dˈaʊni wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn wˈɛstɚnpˌoːɹt, mˈɛɹɪlˌænd ˌɔn dʒuːlˈaɪ twˈɛnti fˈaɪv, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪn, ɐ sˈʌn ʌv ˈoʊɪn dˈoːɹsi dˈaʊni ænd ᵻlˈɪzəbəθ ˈɛl. pˈaʊɛl dˈaʊni.
Downey was born in Westernport, Maryland on July 25, 1839, a son of Owen Dorsey Downey and Elizabeth L. (Powell) Downey.