My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. DOWNS, farmer; P. O. Downs; one of the old settlers, his birth occurring in Downs Township, McLean Co., Ill., Aug. 22, 1839; his father was L. Downs, whose biography also appears in this work. The subject of this subject attended the common schools and followed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union; he was in all the battles, excepting one, in which the 94th was engaged—the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, and all the skirmishing and scouting in which the 94th was engaged; after the capture of Spanish Fort, the city of Mobile fell to the Union forces, and in June, 1865, he was sent with his regiment to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, returning home; received his discharge at Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865, having served in the Union army for upward of three years; he then returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living upon the old homestead where he was born. He has 154 acres of prairie and timber, the prairie being under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Theodocia A. Myers was celebrated March 16, 1870; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1851; they have five children — Sarah, Henry L., Belle, Lavina, Elmer E. Mrs. Downs is a daughter of Henry A. and Lavina Myers, who located in McLean Co. in 1864, now living in Randolph Township.