Timothy Downen 1888 - 1978
Timothy Carroll Downen was the son of Romelia Downen (1866-1921) and Mary Eva Utley (1867-1955). He was born 9 October 1888 in Gallatin County, Illinois, USA.
He first married Bertha Moye (1889-1909). No children are known to have been born to this union.
He next married Lela Armstrong (1891-1962). The following children were born to the couple:
Iva Fern Downen (1914-2008)
Hubert D. Downen (1918-1996)
Romelia J. Downen (1923-1945)
Timothy first showed up with his family in the 1900 census in Ridgway Township of Gallatin County, with four of his six siblings. (census image here)
I don't know the date of Tim's marriage to Bertha Moye, but the marriage could not have lasted very long as Bertha died less than four months before her 20th birthday. I don't know if he and Bertha had a separate household, but at the time of the 1910 census Tim was with the rest of his family, still in Ridgway Township. (census image here)
I also don't know the exact date of Tim and Lela's marriage, but it must have been by 1914. The 1920 census found the two of them in Asbury Township of Gallatin County, along with two of their three children. (census image here)
By the 1930 census all three of Tim and Lela's children showed up. This time the family was in Ridgway Township. (census image here)
Apart from the census records, the WWII Draft Registration paperwork shows that Tim and Lela were still in Ridgway Township in 1942. I have no way of knowing the whereabouts of all the children at that time, but their youngest son R.J. (Romelia's nickname) enlisted in the US Navy in June 1943. (draft registration image here)
R.J. was killed in action in the Pacific Theater in 1945. Iva married Clarence Spencer but I don't know when. She and Clarence ended up living in South Carolina. I haven't found any evidence that Hubert Doyle got married, but he had moved to Florida before 1984.
Lela died in 1962 at the age of 71 and was buried in Old Cottonwood Cemetery, Cottonwood, Asbury Township, Gallatin County. Tim lived until 16 January 1978 when he died at the age of 89; he was buried next to Lela at Old Cottonwood Cemetery.
Other Links
Timothy Carroll Downen page at Find A Grave
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