I started working on this Sunday. Here is my 2 cents worth. Paula -
William A Downs appears to have married Elizabeth Thomas possibly in GA, AL or AR about 1849. Both from Georgia.
You will find them in Jackson, Dallas, AR in 1850 census with a dtr Elizabeth born AR 1850 died before 1860. Hannah Lenora Downs born AR 1853, came to Waco 1853 - 1855, Benjamin b TX, 1855, Louisa "Lou" Downs 1859, William born in Waco is listed as age 8 in 1870, age 18 in 1880 census and birth year of 1862 in 1900 census.
1900 census says William and and Susanna married in 1878 but he is listed with mother and father in 1880 and Susanna is not listed with her parents in 1880. They are not found as couple in the 1880 census by me.
If you will notice the Thomas niece and nephews in the 1880 Downs' houshold and Hannah Thomas in the 1860 Downs' household. Hannah and husband David Thomas are in Jackson, Dallas, AR in 1850 along with a bunch of Thomas' born in Alabama. Hannah was Elizabeth's mother or grandmother I suspect.
William Downs, born in Waco, sister Louisa aka Lula E "Lou" Downs Burleson born 1859 TX died in Waco in 1936. Her death certificate says her mother was Elizabeth Thomas father W A Downs per John Burleson she is buried Gatesville Cemetery, Coryell Co. Lula is listed as "Low" Burleson age 70 in 1930 census in Waco with son Floyd D Burleson age 28.
There was another name on William's death certificate for his mother, Minnie Vulgosh, it has been "X" over and Doretta Vulgosh typed over it. His daughter, Viola Sledge, was the informant. These things are not always correct, including birth years. Who knows where Viola came up with that name.
Susannah's parents were Levi J "Hibberd" born NY her mother was Sarah Broadwater born SC married in Harris Co in 1860. One of Susannah's sisters married a SLEDGE and died in Navasota in 1955 cofirming her maiden name of Broadwater. Wherein Susannah's says her mother was just Sarah unknown.
Two public trees; "Robin's Family Tree" and "Merry Becker Wakeland Tatum Family" say Elizabeth was a Kemp and that William Andrew Downs born GA 13 Jul 1819 died in Waco 26 Dec 1904 married in 1849 and his father was William Woods Downs mother Henrietta Sparks.
Several trees on David T Thomas and Hannah Burson
Mary Elizabeth Thomas Paine 1821 GA - abt 1905 McLennan Co married William Downs. I guess Elizabeth was briefly married to a Paine.
Lewellen Thomas 1806 Warren Co GA died in Texas 1869 married Elizabeth Watson in Coweta Co GA
1830. David S Thomas and "Lwelling" Thomas listed 1830 census Coweta Co GA
Hannah Leonora Downs abt 1852 Dallas, AR died aft 1910 TX married Henry Richard "Dick" Ashby 30 Dec 1868 McLennan County, father William A Downs, mother Elizabeth "Betsy" Thomas per "Howell Family Tree"
1880 Coryell Co TX; Leonora Ashby born AR 1853 spouse H D Ashby, children Seborn, Alice, Edward Lawrence 27 Nov 1868 Gatesville - 1954 McGregor Co, George Sylvester 12 Dec 1871/1874 Gatesville - 27 Nov 1949 Leon Junction, Coryell Co and William. I had already noted below that she died or married before 1870. Leonora aka Nora Downs. Both Edward and George are buried near Oglesby, Texas.
Name: Hannah L Ashby
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 5, Coryell, Texas
Age: 48
Birth Date: 1852
Birthplace: Texas
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Female
Relationship to Head of House: Wife
Father's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother: number of living children: 3
Mother: How many children: 3
Spouse's name: Henry D
Marriage Year: 1870
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 30
Name: Sarah J Ashby
[Sarah J Ashley]
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 5, Coryell, Texas
Age: 37
Birth Date: Oct 1862
Birthplace: Texas
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Female
Relationship to Head of House: Wife
Father's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother: number of living children: 6
Mother: How many children: 9
Spouse's name: John
Marriage Year: 1880
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 20
Sarah Jane Downs Ashby 1863 - 1945 married John Enoch Ashby in 1880, dtr of Wm A Downs and "Betsy" Thomas.
