Archibald South

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."