and with some assistance from his younger brothers, John
G. and James L., the first well drilling rig to be mounted on
wheels. It was a success and enabled him to drill 5 inch or
6 inch wells at the rate of 40 to 50 feet per day—ten times as
fast as they could be drilled by hand and with about a tenth
of the labor. He “drilled” his way through Geneva College,
graduating with the class of 1881. The school had that year
been moved from Northwood, Ohio, to Beaver Falls, Penna.
At this time Dr. H. H. George was President of the College.
Dr. David McAllister occupied the chair of Philosophy.
James D. MecAnlis kept a jewlery store at Seventh avenue
and Eighth street. Robert Downie, who had had some
success as a debater in the Adelphic Literary Society, had
one firm purpose and ambition. He desired to preach the
gospel. ‘He was preparing to leave for Allegheny and the
Covenanter Seminary, when he met James D. McAnlis, who
suggested the organization of a company to manufacture
well drilling machinery. It was largely due to Mr. McAnlis’
persuasion, and to the friendly interest of Dr. H. H. George,
that a new industry was founded in the Beaver Valley.
The well drilling business had, in the meantime, probably
in 1878, been organized under the name of R. M. Downie
and Bros., with an office at the corner of Arch and Ohio
streets, in Allegheny; and some six or eight replicas of the
original non-traction well drill were manufactured under
contract with the Velte Foundry Company, at 33rd Street
and Penn Avenue, and sold under the adopted trade name,
“Keystone.” John Galbraith Downie was closely asso-
ciated with his brother Robert M. in this as in many other
enterprises at a later time. R. M. Downie & Bro. exhibited
one of their machines at the Pittsburgh Exposition in the
winter of 1881.
The Keystone Portable Steam Driller Company, Ltd., was
organized on Ground Hog Day, February 2, 1882, in the
back room of Mr. McAnlis’s Jewelry Shop, with a capital
stock of $20,000. Of this amount $10,000 was subscribed
in cash by the following charter members and founders, and
$10,000 worth of stock was allotted to Robert M. Downie
