DOWNS, A.B.: 1820-1898

DOWNS, TACKABERY, STONEBRAKER, RIDER, MARTIN, MILLS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/27/2013 at 03:22:14

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. 30 June 1898

A.B. DOWNS.

Last Sunday at about 4 p.m., A.B. Downs was stricken with paralysis and died at 1:30 a.m. Monday, the 27,th inst. He was born July 21, 1820, in Culpeper county, Va. Aaron's father died leaving a large family of children. He being the oldest assumed the responsibility of caring for them. Being compelled to surrender the old home, while yet a minor he took the family and moved to Illinois. About 1841 he came to this state and entered land on the prairie northwest of Fairfield and made a farm. About '54 or '55 he sold out there and came to this county and improved another farm on High street in Des Moines township, where he lived till a few years ago, when he sold the farm and moved into town.

He was married August 4, 18?? to Mrs. Tabitha Martin, who was the mother of one child, Rachel, who is the wife of E.H. Rider. They had three sons and three daughters. Two of the sons are dead and the other, Alfred, lives in Nebraska, Cyntha A. Tackabery and Ella E. Stonebraker live here and Jennie Mills in Oklahoma. The mother died several years ago. Father Down's life was the highest type of Christian cisizenship(sp). Industry, economy and enterprise, directed by a charitable and benevolent spirit, ruled his life. Decisive and determined, he never hesitated in the correction of mistakes and errors when convinced. But he was generally correct, because his conclusions were the result of critical and thorough investigation. He had for many years lived a consistent member of the Christian church. His funeral was the 28th, inst. at 2 o'clock p.m. conducted by T.A. Renfro from the Christian church and he was laid to rest in the Cantril cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 195, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA