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 in 1925. (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 cited 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.