Downs, John C.

DOWNS, ANDERSON, CLARK, PIERCESMITH, BARROWS

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 10/8/2020 at 17:39:18

John C. Downs, deceased, was born in Monmouth County, N.J., March 10, 1810, and was the son of Joseph and Anna (Anderson) Downs, who moved to Ohio about 1815, and where John was reared on a farm and received a liberal education. He was married in Ohio to Elizabeth Clark, a widow, by whom he had four children, all of whom have passed away. She also died at Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1856 Mr. Downs came to Iowa and located in Brighton Township. He was there married, Feb. 14, 1865 to Mrs. Phoebe A. Smith, the widow of Caleb R. Smith, who was drowned in 1856 while bathing in the White River in Indiana. Mrs. Downs’ maiden name was Pierce, she being the daughter of John and Lucinda (Barrows) Pierce, who were among the early settlers of Hamilton County, Iowa. They were the parents of three children who are now living: Phoebe A., the widow of John C. Downs; Thomas P., now of Brighton, and Mary F., the wife of John Chew, residing new Anderson, Ind. Her father and mother both died in 1843.

Mr. Downs died in January, 1883. He was an honest and upright man, but was not a professor of religion. Mrs. Downs was left an orphan, and was reared by her grandparents. She has seen all the rough sides of life, and has borne up under it all in a remarkable manner. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a sincere Christian woman, and highly respected by all who know her. She yet resides on the old homestead, where she has 160 acres of land all under cultivation.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of John C. Downs, page 323.