Ancestors of
John Downing

1. John Downing, b. 22 Nov 1840, NY; son of James Downing and Margaret Grueller; d. St. Helens, Columbia county, OR 25 Aug 1936, buried Fairview Cemetery near Scappoose, Columbia county, OR. He married Elizabeth Root Davis probably in Ruby Valley, Elko county, Nevada.

Note: We speculate they were married at Ruby Valley because William Davis, according to the 1880 census, was born in Nevada during 1862 and the first three Downing children were born there.

Elizabeth Root Davis b. Feb 1842… married first William Davis; married second John Downing…

 

Children of John Downing and Elizabeth Root Davis:

i. John Francis Downing; born 1870; married Lida Luvisa Collins 2 October 1899 Columbia county, OR

ii. Hettie Irene Downing; born 1872; married 1888 Gustav Adolf Hegele

iii. Margaret Mae Downing; born 1874; married John Nelson 2 August 1893 Columbia county, OR

iv. Robert Eugene Downing; born 1876; married Elsie Lamont

v. Minnie Albertine Downing; born 1879; married Charles Cravath Clark 28 Feb 1897; married second, Gene Huber; d. 1931; buried Fairview Cemetery, Scappoose, Columbia county, OR

vi. Birdie Charlotte Downing; born 1881; married E. Frederick

Notes:

1880 census for Columbia county, Rainier precinct, OR:

John Downing 39 NY Ir Ca
Elizabeth 38 Ca NY Ca

John Jr. son 10 NV NY Ca
Irene dau 8 NV NY Ca
Margaret dau 6 NV NY Ca
Robert son 4 OR NY Ca
Minnie dau 1 OR NY Ca

1900 census:

Notes: From the 1900 Federal Census from Washington, Stevens county, Flat Creek Precinct dated 8 June 1900:
dwelling 350

John Downing, head, w, m, Jan 1840, m 40 OR, Ir, Ir blacksmith;
Lizzie, wife, f, w, Feb 1842, m 40; 3/2; NJ, VT, VT;
Robert , son, m, w, Oct 1876 23 m, w, s, OR OR NJ quartz miner;
Birdie, dau, f, w, May 1882, 18 s, OR OR NJ.

Notes: This is confusing… the birthplaces are wrong… ldr

2. James L. Downing, b. 1811 Ireland; married Margaret Grueller…; died St. Helens, Columbia county, OR; buried…

3. Margaret Grueller, b. 1818 Canada… married James L. Downing … d, ….

1880 census:
James Downing age 69 Ir Sc WA
Margaret age 62 Ca Ge Ca

 

Children of James L. Downing and Margaret Grueller:

i. Charlotte Downing; b. 1838 Canada; daughter of James L. Downing and Margaret Grueller; married Robert McAdams, d. 1940 Stella, Cowlitz county, WA; buried Bunker Hill Cemetery near Stella

Notes: Gravestone reads Charlotte McAdam, wife of Robert McAdam, 1838 – 1940
Next: Robert McAdam 1828 – 1888, also on the same stone: Samuel J. McAdam 1856 – 1880 and Fred McAdam, May 6, 1872 – Sep 9, 1885
Next Frank McAdam 1869 – 1927
Next Ora McAdam… dates unreadable… child’s stone
Next Margaret Downing Oct 12, 1879 – Sep 9, 1885… child’s stone

ii. John Downing; born 1841 NY; son of James L. Downing and Margaret Grueller.

iii. Francis (Frank) Downing, b. 1842 Canada, son of James L. Downing and Margaret Grueller.

Note: Frank Downing married Henrietta… Frank was a blacksmith at Rainier…

1880 Rainier Precinct

Francis Downing age 38 Ca Ir Ca
Henrietta age 35 MI NY OH

Benjamin F. son 6 NV Ca MI
Margaret dau 0 OR Ca MI