James Downen 1870 - 1936
James & Ruth Downen Memorials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale © 2011 by Christopher Mills
James was the son of Timothy Downen (1830-1927) and Mary Keeling Powell Downen (1833-1894). He was born on 20 June 1870 in Posey County, Indiana, USA.
He married Ruth Ann McKinnis (1870 - 1960) on 24 September 1891 in Posey County. They had the following children:
Iva Downen (1900-1900)
James Estel Downen (1903-1982)
The first census that James showed up in was the 1870 one, in Robinson Township of Posey County. (census image here) (View neighbors in html)
In 1880 James was still living at home with an assortment of half-siblings on both the Downen and Powell sides as well as his parents, in addition to his sister Sarah Jane and brother Marcus, and a daughter of one of his half-brothers (half-niece?). (census image here)
After his marriage to Ruth, the couple moved to Gallatin County, Illinois, where they were found in the 1900 census in Ridgway Township, along with a 20 year old hired hand named William Harrelson. (census image here)
By the 1910 census James and Ruth had a six year old son, James Estel, but were still living in Ridgway Township. (census image here)
James & Ruth Downen Memorials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale © 2011 by Christopher Mills
By 1920 their son James Estel was now 16, and James and Ruth were just a bit older as well. (census image here)
In 1930 James and Ruth were living in Los Angeles, California, with a 25 year old boarder named Gertrude Higginson. Their son James had married a woman named Maxine Gray and was living in San Francisco at the same time; James Jr. and Maxine had a son (also named James) but I have been unable to find him in that census. In any event, both James and Ruth were still alive when their grandson James was born. (census image here)
When I started writing this I wasn't sure exactly when James died or where he was buried. It was believed that he died after 1935 in Los Angeles but I couldn't find any definitive sources. Just for yocks I checked a couple local cemeteries that have online interment indexes and I now know the answers to both questions. James died on 5 February 1936 and is buried in Forest Lawn Glendale. Ruth Ann died in 1960 and is buried next to him at Forest Lawn.
Other Links
James Downen page at Find A Grave
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