Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 5 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 14

William Kavanaugh Downey, who was the pioneer contractor for heating, ventilating and power plants at Milwaukee and was long at the head of the business that ultimately was conducted under the name of the Downey Heating & Supply Company, passed away on the 1st of October, 1921, after a long, busy, useful and active life, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was born near Delavan, Wisconsin, on the 25th of March, 1861, and was one of the family of ten children, whose parents were James M. and Mary Ann (Kavanaugh) Downey, the former a railroad contractor. His youthful days were spent on the old homestead farm to the age of twelve years when the family removed to Milwaukee and here he attended the old St. Gall's grammar school, continuing his education until he put aside his textbooks in order to assist in the support of the family, his father having died during the early boyhood of William K. Downey.

In young manhood the latter went to Akron, Ohio, and there learned the blacksmith's trade, returning to Milwaukee about 1882, at which time he engaged in bridge construction work. He was afterward employed by the E. P. Allis Company, with which he remained until 1886, having been advanced to the position of timekeeper ere he left that organization. He next became associated with H. Mooers & Company and in 1887 was admitted to a partnership and became manager, being elected to the presidency of the company upon its incorporation in 1893. The Downey Heating & Supply Company is the successor to Hazen Mooers Company established in 1863, which later became the Mooers-Smith & Allis, then Goodman & Mooers and afterward Mooers & Company. Beginning at the time when Mr. Downey was associated with Mooers & Company as manager, it is interesting to note that during the thirty-five years he was in the business the company which he managed was always recognized as one of the leaders in the heating industry in the northwest. Moreover, the H. Mooers Company was the first company in Wisconsin to install a mechanical system of ventilation in the state, which was put in at the old thirteenth district school about 1890. Today mechanical ventilation is used almost universally in schoolhouse heating and ventilating. But the company of which Mr. Downey was manager and ultimately became the head was the pioneer in promoting this movement in Wisconsin. The H. Mooers Company became the Downey & Kruse Company in 1904 and the Downey Heating & Supply Company in 1910. The H. Mooers Company with Mr. Downey as president and manager, was also the first in the northwest to install the Hawley down-draft furnaces and these were installed in the old north point pumping station, resulting in a great saving of fuel. These furnaces are used very extensively today all over the United States for medium sized power plants and schoolhouse work. Mr. Downey was ever alert to new advances in the science of heating and ventilating and his company was among the first to install vacuum heating systems when they first came into use some twenty-five years ago. For a half century this company has been identified with the advancement of the heating industry in Milwaukee, starting when the H. Mooers Company pushed the sale of Gold boilers, for which they were exclusive agents, and installed them extensively throughout the city and state in most of the finer residences, and many of these steam-heating systems were installed throughout the country, notably in Ohio, Alabama, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana. Among the larger and more prominent installations of the H. Mooers Company and their successor, the Downey Heating & Supply Company, coincident with Milwaukee's development might, be mentioned the Milwaukee city hall, Pfister Hotel, Matthews block, Merrill block. Wells building, Stevenson building, Majestic theatre, T. M. E. R. & L. Co. Terminal, Milwaukee Public Museum addition, Milwaukee County Agriculture schools, Wisconsin state prison, Milwaukee County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Riverside high school, Merrill theatre, Miller theatre, Palace theatre, Franklin school at Racine, McKinley school at Racine and the Washington school at Racine.

On the 27th of November, 1886, Mr. Downey was married in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Miss Mary Jane Coughlin, a daughter of John and Catherine (Maher) Coughlin. a pioneer family of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Downey became parents of seven children: Margaret, now the wife of William W. Rumsey: Frank E.; Kavanaugh C; Paul C; Mary E.; and William K. and James, who are deceased. Mr. Downey passed away on the 1st of October, 1921, after a short illness. He died in the Catholic faith, having been a member of St. Rose's church at Milwaukee. He was also a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. The federal administration found him a most stanch supporter during the period of the World war and at all times he was a loyal advocate of principles and projects relating to the progress and upbuilding of his community. Along business lines he had connections with the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers and the National Association of Heating and Piping Contractors. Aside from his business previously mentioned he was a director in the Badger Savings Building & Loan Association. He never sought nor desired political preferment but was a member of the Milwaukee school board in the early '90s. Left fatherless when quite young and thus early thrown upon his own resources, he made steady progress in his business career through the judicious use which he made of nis opportunities. He was ambitious to succeed and never missed a chance to progress if a legitimate opening appeared. The exercise of effort strengthened his powers, developed his executive force and ability and brought him to a point of leadership in connection with the heating and ventilating business of the state. He left behind him an example well worthy of emulation and a name honored and respected by all who knew him.