Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Downs 
Birth1817, Mercer Co, PA
Census8 Oct 1850, Mercer Borough, Mercer Co, PA
Memoroll#796, pg 99
Census3 Jul 1860, Aledo, Mercer Co, IL
Memoroll#211, pg 846
Death~1865
OccupationCarpenter
FatherIsaac Downs (~1782-1860)
MotherMary "Polly" Wells (~1788->1865)
Misc. Notes
Listed in 1850 census Mercer Borough as a Carpenter with $600 of land, age 32, born in PA. This fits with the 1820 census for Isaac Downs, and is an assumption that he is the son of Isaac until further records are obtained.
By 1860 they had moved to Illinois, where he is listed as a carpenter (43, PA) with wife Elizabeth (40, IRE) and children Mary E. (15, PA), William J. (11, PA), Margaret J. (11, PA), Robert K. (6, PA) and Sarah E. (1, IL). Oldest son John M. (17, PA) was not listed with them.
It is likely that he fought and died during the Civil War, as his family seems to have scattered by 1870.
By 1860 they had moved to Illinois, where he is listed as a carpenter (43, PA) with wife Elizabeth (40, IRE) and children Mary E. (15, PA), William J. (11, PA), Margaret J. (11, PA), Robert K. (6, PA) and Sarah E. (1, IL). Oldest son John M. (17, PA) was not listed with them.
It is likely that he fought and died during the Civil War, as his family seems to have scattered by 1870.
Spouses
BirthMay 1820, Mercer Co, PA
Death22 Nov 1900, Rock Island, Rock Island Co, IL
BurialChippiannock Cem, Rock Island, Rock Island Co, IL
Misc. Notes
Her maiden name of Welch was on dau Sarah’s obit, while it was listed as Karr on son Robert’s death record.
Early census records show her birth in Ireland, but later PA.
In 1880, she is listed as widowed (50, PA) parents from Scotland & England. Living with her is daugher Sarah Kinner (20, IL) with husband Martin W. Kinner (30, IL) and daughter Elizabeth Dixon (6, IA).
Listed in the 1900 census alone and widowed, born May 1820 in PA, with 3 of her 10 children living. Parents born in England and Scotland.
[Obituary] The Dispatch, Moline IL - Saturday, 1 December 1900, pg 5
Downs
Mrs. Elizabeth Downs, a resident of Rock Island for forty-five years, died Thanksgiving day at her home, 1408 Fifth avenue, that city, after a long illness with dropsy. She was born in 1820 in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Downs is survived by two daughters and one son--Mrs. Margaret Mold and Mrs. Sarah Kinner, of Rock Island, and Robert Downs of Milan.
Early census records show her birth in Ireland, but later PA.
In 1880, she is listed as widowed (50, PA) parents from Scotland & England. Living with her is daugher Sarah Kinner (20, IL) with husband Martin W. Kinner (30, IL) and daughter Elizabeth Dixon (6, IA).
Listed in the 1900 census alone and widowed, born May 1820 in PA, with 3 of her 10 children living. Parents born in England and Scotland.
[Obituary] The Dispatch, Moline IL - Saturday, 1 December 1900, pg 5
Downs
Mrs. Elizabeth Downs, a resident of Rock Island for forty-five years, died Thanksgiving day at her home, 1408 Fifth avenue, that city, after a long illness with dropsy. She was born in 1820 in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Downs is survived by two daughters and one son--Mrs. Margaret Mold and Mrs. Sarah Kinner, of Rock Island, and Robert Downs of Milan.
ChildrenJohn M. (1843-)
Mary E. (1845-)
William J. (1849-)
Robert K. (1856-1924)
Margaret Jane (1857-1922)
Sarah A. (1859-1921)