Daniel D. Downs (1827 - 1898)

Born 17 Dec 1827 in Newton County, Georgia, United States

Husband of Marry Melissa (Gaddy) Downs — married 1 Jan 1851 in De Kalb Georgia United States

Descendants

Died 7 Feb 1898 at age 70 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Mississippi, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Emily Farmer [send private message]

Biography

On December 17, 1827 in Newton County Georgia, Daniel D. Downs was born to his parents Chenola and Rachel Downs. On the same day his twin Manuel Downs was also born into the family. By the year 1829, the Downs family would be complete, with a total of six children. Unfortunately, around 1837 Manuel passed away, for reasons that are unknown. In fact, little is known about Manuel, his father, and his mother. It is rumored that his father was half Cherokee Indian, but that has not been proven as of yet.   Daniel, known by his friends and family as “Dan” was joined in matrimony to Mary Gaddy on January 1, 1851 in Dekalb County Georgia. Mary Gaddy was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Sellers Gaddy.   Daniel’s first child, George W. Downs was born in May of 1852. His second son James M. Downs was born in May 1854 in Georgia, too. His first daughter, Synthia C. Downs was born about 1856, and sometime after this year, the entire family moved to Attala County in Mississippi.   In Mississippi, Dan and Mary had six more children, Mary Rachel Downs, born November 16, 1859, John T. Downs born in 1860, Joseph David Downs born in October 1862, William H. Downs born in August 1869, Alice Downs born sometime after July 1870, and their last child Charles A. Downs born around 1876. These six children were all born in Attala County.   As with all families, stories have been passed down with each generation, and in Daniel’s case it was no exception. It was told that he lost his leg in the Civil War. Also during the Civil War, he was supposed to have changed all his money to Confederate currency, and then after the war was over he would only accept gold. Fact does have it, that some very interesting things did happen to him in his lifetime. Daniel’s sister Mary was married to William M. Steen in 1839. During a trip from Attala County to Carroll County and then back again, an incident occurred. Mary’s husband, William and son, George Steen were murdered by two men with shotguns in the Big Black Swamp. Daniel and his wife were witnesses at the Steen murder trials in 1871. He also was part of a posse looking for the two suspects, Scott and Teat.   Daniel worked at farming on his land in Attala County with his two sons George and James. For one reason or the other, Daniel sold his land, and at some point he moved to Carroll County. It was supposedly during this time that three of his sons and two members of the Steen family decided to work on the opposite side of the law. Johnny, Dave, and Willie as they were known associated with Elijah Bennett’s outlaw gang. They supposedly outran a train on horseback at Duck Hill, MS and held up the passengers at gunpoint. This incident was blamed on Jesse James. However, they were caught when they held up the depot agent in Lexington, MS. They made him put a sack over his head and robbed him of all his money, which was only seven dollars. The three Downs boys and two Steen boys were arrested and sent to the state penitentiary for seven years. Jail, however, did not agree with Willie, who escaped once and was caught. Then he escaped the second time and then turned himself in and was pardoned by the Governor. His picture was in the Jackson paper for the pardon he received.   Daniel and his wife Mary, were buried in Carroll County. Daniel died on February 7, 1898, and Mary died on October 14, 1899. It was told by family members through the years that they were buried in Shelton Cemetery. But, almost ninety years later, their tombstone was found in the McCarley area. Since it was not located in a cemetery or near any known burial place, the tombstone was placed in Poplar Springs Baptist Church cemetery, where Daniel’s grandson, Joseph Lonzo Downs, Sr. is buried, along with other Downs family members.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 May 2020), memorial page for Daniel Downs (17 Dec 1827–7 Feb 1898), Find a Grave Memorial no. 16213146, citing Poplar Springs Cemetery, Carrollton, Carroll County, Mississippi, USA ; Maintained by NatalieMaynor (contributor 46770385). Find A Grave: Memorial #16213146