Back to Biographies

 BIOGRAPHIES 'D'

AZARIAH DAVIS was born in Butler county, Ohio, Oct. 23. 1819. He was reared on a farm and continued to follow farming until he came to Anoka in 1870. Here he was engaged chiefly in real estate and brokerage business, until the time of his death, Dec. 8, 1893. He was married Oct. 3, 1842, to Caroline Monday. They had one daughter, Mrs. B. D. Woodmansee.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

GUSTAVE H. DOMNING was born in East Prussia, Germany. Sept. 3, 1850. He came to America and to Minneapolis in 1869. He worked at dairying two years, and afterward at mason work. He also worked two years in the North Star Woollen Mills. In 1889 he purchased forty acres in section 36, town of Blaine, where he still resides. He was married Dec. 14, 1874, to Caroline M. Hohler. Children: George (New Brighton, Ramsey Co.), Carrie M., Josephine (Mrs. Russell Austin), Julia (Mrs. Albert Hughes, New Brighton P. O.), Edward J. (First Ave. Hotel, Seattle, Wash.), Jacob O., Louisa A., Laura J., Frederick R.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ALBERT DOOIES was born in Cronnan, Holland, Sept. 25, 1866. He came to St. Anthony with his parents in 1869, and moved in 1884 to the farm in the town of Fridley, where he engaged in farming and dairying and where he now resides. He was married Jan 11, 1894, to Imma Algauer.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JAMES M. DOUGLAS was born at Riveire du Loup (now Louisville), about three miles from the St. Lawrence river, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Jan. 17, 1828. About 1850 he went to Lowell, Mass., where he worked in the wood working department of a large cotton mill. In 1855 he came to Minnesota, and located first at Winona, and a year later moved to Minneiska, in Wabasha county, where he made his home until 1869. He enlisted early in February, 1864, in the Tenth Minnesota Regiment, and a few days later was detailed for office work at Fort Snelling. He was in charge of the office during the summer. In September he was assigned to Company F of the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, which he reached in time to take part in the battle of Altoona Pass, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He was mustered out with his regiment July 19, 1865. In 1869 he came to Anoka and opened a furniture and undertaking establishment, which business he continued until he sold it in June, 1903. He was a member of the city council one year and was elected mayor of Anoka in 1884. He was married Dec. 27, 1852, to Minerva J. Simpson. There are three living children: Frederick H. (Auburn, Placer Co., Cal.), James E. (1814 Reid St., Los Angeles, Cal.), Kenneth V. (216 Winsted St., Los Angeles, Cal.).
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

WILLIAM MORRILL DOWLIN was born at Bradford, New Hampshire, April 24, 1838. He received his education in the schools at Bradford, the high school at Lowell, Mass., and Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. He came to Minnesota in the spring of 1866, arriving at Champlin in April, where he has been employed as bookkeeper and time keeper. He has been supervisor and was constable from 1874 to 1877. Mr. Dowlin was married July 2, 1870, to Louisa C. Kimball. Children: Winnie E., Susan (Mrs. Arthur J. Miller), Albert U., Charles M. and Floyd E.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ARTHUR Z. DOWNS was born at Champlin, Nov. 30, 1858. Received his education in the schools of Champlin and Dayton. About 1871 his father purchased a farm in section 16, town of Dayton, where he resided until 1900, since which time he has been a resident of Minneapolis. Mr. Downs has been twice married. His first wife was Cora Fullerton, to whom he was married Nov. 14, 1883, and who died Oct. 2, 1887, leaving one son, Joseph. His second wife was Helen R. Lafiin, to whom he was married in 1891. They have two children: Clifford R. and Anna E.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JOSEPH DOWNS (deceased) was born at Orland, Maine, Jan. 15, 1823. He lived in Maine until 1853, removing in that year to Evans Center, New York, and came to Minnesota in 1854. He located upon a farm in the town of Dayton near Diamond lake, where he lived two winters. In the spring of 1857 he opened a hotel at Champlin, which he conducted for two years, and then lived on farms in Champlin and Dayton until the beginning of the Rebellion. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, Eighth Minnesota Regiment, and remained with that regiment until the close of the war. After the war he returned to farming in the town of Dayton, and died there about 1878. He was married at Albion, Maine, to Anne Wiggins. Children: Octavia J. (Mrs. Stockton, died in June, 1885), Walter J. (Minneapolis), Nancy J. (Mrs. N. Colburn, Champlin), Arthur Z. (Minneapolis), and Ellen M. (Mrs. Walter Green, now living in Maine).
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

RUFUS T. DOWNS (deceased) was a native of Maine. He came to Minnesota in 1854, and purchased a fine farm on the bank of the Mississippi river in the town of Ramsey, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He served several terms as county commissioner, and during a portion of the time was chairman of the board.
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ZELOTES DOWNS (deceased) was born at Orland, Maine, June 15, 1814. He attended the academy at Bucksport, Maine, and on leaving school engaged first in lumbering. He came to Minnesota April 19, 1854, and lived for some years on a farm in the town of Brooklyn, Hennepin Co., whence he moved to Anoka in May, 1870. He was for a time in the hardware business at Anoka, and later purchased the old Trott farm in the town of Ramsey. He served as justice of the peace and clerk of the school board. Mr. Downs was twice married. His first wife was E. A. Burrill, to whom he was married Dec. 9, 1838, and who died in Maine. His second wife was Catherine Farnham, to whom he was married Aug. 31, 1852. Children: Carrie (deceased), Mary (Mrs. Livingston L. Estes, Brooklyn, Hennepin Co.), George (died in the army). and Flora (deceased).
~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

D. C. DUNHAM, M. D., was born at Brownhelm, Ohio, July 13, 1841. He took the scientific course at Oberlin College, and graduated at the Cleveland Medical College in 1867. He practiced medicine at Anoka a few years and later engaged in the lumber business, and in the manufacture of sash and doors. He was for many years a member of the school board and served several terms in the city council.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905