from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 180-182
In placing the name of James A. Downard before the reader as one standing the front rank of the enterprising men of affairs and a leader of the bar at Danville, Indiana, whose influence has tended to the upbuilding of the city of his residence and the advancement of the affairs of his native county of Hendricks, simple justice is done a biographical fact recognized throughout the community by those at all familiar with his history and cognizant of the important part he has acted in the circles with which he has been identified. His career presents a notable example of those qualities of mind and character which overcome obstacles and win success, and his example is eminently worthy of imitation.
James A. Downard, a prominent lawyer and abstracter of Danville, was born in New Winchester, Hendricks County, Indiana, November 15, 1855. His parents, David M. and Cassandra (Morgan) Downard, were both natives of this county. David Downard was a farmer and stock raiser and was regarded as a fine judge of stock. He was a large breeder of high grade stock of all kinds and was one of the most successful in this line in the county. He was the son of Judge James Downard, who was one of the first probate judges of the Hendricks County court. He was one of the four proprietors who laid out the town of Danville in 1825. Judge Downard came from Kentucky to Indiana, having been born in Pennsylvania and emigrating to the Northwest Territory about 1811. A few years later he went to Kentucky, and in 1818 came to Indiana, first settling near Brooklyn, afterwards moving to Indianapolis and later on permanently settling in Plainfield, where his death occurred in 1846. Judge Downard married Elizabeth Curry in Pennsylvania, a descendant of a Scotch-Irish family who came from Ireland. Judge Downard and his wife were the parents of ten children, David being the ninth in order of birth, and his death occurred on January 2, 1892, his wife having passed away many years before, on May 17, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. David Downard were the parents of ten children: James A., the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Martha Hammond, of Danville; Mrs. Mary J. Anderson, of Anderson, Indiana; Canada H., who lives on the old home place near Hadley in this county; William, a merchant of East St. Louis, Missouri; Erie, deceased, who married Charles S. Hall, of Evansville, Indiana; Oliver, of Lynn, Indiana; Frank, of Danville, and two who died in infancy.
James A. Downard received his education in the district schools and later spent one year at Butler University and also took a course at Bryant and Stratton's Business University at Indianapolis. In 1877 he entered the law office of Cofer and Taylor to read law and one year later he was admitted to the practice of all courts in Indiana. In the same year he took up the abstract business and now has the finest set of abstract books in Hendricks County, and is recognized as an authority on land titles in the county. In 1882 he formed a connection with the Union Central Life Insurance Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been their financial correspondent for this county since that time. He has carried on this threefold line of work since 1882, namely, the practice of law, the abstract business and the insurance business. He has managed his business in such a way that he has acquired a very comfortable competence and is regarded as one of the leading and substantial men of Danville.
Mr. Downard was married May 22, 1884, to Maude L. Donaldson, the daughter of William H. and Araminta B. Donaldson, of Danville. Mr. Downard was for fourteen years on the town board of Danville, and during this period, from 1892 to 1906, he was instrumental in providing sidewalks, brick streets, electric lights, water works and a new high school building for the town. In recognition of his efficient service on the town board, he was elected on the Republican ticket as county commissioner in 1910 and renominated in 1912, but went down to defeat with the rest of his party ticket. As county commissioner he has been one of the men responsible for the handsome new court house in Danville. He has been the one to take the lead in the work and has been recognized as the most important man on the board by virtue of his past experience. He has been treasurer of the Citizens' Building, Savings and Loan Association since 1882, and during his long incumbency the institution has never lost a cent or had to make a foreclosure.
Fraternally, Mr. Downard is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and, religiously, is identified with the Friends Church. His career has indeed been a busy one and it has been as useful as busy. He and his wife move in the best social circles of Danville and are highly esteemed wherever they are known.