Biography of Andrew J Downs, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana

ANDREW J. DOWNS, an active and enterprising citizen of Tippecanoe Township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 2, 1835, his father, WILLIAM DOWNS, being one of the early settlers of this county. WILLIAM DOWNS was also born in Ross County, Ohio, one in a family of fifteen children. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. WILLIAM DOWNS was reared in his native county, where he married RACHEL GREEN, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia. In 1843 he came with his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and settled in Wabash Township, where the family lived until 1853. They then removed to Wea Township, where the father improved a farm, living there many years. He then bought property at Battle Ground and returned to this county where he resided until his death, which occurred May 2, 1872. He was an active and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a highly respected citizen. Politically he was a Republican.
        MR. DOWNS and wife were the parents of thirteen children, and of these seven grew to maturity--MRS. ANN EDMONDS, widow of EDWARD EDMONDS, now living in Dakota; CATHERINE, widow of J. W. JAMISON, living in LaFayette; ANDREW JACKSON, the subject of this sketch; MRS. SARAH ANN GODMAN, now deceased; MRS. ALCESTA MOORE, of Warren County, Indiana; MRS. ELIZA J. ROBINSON, living in Kansas, and WILLIAM who died at the age of twenty-three years.
        ANDREW J. DOWNS, our subject, was in his ninth year when brought by his parents to this county. He was reared a farmer, receiving such education as the early schools of the county afforded. July 20, 1857, he was married to MISS MARY FRANCES TUTTLE, who was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, a daughter of CHESTER and NANCY (MOORE) TUTTLE. MRS. DOWNS was adopted and reared by PHILIP ENSMINGER, of La Fayette. MR. and MRS. DOWNS are the parents of six children--PORT BYRON, RACHEL, AGNES, WILLIAM AVA, HARRY MORTON, EDWARD LEE, and CLARK BEEKS. After his marriage, MR. DOWNS located on his father's homestead in Wea Township, where he lived until 1865.
        In the fall of that year he engaged in the livery business at La Fayette, which he followed four years. He then resided one year at Battle Ground, after which he was engaged in farming at different points until November, 1875, when he settled at his present home. His home farm contains 185 acres of land under a fine state of cultivation, and his home is one of the most beautiful in the township in which he resides. In connection with his general farming he is quite extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. In politics MR. DOWNS affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of Lodge No. 313,
A. F. & A. M., at Battle Ground. He is a man of genial disposition and cordial manners, and is well known and highly respected throughout the community.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 517-518
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888

Submitted by Adina Dyer

Biography Index | Tippecanoe Co. INGenWeb