Abraham Downs (nickname AJ) b. 1843 IL d. Nov 9, 1918
buried in Southpoint Cemetery, Orrick, Mo

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Death of Fleming Citizen
Abraham Downs, one of western Ray county’s oldest citizens, died at his home in Fleming at an early hour Monday morning. He was about eighty years of age and had been in feeble health for several. Funeral and burial occurred Tuesday.
The Richmond News, November 13, 1918 Front Page

Thank you Lisa.

I am not researching this line – but hope this helps in your search
Robert in Arkansas (but born in Ray County)
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You can view the Missouri Death Certificate #41579-a for Abraham Downs at:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/

In the 1870 census, Abraham is living in the Elizabeth Snoden [Snowden] household, along with Hannah and Thomas Downs. All three are from Illinois. Abraham is age 26 and Hannah is age 22, while Thomas is 19.
Since the 1870 census does not provide relationships, one could surmise that Hannah was Abraham’s wife, and that Thomas was his brother. Or, it is possible that they were all siblings?

The 1880 census (Ray Co, ED 138, Pg 413-D) is more definitive, listing:
Abraham, 37,Head, IL-KY-TN, Farmer
Sylvania, 31, Wife, MO-KY-KY
Mary 8, Daughter, MO-IL-MO
Edgar W, 5, Son, MO-IL-MO
Thomas T, 2, Son, MO-IL-MO

The 1900 census (Ray Co, ED 123, Pg 8-A) lists:
Abraham J, born Oct 1844 in IL, now a widower, carpenter
Lewis A, son, born Nov 1880 in MO, coal digger
I could not locate a MO death certificate for Sylvania)

On the same 1900 census page, there is a William Downs, about the same age is the Edgar W Downs, enumerated in 1880:
William Downs, born Jul 1874 in MO, married 1 year, no occupation listed
Mary Downs, born Jun 1877 in KS, married 1 year

The 1910 census (Ray Co, ED 127, Pg 11-A) lists:
Abraham J Downs, Head, 66, widower, born in IL, salesman
Louis A Downs, Son, 29, married 3 years, born MO, coal miner
Ella Downs, Dau’Law, 24, married 3 years, born MO
William Downs, Gr’Son, 2, born MO
Virgil Downs, Gr’Son, 2/12, born MO

Sunny Slope Cemetery, Richmond, Ray Co, MO
DOWNS Thomas P. Mar 8, 1878 Aug 25, 1953 Father
DOWNS Eliza A. Jan 12, 1888 Aug 20, 1976 Mother
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MO Death Certificate #29173, Lafayette County
Thomas P Downs, son of A J Downs & Sylvania Hardin

You can view the Missouri Death Certificate referenced above at:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/

Robert in Arkansas

Thank you Robert, you went to a lot of trouble posting all of that and I appreciate it.

Here is what I know about Abraham -

Out of 5 children, only Abraham, Hannah and Thomas survived. Their parents (George W Downs b. abt 1817 ky and Marinda Snowden b. abt 1824 Tn) disappear from the record after 1850. Probably both had died but I know they were alive at least until 1852 as their last child was born in that year but died six years later. The three remaining children went to live with their maternal grandparents, James and Elizabeth Snowden by 1860(this all takes place in Cumberland, IL). James must be related somehow to the Snowdens in Ray county but I haven't been able to make the connection yet. James died the same year the civil war ended and Elizabeth moved with her son William H Snowden and her 3 Downs grandchildren to Ray county a year or two later. Elizabeth died in 1873 and is buried in the Sunshine cemetery in Camden.

Abraham married Sylvania Hardin and had 4 children
Mary, William Edgar, Thomas and Louis. You could not find a death certificate for Sylvania because she is one of my great mysteries. She is buried in the Southpoint cemetery in an unmarked grave under a maiden name (Mullins) that isn't hers. Exact date of death remains unknown but is somewhere between 1881-1900.

Hannah became the live in housekeeper for a Dr Charles Johnson and his wife, never married and stayed with them until her death in 1908. Yet another mystery here. Dr Charles Johnson died one day before Hannah. Approximately 10 years earlier his mother-in-law died and the next day his wife died...coincidence? They lived in Southwest City, Mo at that time.

Thomas I have not been able to find but suspect that he moved back to Illinois and married but have no concrete proof.

Of Abraham's children,
Mary married David Wyatt of Fleming, they had no children.
William Edgar married Mary Joiner. They had two children and moved to Oklahoma.
Thomas J married and remained in Ray county until his death
Louis married, he and his wife lived with Abraham until his death in 1918.