David Robinson Downen1

#4123, (29 April 1813 - 24 January 1896)
Relationship1st cousin 3 times removed of William David Lewis
Father*Job Downen Sr2,3 (bt 1765 - 1768 - 1842)
Mother*Mary Elizabeth Robinson2,3 (1769 - 1856)

Family 1

Mary Jane South b. 1816, d. 1866
Children 1.Agnes Downen8 (1836 - 1880)
 2.William Downen8 (1838 - 1885)
 3.Job Downen8 (1842 - 1913)
 4.Mary Downen8 (1846 - 1932)
 5.Archibald Downen8 (1848 - 1874)
 6.Benjamin Downen8 (1850 - )
 7.Sarah Ann Downen8 (1853 - 1882)
 8.Francis M Downen8 (1855 - 1939)
 9.Eunice Downen8 (1857 - )
 10.Rachel Downen8 (1859 - 1938)

Family 2

Martha Drake b. 1836
Children 1.Martha F Downen9 (c 1873 - )
 2.John T Downen6 (c 1875 - )
Birth*29 April 1813He was born on 29 April 1813 at Christian (now Todd) Co., KentuckyG.1 
1830He appeared on the census of 1830 in the household of Job Downen Sr and Mary Elizabeth Robinson at Robinson Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG; (neis. Frederick Utley; William Utley; Samuel Oliver.)4 
Marriage*21 June 1836He married Mary Jane South, daughter of Archibald South and Agnes Rutter, on 21 June 1836 at Posey Co., IndianaG.5 
Marriage*12 March 1872He married Martha Drake on 12 March 1872 at White Co., IllinoisG.6,7 
Death*24 January 1896He died on 24 January 1896 at Carmi, White Co., IllinoisG, at age 82.8 
Burial*circa 26 January 1896He was buried circa 26 January 1896 at Shipley Cemetery, Carmi, White Co., IllinoisG.8 

Citations

  1. [S1630] White County Historical Society, History of White County Illinois (Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1883, repr. 1972), pp. 638-639, entry for David Robinson Downen, b. Apr. 29, 1813, Todd Co., KY, d. Jan. 24, 1896, Carmi, White Co., IL. "His parents were Job and Mary (Robinson) Downen, natives of North Carolina, and members of the old Regular Baptist Church. David Robinson was the youngest of their nine children, and when ten years of age he removed with his parents to Posey County, Ind., where he lived until his marriage to Mary Jane South, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Archibald and Agnes (Rutter) South. After his marriage Mr. Downen settled on a farm in Posey County, Ind., until April, 1851, when he came to White County, and settled on his present farm on section 31, Burnt Prairie Township. He and his wife had eleven children, six living - William, married Angeline Moore, who died, and he then married Minerva Dixon; Mary, married Frederick Layman; Job, married Hannah Hutchison; Sarah A., wife of Robert F. Dixon; Frank M., married Elizabeth Cooper; and Rachel. The mother died in 1873 [Chris Mills's Find A Grave Memorial 60781096 says 8 Nov 1866]. Mr. Downen married Mrs. Martha (Drake) Blakely, a native of Posey County, Indiana, and a daughter of Joel Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Downen have two children - Martha F. and John T. Mr. Downen owns a farm of 220 acres, 120 under cultivation. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he has always been a Democrat, until the past few years, since which time he has ben a supporter of the Greenback party. He cast his first vote for Old Hickory Jackson. He was elected Justice of the Peace of Burnt Prairie Township, and held that office thirteen years. One son, Job Downen was in the late war between the states, and in Andersonville prison sixteen months."
  2. [S2089] "Early Downen History, 2nd Edition", 1972, Elizabeth Myers (Carmi, Illinois), to Mrs. Eben F Pinkham (Exater, California), p. 2; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  3. [S627] Blanche Moye Cook, History of the Downen Family, 1777-1970 (Illinois: Alice Roberta Bradley, typist, 1974), p. 9.
  4. [S54] 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Job (60-69); F (50-59) [Mary]; m (15-19) [David].
  5. [S272] Ruth M. Slevin, compiler, Posey County Indiana Marriages, Index, Book 2 1832-1846 (Indiana: n.pub., unk. yr.), p. 10; Mary Jane South and David R. Downen; marr. no. 487.
  6. [S1630] White County Historical Society, History of White County Illinois, pp. 638-639, entry for David Robinson Downen. "[after his 1st wife died,] Mr. Downen married Mrs. Martha (Drake) Blakely, a native of Posey County, Indiana, and a daughter of Joel Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Downen have two children - Martha F. and John T."
  7. [S47] Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900, online Ancestry.com, David R Downen and Martha Blakely, marr. White Co. 12 Mar 1872; citing County Court Records, Film # 0977068 - 0977072.
  8. [S1628] FindAGrave.com, online findagrave.com, old grave marker, standing in a group of markers. D R Downen, b. 29 Apr 1813, d. 24 Jan 1896. Narrative: David Robinson Downen. Credits The Downen Family 1768-1970 by Elizabeth Myers and information provided by Charles Frederick Downen and Janet Margaret (Downen) Sinclair. From the FindAGrave memorial by Chris Mills:
    A large monument was erected to the descendants to David Robinson Downen by the Downen Renunion Association. The following information was gathered by Janet Margaret (Downen) Sinclair, Grave Marker Photograph, Front, "David Robinson Downen, son of Job and Mary Robinson Downen, Born in Christian County, Kentucky., April 29, 1813, Died Jan. 24, 1896. In Memory of this family who came to White County, Illinois in 1851 from Posey County, Indiana and settled on this farm. Back, "David R. Downen 1813-1896, Mary Jane South 1815-1866, Children: Agnes DeWiers 1836-1880, William 1838-1885, Job 1842-1913, Mary Jane South 1815-1866, Archibald 1848-1874, Benjamin 1850, Sarah Ann Dixon 1853-1882, Francis M. 1855-1939, Eunice 1857, Rachel Warthen 1859-1938, 2nd Wife Martha Blakely 1835-1911, Children: Mertie Hutchcraft 1873-1964, John T. 1875-1938. This Memorial erected by Descendents in 1970".

    Memorial 60781096, created by Chris Mills, photos added by Penny.
  9. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census. as Myrtie F, age 7.