Things you didn't know about Downey: Joseph Venable

DOWNEY – On October 19, 1912 there was a story about a prominent citizen of Downey named Joseph William Venable Sr., a pioneer of the state who had succumbed to a long illness.

Venable was one of the best-known residents of this section of the country and had held many important offices.

Venable was elected in 1873 on the Democratic ticket to the assembly and later held the offices of County Assessor and County Supervisor. His early career was marked with many interesting episodes-one being his trip in 1849 from his home in Evansville, Indiana during the gold rush to the Pacific coast.

He told of being stranded at Panama and with a number of friends induced the captain of an English coal brig to take them to San Francisco.

Upon entering Magdalena Bay, with food and water given out, Venable and three companions stole a boat from the vessel and made way to the land to secure provisions from two Indians they met by chance. Venable knew they had committed a crime under the English laws and decided to attempt to walk to San Diego in preference to going back to the ship.

Though his journey at times was met with hunger, he finally reached San Diego. From there they walked to Los Angeles, and then along the coast to San Francisco. Venable was in destitute state when he reached San Francisco, but he soon started out with many others in search of gold – and met fairly good success.

By 1869 Venable was located in Downey, where he purchased a ranch and resided until 1910 – two years before his death. He spent his last two years in Redondo.

Venable’s funeral took place at Downey Cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge, of which he was an active member. His remains were followed to their final resting place by a long concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends.