John Downie, farmer and stock-raiser, and one of the pioneers
of Clayton County, was born in Lower Canada, Jan. 18, 1822, the son of John and
Lillie (McPherson) Downie, native of Scotland, who emigrated to Canada in 1822.
In 1838 they removed to Clayton County, Iowa, where his father purchased land
and made a farm, and remained until his death, which occurred in June, 1866.
Mr. Downie, Sr., was a Jacksonian Democrat, and was one of the first County
Commissioners. In 1862 changed his politics and voted with the Republican
party. John, Jr., came to the county with his parents in 1838, where he has
since followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1865 he married Ruth Williams,
who was born in Wyoming County, N.Y., Feb. 2, 1833. By this union there are
five children-- Lillie, born July 24, 1866; Rose, June 27, 1868; Warren, April 9,
1871; Ray, April 27, 1873; and John, Feb. 5, 1878. Mr. Downie was previously
married to Zurah Hatch, who died, and he again married, Lura Williamson (also
deceased), by whom there was two children, one living-- Henry, who was born in
April 13, 1860. Mr. Downie has a farm of 217 acres, valued at $25 per acre. He
has lived in the county for nearly half a century, and has seen its rapid
development from a wild and unbroken prairie to one of the finest counties in
the State. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 655 |