Mercer County PAGenWeb


Thomas Downing


THOMAS DOWNING,   farmer, was born March 4, 1819, in Indiana County, Penn. He is the son of  John Downing, a native of Vermont, and a soldier of the War of 1812, who served during the war in the United States service, participating in the battle of Lundy's Lane, near Niagara Falls.  John was married March 20, 1817, to  Miss Nancy Baux, of Centre County, Penn., where he at that time resided. She was a native of the northern part of Ireland. They had by this marriage eleven children, seven of whom are now living:  Thomas,  our subject;  Nancy,  wife of  J. C. Thompson; Jane, Mrs. Jane McCord; Susan,  widow of  Thomas Pearson; Mary, wife of  Frank Osborn; John and George. In 1838 the elder Downing located in Sharpsville, having contracted to build one mile of the Beaver & Erie Canal, which passed through what is now the borough of Sharpsville. In 1853 he removed to Jackson, Iowa, where he and wife died. Our subject was married February 5, 1840, to  Miss Phebe,  daughter of  John and Lydia Cary, of Hickory Township. He located on his present farm, which he purchased from  Mrs. Hull. By this union they have seven living children:  James L., Thomas J., Harkness W., Jerome H., Melinda (wife of  U. Snyder, of Ohio),  Mary  (wife of  G. D. Gilson)  and Anna. In politics our subject is a Republican. He is a member of the F. & A.M. and the I. 0. 0. F. Mr. Downing and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sharpsville.

History of Mercer County, 1888, page 864



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