John N. Downing family business records
Scope and Contents
This collection offers a picture of Montpelier, Idaho history. The collection consists of the financial documents and records of J. N. Downing, his son, Edgar, and his grandson, Paul N. Richelson, started in1903 and continuing until 1956. Included in this collection are warranty deeds and mortgage papers that were turned over to J. N. Downing. There is also a series of bank statements and checks from several banks. Most are from the First Security Bank of Idaho (1941-1956). From 1941 to at least 1943, the accounts (and other records) are in Edgar L. Downing's name. By 1954 the accounts had been transferred to the name of Paul N. Richelson. There are checks from the Bank of Montpelier, The First National Bank, and the Eccles-Browning Bank. The collection contains Loan Statements from the Federal Land Bank of Spokane, as well as correspondence and records dealing with Utah Light and Power, the State of Idaho, life insurance companies, and other businesses. Additionally, there are tax papers from 1918-1950. Eight ledger books are included in this collection which are the financial records for Downing's businesses. Ledger 3 in box 3 is labeled "Apartment House Rent Book" with records for the Downing Apartments. The other ledgers are not clearly labeled and seem to be a mix of all his accounts and expenses. Some of the ledgers are indexed in the front tab section of the book.
The first box consists of tax papers, separated by year. Following the tax papers are various legal size documents including deeds, mortgage papers, loan papers, and the guest register for the Burgoyne Hotel. The second box consists mostly of bank statements and checks from the First Security Bank of Idaho. (Account no. 2 at the First Security Bank of Idaho is the Ranch Account) Also in this box are more records for the Hotel and the Downing Apartments, along with correspondence from the Department of Agriculture and several life insurance companies. The third box holds four ledgers. The fourth box holds four more ledgers and some oversize items including tax papers and financial figures. The fifth box contains loose papers that were tucked in the pages of the ledgers. These papers are in folders labeled with the ledger and page number indicating where they were found originally.
Dates
- 1903-1956
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the John N. Downing family business records must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
This collection contains the financial records of John Newton Downing (1866-1941) and his various businesses: the Burgoyne Hotel, the Downing Apartments, and the Downing Ranch all located in Montpelier and Georgetown, Idaho. A local history of Montpelier discusses both the Hotel and Apartments:
The original Burgoyne Hotel was in a building constructed by Edward Burgoyne for a Y.M.C.A. After some years the building reverted to Mr. Burgoyne, who sold it to J. N. Downing in 1898. He retained the pioneer name of Burgoyne to designate what became the three-story hotel on Washington Street with seven business rentals. The original building was moved from Washington Street to North Ninth Street and converted into the Downing Apartment. In 1908 the east wing of the new building was built, followed in 1915 with the construction of the west wing. The space between the two wings was enclosed in1925. (Rich 76)
John Newton Downing was married to Hannah Katherine Nelson Downing. They had a son named Edgar L. Downing, who by 1937 was also a partner in the Burgoyne Hotel. The bank records from First Security Bank of Idaho appear in Edgar's name after the death of J. N. Downing suggesting that Edgar took over his father's businesses. Paul N. Richelson, a grandson to J. N. Downing, is also listed in these records by 1954. Paul W. Richelson, who donated this collection, is a great-grandson to John Newton Downing.
There are references to several other Montpelier banks in this collection: The Bank of Montpelier, The First National Bank, and the Eccles-Browning Bank. J. N. Downing had accounts and interactions with each of these institutions. The Bank of Montpelier was started in 1891 by G. C. Gray and survived until 1924. The First National Bank was opened by E. A. Burrell in 1904 and remained open until 1925. The Eccles-Browning Bank began in 1925, after the other banks had closed. In this collection, the Eccles-Browning Bank records are for the years of 1925 and 1926.
Many of the names and businesses mentioned in this collection appear in the A. McKay Rich thesis sited below, which also contains photographs of the Burgoyne Hotel and the Downing Apartments. There is another photo of the Hotel in Earl F. Passey's book An Account of the Settlement and Development of Montpelier, Idaho.
Sources: Rich, A. McKay. The History of Montpelier From 1864 to 1925. Thesis. Utah State Agricultural College. Logan, Utah: 1957.
Extent
5 boxes (3 linear ft.)
Abstract
This collection offers a picture of Montpelier, Idaho, history. The collection consists of the financial documents and records of J. N. Downing, his son, Edgar, and his grandson, Paul N. Richelson, starting in 1903 and continuing until 1956.
Arrangement
Grouped by document type and chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The donor of this collection is Paul W. Richelson. He is the great grandson of John Newton Downing, the founder of the Burgoyne Hotel and Downing Apartments. This collection came in two installments, the first in June 1997, and the second in December 1999.
- Title
- Guide to the John N. Downing family business records 1903-1956
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu