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| WILLIAM DOWNING AND MALINDA BARTON by Joe Downing WILLIAM DOWNING was born c. 1773 in Pennsylvania per the 1850 Mercer Co., Ohio Census. Although many of his children state he was born in Virginia or Maryland in their census reports. He married Malinda Barton in Mason Co., Kentucky on 16 March 1797. James Barton and William Downing signed the bond. Based on comments in a James Lewis (his grandson)letter dated in 1860 it seems he was the son of a Timothy Downing of Western Maryland. If so he had a brother George born in MD. who moved to Pike Co,OH in 1796 and half brothers and sisters by Timothy's second marriage to Sarah Chenoweth. Of these John, born in KY was in Pike Co, OH then to Kansas; Susan born in KY. married John Morrison, was in Pike Co,OH and then Green Co,WI; and Sarah m. Mishack Downing in Ross Co,OH and lived in Pike Co. William's first child, James, was born in 1798 in Kentucky or Ohio, the census differ, but by 1801 he was in Pike Co., Ohio because his second child, Timothy, was born there on 8 September. William appears on the 1820 and 1830 census in PeePee Township, Pike Co., Ohio. He is on the 1826 and 1829 tax list for the same township. Book B (1827-1831) Pike County has the following entries: p27 PeePee Twp William Downing, no property, Personal property value $96. p115, 1828 PeePee Twp William Downing paying taxes, property value $264 entry# 1125, Water course: PeePee Creek, Orig Prop: Alex Fowler, 180 acres. Deed Book C, p641 reflects a purchase of 100 acres by William from James Stinson on 12 Mar 1832. (Surveys #8412 & 8413) This land was sold 5 Sep 1840 by William and Malinda Downing to John Kern, they are shown as residing in Mercer Co, Ohio. (Recorded 24Apr1843, Deed Bk 7, p569). In 1840 William is head of household on the census in Butler Twp, Mercer Co., Ohio. In the 1850 census he and Malinda are in the same location. On 23 Sep 1843 William purchases land in Mercer Co. from Joseph Carlin. (Ref Deed Bk K, pp135-136). The following year, 15 Feb 1844, William and Malinda sell the land to their son, James Downing. (Ref Deed Bk K, pp303-304). On 1 April 1846, Manuel Circle filed a bill in Chancery in the Court of Common Pleas against William, Malinda and James Downing requesting the land be sold to satisfy certain judgements against William Downing. The sheriff of Mercer Co. auctioned the land on 22 June 1850 and the court approved the sale in July court, executed it on 10 Nov 1850 and it was recorded 17 Jan 1851 (Vol P, p31). This is the last record we have of William and Malinda. Their children, James, Harrison and Hannah left this area of Ohio for Wisconsin in the 1850's. So it is probable they died in Ohio. They had one other daughter, Delilah Frank, who was in Mercer Co. until 1860. William and Malinda had the following children: JAMES--He was born in 1798 in Kentucky or Ohio, the census differ on this item, but the later, 1870, census shows Ohio and may be correct. He married Susan Waggs, who was born 1803 in Virginia, 8 May 1823 in Ross Co., Ohio. They appear on the 1830 census in Pike Co. In the 1840 and 1850 census they appear in Butler Twp, Mercer Co., Ohio. They apparently moved there with his parents in the 1830s. They left Ohio in the mid-1850s, Mercer Co. Deed Bk Y, p81 is a sale of land by James and Susan in 1855. We have family letters which place them in Wisconsin by then and in the 1860 census they are in Forest, Bad Ax (later Vernon Co.) Wisconsin. In the 1870 census they are in Wellington, Monroe Co., Wisconsin. Their death occurred before 1880. James and Susan's children are: John (1827-1897) m.Cynthia Ann DeWitt Francis M. Downing and his wife are buried in the Mt. Tabor, Wisc. cemetery with other family members. His father may be buried there in an unmarked grave. In 1873 Francis wrote a letter to his Uncle Timothy in Missouri and mentions where he lived and names several relatives. Mrs. Joan Finrow of Snohomish, WA. is a descendant of this family. TIMOTHY--was born 8 September 1801 in Pike Co., Ohio. He married Rachael Davis, who was born 15 Dec 1803 in Ohio, 8 Jan 1824 in Pike Co. They appear on the 1830-1860 census in PeePee Twp, Pike Co. The 1860 census shows Timothy, Rachel and Henry in the household. I have found three deeds pertaining to him: Deed Bk 12, p691, 1853; Bk 13, p627, 1855; and BK 16, p399, 1861; reflecting the sale, purchase and sale of property. The property was located on Crooked Creek, northwest of Waverly. In the Civil War pension application submitted by Timothy, based on his son's, Henry Clay Downing, service, he mentions being in California in the 1850s. We have a letter he wrote in 1851 from California describing his gold claims. A descendant has some gold dust that he evidently brought back. Timothy and Rachel's children are: During the Civil War his two sons and one son-in-law served in the 33rd OVI. Henry Clay died in Army Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee and Peter Lightle was killed in battle at Franklin, KY. After the war Timothy and Rachel, daughter Sena Lightle and her children, Albert and Evangeline, moved to Missouri with William Washington Downing. There is a separate chapter on the family in Missouri. Timothy resided near William in Downing Bend, Benton Co., Missouri until his death 14 April 1887. Rachel predeceased him 26 Feb. 1883 and they were both buried in the Downing Cemetery. Sena Downing Lightle remarried in Missouri to William Newbill 1 May 1870. Malinda Lightle and family remained in Waverly, Ohio until their death, hers 5 August 1881 and James Lightle 6 May 1889. Their son Eugene Lightle, born 1856, wrote several letters to the family in Missouri and we are fortunate to have copies. W.J. Downing of Tallahassee, FL. is a descendant of Timothy. TAYLOR--was born in 1804 in Pike Co., Ohio. He married Elizabeth (Betsy Ann) Peters (daughter of John Peters) there 11 November 1827. She was born 1795 in Virginia. They appear in Pike Co. for the 1840 & 1850 census. In 1860 they are in Franklin Twp., Ross Co. Pike Co. references to Taylor are: Court of Common Pleas Journal 10, p11, 1 Mar 1859. Deed Bk 15, p361; Bk 10, p536; Bk 13, p512 and Bk 5, p245. Taylor and his brothers Timothy and George were involved in a dispute with local blacks in the 1830s which resulted in George's death and Taylor suffering a disfiguring blow to the face. (Vol 1, p44, Howe's-Historical Sketches of Ohio). Taylor died 13 March 1863 and is buried in Jackson Twp., Pike Co. near the Ross Co. line. His daughter, Mary Ann Dowis, who died 6 March 1863 is buried nearby. After his death Elizabeth lived with their daughter Margret until her death in 1883. Taylor and Elizabeth's children were: John P. Downing served in the Civil War in Comp. D, 187th Regt. OVI -- Pension # Margret Downing, born 17 Jan 1833, near Waverly, Ohio married Henry Hatfield 8 Sep 1851. They had eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. Henry died of erysipelas in the Post Hospital in Tennessee in March 1865 while serving in the Civil War. Margret was left to rear ten children under thirteen years of age. She died 7 Jan. 1916 and is buried at Omega, Pike Co. Ellizabeth Downing was born 15Nov1835 and died 2Aug1898 in Grundy Co., MO. By 1854 they are in Marion Co,IL and were in Grundy Co,MO in the 1870s. HANNAH--was born in 1808 in Pike Co., Ohio. She married James Lewis there 3 Dec 1831. He died 27 Dec 1833, however one child, James W Lewis was born to them 22 May 1834. She moved to Mercer Co., Ohio with her parents in the 1830s and she married Hiram Crouch, a widower, there 20 Aug 1842. They appear on p260 of the 1850 Mercer Co. census with the three children by this marriage: Julia (1843 Her second husband died 1 Mar 1852 in Mercer Co. and is buried in Swamp College Cemetery. There are papers in the Mercer Co. Probate court pertaining to the guardianship of the children. She went with her brothers James and Harrison to Wisconsin soon thereafter and appears on the 1860 census in Vernon Co., Wisc. Her nephew James Combest is in the same household. In a letter to Timothy Downing, dated 8 July 1860, from Mt Tabor, Bad Ax Co, WI, her son James mentions his mother being there and comments on his uncles James & Harrison. He complains that he has not heard from relatives in Pike Co, Ohio for two years. He mentions his aunt Delilah and having heard from her two months ago. Hannah married Daniel Fitzgerald 5 July 1864 in Vernon Co.,Wisc. She died in 1880 and is buried in the Mt. Tabor, WI cemetery as Hannah Downing Lewis. Her son James W Lewis married Mary E Malosh 22 Mar 1854 in Mercer Co., Ohio. In October they moved to Wisconsin, residing in Dane and Vernon Counties. They are on the 1860 census in Forest, Vernon Co. During the Civil War he served with the 1st Wisc. Cav., Comp H, Pension #376,405. He was 5'8" tall with light complexion. In 1869 they moved to Houston Co., Minnesota and lived there until 1881 when they moved to Cadott, Chippewa Co., WI. He was living there in 1912. James Lewis daughter, Emarillis, born in 1855 married Jacob Downing, the son of Hannah's brother James. DELILAH--was born in Pike Co., Ohio c.1809. She was married to Stephen Frank there 27 Sep 1832, by Charles McCollister. Their son William was born in Coldwater, Mercer Co.,OH. 6 March 1842, so they probably moved there when her parents did. They appear on p259, Butler Twp., Mercer Co., Ohio in the 1850 census. She appears without her husband in the 1860 census in Butler Twp. Her son Denis Frank is on the same page with his wife Rachel. The children of Delilah and Stephen Frank are: Denas (1836 m.Rachel Jane Miller William Frank served in the Civil War with the 5th Battery, Ohio Light Artillery. (Ref#1090193) He is described as 5'10", light complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. In 1869 he moved to Delaware Co.,IN and resided there until his death in 1917. He had four children by his first wife-Ristoria, Delmar, Irene, and Dennis. After his first wife's death, 1 Feb 1881 near Bryant, IN., he married Leah Bales Wingate 9 April 1887 in Muncie, IN. SARAH--was born in Pike Co. c.1805 and married Frederick Cooper there 8 Mar 1827. The 1830 Pike Co. census show a Frederick Cooper on p145 in PeePee Twp. A letter from her son, Abraem Cooper, dated 7 Jan 1850, to his uncle Timothy Downing in Ohio, states that he was in Marshall Co,IL. The 1850 census for Marshall Co.lists on p127: Abraim Cooper 22 OH MATILDA--was born c.1815 in Pike Co. and married there 30 Mar 1838 to James Combest. Their son James, age 19, born in Indiana appears on the 1860 Wisconsin census living with Matilda's sister Hannah Crouch. There is a CW tombstone in the Mt. Tabor, WI. cemetery showing him serving in Comp. F, 1st Wisc. Cav. His CW military record indicates he enlisted 18 Nov 1863 at Forrest, WI. for a term of three years. That he was born in Indiana, was 24 years of age, 6' tall, hazel eyes and black hair, occupation a farmer. He died of disease in Vernon Co., WI. 20 Oct 1864 while on sick leave. We have no other information on Matilda or her family. WILLIAM--was born c.1816 in Pike Co. and married Deborah McGee there 30 Mar 1838. She was born 23 Mar 1819 in Athens Co., OH., the daughter of James McGee. They appear on the 1850 census in Pike Co. but move to Illinois by 1860. They are in Long Creek Twp, Macon Co.,IL. p24, of the 1880 census. William died there 6 Aug 1882 and Deborah also 28 Jan 1900. The children of William and Deborah were: George Downing, Mariah and the Lancasters were in Illiopolis Twp, Sangamon Co.,IL in the 1870 census. William Henry Downing married his second cousin in Benton Co.,MO. 6 Jun 1887 and died in Henry Co.,MO. James Downing lived in Waverly, Pike Co., OH. He served in the CW in Comp. K, 176 OVI (Cert#475,601). He married Charlotte Finney in Pike Co. 24 Nov 1860. Alice Downing married Louis H Clark 29 Aug 1880 at Oakley, Macon Co,IL. They later resided in Iowa. Phoebe Jane Downing married Southy Copes Lancaster 23 May 1860 in Scioto Co., OH. He died 13 Mar 1911 and she 18 Jan 1925 in Macon Co, IL. HARRISON--was born 1 April 1818 in Pike Co., OH. We have a record of an 18 Aug 1839 marriage to Margaret Miller in Pike Co. She evidently died soon thereafter because he married Elizabeth Snyder 4 April 1841 in Coldwater, Mercer Co.,OH. In the 1850 census they are on p397 of Miami Co.,OH They moved to Wisconsin in the mid 1850's with other members of his family. I have a letter of his written in 1857 from Wisc. to his brother Timothy in OH. In 1868 they moved to Hokah, Houston Co, Minn. and resided there until 1888. They are on p124, of the Houston Co. 1870 census. They returned to Vernon Co. in 1888 and resided there until his death 4 Oct 1894; he is buried in the Billings Creek Cemetery. Elizabeth died 30 Nov 1906 in Ontario, Vernon Co. The children of Harrison and Elizabeth are: Three sons served in the Civil War: Hugh F. in Comp. B, 50th WI OVI, dying at Benton Barracks in St. Louis (#258,521); William with Comp. K, 1st Wisc. Cav (358,344); George with Comp. H, 6th Wisc. VI (#393,744). Some of his descendants still live in Monroe and Vernon Cos. and past ones are buried in several cemeteries in the area. GEORGE--There is a George Downing buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Waverly, Pike Co., Ohio born 27 Jan 1819 and died 4 May 1839, age 20y, 3m, 7d. Howe in his "History of Ohio" mentions a Downing family in Pike Co. who had a run-in with Blacks and a brother of Timothy and Taylor was killed, as related by James Emmitt. George is undoubtedly this brother. He is buried next to Timothy's infant daughter Anna. JOHN--Probably a son of William and Malinda, he was residing on the farm adjoining theirs in the 1850 Mercer Co. census which showed his age as 25 and born in Ohio. He married Emily Jenkins 31 Jan 1847 in Mercer Co. John died Jan 1858 in Mercer Co. Emily remarried to John Fisher 12 May 1858 and they are in the 1860 Mercer Co. census with the following children from her first marriage: Sarah Jane (1848- The spouses of Mary Ellen and Perry married each other after their deaths in 1888. Perry is buried in Swamp College Cem.
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