University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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--- If .,,..,i....,.l 14. I I !l I I I I ,imma Lgwltii John Florin Downey An Appreciation of Thirty-four Years of Lasting Service HEN Professor Downey re- tires from active service at the University after the completion of this school year, he will close a long career of usefulness to Minnesota. All who know Pro- fessor Downey agree that he has more than fulfilled his many obliga- tions to this University. To most of us at Minnesota the story of what he has accomplished is well known. John Florin Downey was born Jan- uary 10, 1846, at Hiramsburg, Ohio, second son of Thomas and Mary Ann Scott Downey, both of Scotch- Irish descent. Until ten years of age he lived the greater part of the time in Garnsey and Noble counties, in the southern part of Ohio. He then went with his parents to south- ern Michigan where, as soon as his age permitted, he engaged in cabinet making and other mechanical work with his father. At the age of eighteen he left the High School at Three Rivers and joined the army, serving thru the latter part of the Civil war in Company E, Eleventh Michigan infantry. He served as a pioneer on the Atlantic campaign and was in the battles of Buzzard- roost Gap, Resaca, Dallas, Allatoona, Kenesaw Smyrna camp, Peach- tree Creek and Atlanta. During his army life, and particularly when a drummer, he was nicknamed Jack Before the close of the war, he was made principal musician with the rank of Sergeant Major, in a held band of twenty-two men. He sent north for school books and much of his leisure time was spent in elementary study. After the war he attended Colon Seminary for a few terms, taught one term in a country school and then entered Hillsdale College, graduating in 1870. He worked his way thru college, boarding himself, and earning most of his support by manual labor. The next year he taught at Hills- dale in place of Professor Collier, who was traveling. The following year he was principal of schools at Cassopolis, Michigan. Parts of the next two years were spent in post graduate study in mathematics, astronomy and engineering. at the University of Michigan. From there he went to the State College of Pennsylvania as assistant in mathematics, becoming professor of mathematics the following year. He resigned this position M221 ,.,,,--,if -ity-3.1, 1 I I I I I L. . l el! ll I.. , I 1. .. lf' ll hi 1 4

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GEORGE EDGAR VINCENT, Ph.D., LL.D 121 Y

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llllll' l ml i A 1 1 1 -I , 'il to accept a corresponding one in the University of Minnesota, where he has been head of the department of mathematics from 1894 and Dean of the College of Science, Literature and Arts since 1903. He is a lecturer on scientific, educational and popular subjectsg member of the mathematics society, G. A. R., Phi Beta Kappa, and association of State University deans. Dean Downey is the author of a popular Higher Algebra and Elements of Differentiation and Integration. If we could have a glimpse of the campus as it looked when Professor Downey came here in 1880 and compare its appearance with the campus as we know it, we could realize what a great work has been and is being accomplished. Ever since first coming to Minnesota Dean Downey has been one of the foremost and ablest workers for the University. During all the various stages of its advancement and in those critical times which corr.e to every institution he has concentrated his every power and energy to help build up the University as we know it. He is primarily interested in mathcmaticsg but as Dean of the College of Science, Literature and the Arts he has a double interest which he has never forgotten. He has labored for Minnesota untiringly and incessantly every year of the thirty-four that he has spent here. What he has done can never be measured by any standard which we possess. We owe him a debt of gratitude which can never be paid. Our gratitude is due as much to his interest, purpose, inspiration and genuine enthusiasm as to those accomplishments which can be estimated by material standards. He has given the best of himself and the best years of his life in service to the University. It is with the deepest regret that we learn that this is his last year at Minnesota. He leaves us in person but we can never for- get him as long as this University stands as a monument to much of his work. llllll l it - 4