Well, Germany and Georgia both begin with "G"! Research his younger brother James Barney Downs (17 Jan 1865 - 17 Nov 1952). His census data (regarding nativity of parents) indicates Georgia was birthplace of mother and father. There is a pedigree, viewable at familysearch.org, assigning Elizabeth Kemp as their birth mom. It was complied by Doris Shockley of Deming, NM. Also, the "Cochran/Cochrum, Ezell, West, Billingslea Families" tree supports the lineage. The tree is owned by mfam and you can forward emails by clicking on her username. View at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6671891/person/-773592012