07/02/2026
Campbell Market Butcher Wagon, c. 1904.
The donor of the image identified the driver of the cart as Melvin Farley. We cannot find much on Melvin. In 1904, the Campbell Press notes that Melvin was back from visiting family in Petaluma. He is also listed as a butcher in Campbell in a 1907 San Jose City Directory.
That said, L.D. Downing is mentioned often in the Campbell Press between 1904-1906. Downing was mentioned as a member of Campbell's Board of Trade in 1904. Papers from 1904 have many ads for his meat market, listing the same phone number as this carriage.
In 1906, the Campbell Press noted, "Campbell is to have a new grocery. Mr. Jack of San Jose has rented two of L. D. Downing's store room - the one at the present occupied by A. E. Howe's barber and the one immediately west of it, and they are being fitted up for the store." This might have been in preparation for a move, because a few months later the paper noted that L. D. Downing, sold his meat market to Walter L. Downton and would be moving to Nevada to look after his mining interests.
The Campbell Press noted that he and his family came to visit Campbell in 1907.
Object ID: 2005.03.0001.0042
Description: A horse drawn butcher's wagon. On the side is a logo for Campbell Market. Below this there is a name partially obscured by a boy's head "L.D. Dow-G." A boy is standing by the cart wearing light-colored clothing, apron and a flat cap. A pair of horses are drawing the wagon.
