M: 42

42. Thomas Jefferson Dowden & 43. Mary J Birley


12/1828, Mary born in IN. [Other records give birth as 1831, but 1860 Census indicates 1828.]

9/17/1831, Thomas born in Monroe Co., IN; s/o 84. William Harrod Dowden & 85. Nancy Chambers.

7/24/1850, (S) 1850 Census, IN, Washington Co., Jackson. Thomas is listed as a laborer boarding with many others with a family [Likely a boarding house of some sort. After Thomas’ mother died, the children were given to other families.]

~1853, Thomas married Mary.

6/5/1860, (S) 1860 Census, IN, Owen Co., East Division, Spencer PO. Thomas is a farmer with land valued at $1000 and a personal estate of $200. Mary’s birth is given as 1828. Children: James, age 6; Anna, age 4; “Jno”? age 2, and Mary age 1.

9/8/1870, (S) 1870 Census, IN, Greene Co., Washington, Marco PO. Thomas is a day laborer with a personal estate of $100. Children: James – William listed; Gibson and Lucy are listed as living with their grandmother. [The ages of the children given are off a few years and switched from the 1860 census.]

6/21/1880, (S) 1880 Census, IN, Greene Co., Washington. Thomas, age 49, is a farmer. Mary gives her age as 39 [only off about 10 years]. James, age 23, “Eva M” [Mary], age 19, William, age 10, “King Sol”, age 6.

1881-83, the family moved to MO. (S) Memoires of a granddaughter.

9/18/1895, Mary applied at the General Land Office in Springfield, MO, for a homestead of 40 acres.

Bef. 10/8/1895, Thomas died in Cedar Gap, Wright Co., MO.

6/19/1900, (S) 1900 Census, MO, Wright Co., Pleasant Valley. Mary, born 12/1831, a farmer, has had 6 children, 5 still living. Her son Albert, age 43, lives with her. Her son “Cain” lives next to her.

Aft. 1910, Mary died in Cedar Gap, Wright, MO.

Family notes:
• According to a granddaughter, they were members of the Church of Christ.
• Albert’s name in the 1860 census appears to be “Gibson Davis”.
• A son named John died at an early age.

Children of Thomas and Mary:

i. James A Dowden, born 1854 in IN.

ii. Amma Falina Dowden (21), born 1/4/1856 in IN.

iii. Albert Dowden, born 1858 in IN.

iv. Mary Ella Dowden, born 1859 in IN.

v. Lucy E Dowden, born 1867 in IN.

vi. William Ollie Dowden, 1869 in IN.
1891, William married Katherine Dickerson, born 1872 in IN.

vii. King “Cain” Solomon Dowden, born 1/1874 in IN.
King married Elizabeth Anna Miller, born 12/1874 in KY.