Jonathan Downs was a son of Jeremiah Downs, an early settler and well-to-do farmer of Redstone township. Jonathan Downs was reared and educated in his native township, where he purchased a farm of 150 acres of desirable land and worked at his trade of a carpenter.
He married Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Peter Miller, a farmer and early settler of Redstone township. They had ten children: Lucinda Downs, David Downs, Margaret Downs (dead), Joseph M Downs, Alexander C Downs, William B Downs, Jonathan Downs, Caleb B Downs, Isaac N Downs, and Mary Downs. Mr Downs was a whig, an exemplary citizen and a worthy member of the Baptist church. He died September 3, 1844, and was buried at Uniontown.