Alfred R. Downs (1940)
DOWNS, HARTMAN, KLECKNER, MATHEWS
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/24/2012 at 10:42:39
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 28, 1940
Page 7News of Interest from St. Charles
Mr. and Mrs. Rex Downs and daughter, Sarah Jo of near Paton came Sunday of last week to attend the funeral of his uncle, A. R. Downs, Monday afternoon
________________________The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 29, 1940
Page 8, Column 1ALFRED R. DOWNS DIES AT AGE 82
Was Resident of Madison Co. Almost Four Score. Funeral Monday.
St. Charles lost one of its well known citizens in the death of Alfred R. Downs on Saturday, Feb. 17, at his home in St. Charles. Mr. Downs was born March 3, 1857 on a farm within one-fourth mile of St. Charles and with the exception of a few years when he lived in Boone county near Perry, Madison county had been his home.
His parents, David and Elizabeth Hartman Downs, were early settlers in Iowa, and from Indiana in 1850 and to Madison county in 1851. His father was the first postmaster of St. Charles, beginning in 1853. His grandfather, George Hartman jointly with Jesse Young, planted the original St. Charles, Oct. 7, 1852. His father and grandfather built the first sawmill operated by waterpower on Clanton creek west of the present village of Hanley in 1852, which they operated for a number of years.
He learned the carpenter trade which he followed most of his time in addition to farming, until his moving to town in 1910. He was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kleckner April 15, 1880, who survives. He was a member of Model Lodge no. 315, A. F. & A. M. of St. Charles for 45 years.
He is survived by his wife; two children, Joseph Walter Downs and Mrs. Elizabeth Mathews; 7 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, conducted by the Rev. Clayton Shepard and Rev. Lucius Smith. Burial was made in the St. Charles cemetery.
________________________Coordinator's note: First name taken from his gravestone. Middle name may be "Riley" but no credible source has been found.
Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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