Downham name until 1937.
Downham along with his sons Robert, and Harry, were prominent Freemasons, and patrons in Virginia. They were involved with the Friendship Fire Association, and played crucial role's in the raising of funds for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Office of Historic Alexandria |title=Out of the Attic: A local family's involvement with Friendship Firehouse |url=https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/historic/info/attic/2019/Attic20190523Friendship.pdf |website=City of Alexandria |publisher=Alexandria Times |access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>
Another son, Horace English Downham, along with his company, was involved with mining operations in Arizona, and Mexico in the 1890s, through the 1900s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexandria gazette. [volume], December 08, 1896, Image 3 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85025007/1896-12-08/ed-1/seq-3/|access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref>
== Death == Downham died on September 17, 1921, at the age of 82, after a five-month illness. He was buried on September 20th, in The Presbyterian Cemetery in Alexandria.<ref>{{cite web |title=Notable Burials in The Presbyterian Cemetery |url=https://gravestonestories.com/bibliography-of-selected-individuals-buried-in-the-presbyterian-cemetery/|access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Image 16 of The Washington herald (Washington, D.C.), September 18, 1921|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045433/1921-09-18/ed-1/?sp=16&r=0.004,0.22,0.537,0.327,0|access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Mayors of Alexandria, Virginia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downham, Emanuel Ethelbert}} Category:1839 births Category:1921 deaths Category:19th-century mayors of places in Virginia Category:People from Bridgeton, New Jersey Category:Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia Category:Politicians from Cumberland County, New Jersey Category:Businesspeople from Alexandria, Virginia Category:Businesspeople from Cumberland County, New Jersey Category:Mayors of Alexandria, Virginia Category:American miners