Texas death certificates 1890 - 1976, most US census records.
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=0William Downs 28 Feb 1860 Waco - 02 Jul 1940 Navasota Grimes, father William Downs TX, mother Doretta Vulgosh Germany
Savannah Downs 01 Mar 1863 TX - 08 June 1951 Navasota, father Levi "Herbert/Hibbard" mother Sarah
1850 Rome Oneida Co NY
Betsey Hibbard 43 or 48 Rhode Island
Levi Hibbard 18 NY boatman
Rasinda Hibbard 20 NY female
Name: Levi Hibbard
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 13 May 1860
Spouse: Sarah Broadwater
Marriage City: Harris
Marriage State: Texas
Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005
15 Sept 1870, Stafford Post Office, Pct 1, Fort Bend, TX
Levi J Hibberd 37 farmer $300 real estate $900 personal wealth born NY
Sarah A E BROADWATER Hibberd 27 SC
George A Hibberd 9 TX
Sausan A S Hibberd 6 TX
Eliza Frances Hibberd 3 TX
Lydia "Liddie" A Hibberd 1 TX
1880; Census Place: Precinct 2, Burleson, Texas; Roll T9_1293; Family History Film: 1255293; Page: 35.3000; Enumeration District: 29
Levi Hibbert 1832 IL
Sarah Hibbert 1842 SC SC SC
Frances Hibbert 1867 TX dtr
Liddie Hibbert 1869 TX dtr
Mary Hibbert SLEDGE 1871 / 10 Sept 1874 TX dtr died 22 Dec 1955 Navasota in 1890 married C B Sledge b. AL 1854 he was previously married. You will find them in Grimes Co in 1900.
Jesse Hibbert 1878 TX son
John Elma 1855 TX nephew no mention where parents were born
1850; Census Place: Jackson, Dallas, Arkansas; Roll M432_26; Page: 15B; Image: 37
Wm Downs 26 GA 1824
Elizabeth Downs 26 GA 1824
Elizabeth Downs 0 1850 AR
1850; Census Place: Jackson, Dallas, Arkansas; Roll M432_26; Page: 16A; Image: 38.
David Thomas 72 SC
Hanah Thomas 71 SC
Luellen Thomas 1806 GA male
Elizabeth Thomas 1810 GA
Hanah S Thomas 1825 NC
. . .and others.
1860; Census Place: , Waco McLennan, Texas; Roll M653_1300; Page: 397; Image: 217; Family History Library Film: 805300.
W A Downs 36 1824 GA
E Downs 37 1823 GA
Lanora Downs 1853 AR - died or married before 1870
Bing/Benjamin Downs 1856 TX married Martha Ashby born AR; William Oliver Downs born 17 Jan 1898 Oglesby TX died in Plainview 1943 father listed as Benjamen O Downs born Gatesville. 1900 in Coryell Co as Ben J Downs born TX Sept 1855 married to Mattie B, Ben said father/mother born GA, married in 1879. I believe Benjamin Downs died in Plainview in 1948 year of birth listed as 1874 born in "McClelland" Co parents unknown per Mrs. Eldon Boyd, buried Plainview Cemetery IOOF. Mrs. Eldon Boyd was Harnie Lee Downs married Eldon Ford Boyd. She was born about 1906. Eldon died in California.
E Downs 8/12 1859 TX female - died before 1880 "Lou's" twin sister
Luisa Downs 8/12 1859 TX
Hannah Thomas 83 1777 NC
1870; Census Place: West of The Brazos River, McLennan, Texas; Roll M593_1598; Page: 172; Image: 340.
William Downs 49 1821 GA
Elizabeth Downs 49 1821 GA
Benjamin Downs 14 1856 TX
Louisa Downs 11 1859 TX aka Lula E Downs Burleson 04 Sept 1859 TX died 16 Jan 1936 Waco buried Gatesville married A F Burleson
William Downs 8 1862 TX
Sarah Jane Downs 8 1862 TX married John Enoch Ashby settled in Coryell County born Oct 1862. Death certificate says born 13 Nov 1863 Crawford Texas died in Meridian, Bosque Co 12 May 1945 dtr of Wm A "Dawns" mistranscribed and "Betsy" Thomas
James Downs 6 1864 TX
1880; Census Place: Waco, McLennan, Texas; Roll T9_1318; Family History Film: 1255318; Page: 210.1000; Enumeration District: 115;
William A. Downs 1820 GA Ireland DE
Elizabeth Downs 1821 GA NC GA
William J. Downs 1862 TX son
James Barney Downs 1864 TX son married a Billington, dtr Amanda born 1883. James Barney died rural Tarrant Co 17 Nov 1952, divorced, William Downs father, Ryan Speegle informant, buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Fort Worth. Ryan Speegle 1896 - 1987 Fort Worth.
Lula A. Thomas 1865 MS AL MS niece
Eugene L. Thomas 1871 TX AL MS nephew
Clarence B. Thomas 1873 TX AL MS nephew
Lula A Thomas may have married Rufus Felder Minnock in Waco ? Listed as Tenie Minnock born MS Aug 1861 stated both parents born MS married in 1892 dtr Lillie Aadelle Minnock Fannin died in Waco 1957 said mother was Lula Thomas. Lula Thomas Minnock died before 1920, no death record found. Rufus died in 1931. Can't find Eugene and Clarence Thomas after 1880.
1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Grimes, Texas; Roll T623_1640; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 20.
William Downs 38 no month only year of 1862 TX father blank mother Germany said they married 1878
Savanna Downs 32 Sept 1862 TX father SC mother NY bore 10 children 7 living [got her parents reversed]
Willie Downs Feb 1881
Lizzie Downs Jan 1888
Robert Downs Jan 1890 registered WW I Draft Grimes Co said he was born in Worthington ? TX, wife/1 child 6 June 1917
Earnest Edward Downs May 1892 registered WW I Draft Grimes Co died 01 Jul 1972 Navasota, death record says born Washington Co, draft card says born Navasota, had wife/2 children 5 June 1917
Horace Levi Downs Jan 1894 registered WW I Draft Grimes Co said born in Navasota was single 5 June 1917
Barnie Downs Aug 1896
Lonney Downs May 1898 Lonnie Fred registered WW I Draft Grimes Co 12 Sept 1918 listed Mrs. Adel Downs nearest relative he died 23 Jul 1984 Grimes County
Lizzie Downs Sledge Jan 1888 or 18 Oct 1886 TX - Mrs. L G Sledge 18 Oct 1886 TX - 16 June 1927 Houston buried Navasota
Horace L[evi] Downs 11 Mar 1894 Navasota - 15 Oct 1955 Navasota married Martha Haynes
Robert Lee Downs 1889 or 1890 - 18 Jul 1971 Houston
Viola M Downs Sledge/Shedge 16 Jul 1901 Navasota - 05 Apr 1968 Navasota
1900, Pct 1, Gatesville, Coryell, TX - 1910 Nolan Co TX
A "Alf Frank" F Burleson Feb 1854 TX GA GA married 1877
Lou Burleson Sept 1859 TX GA GA 8 children
John W 8 Feb 1881
Lucy E March 1884
Bell March 1888
Rufus 01 Nov 1890 son
George Edward 13 Apr 1893
Alfred Smith 26 Dec 1895
Ernest Oct 1898
Floyd 1902
Hale Co TX cemetery records
http://unger.myplainview.com/cemetery/cemetery.php