Edward Downing was born in January 1857 in Hackettstown, New Jersey. His father (don't know his name) went into the Civil War and was killed at Antietam (1862). Edward was evidently an orphan and went to live with an aunt in New York City. There was a fire and they lost all their things. Edward left and became a cabin boy on a ship. Somehow he met and married Paulina Waltz. They were married in 1882 in Linlithgo, Columbia, New York. In 1883 they were in Rutland Vermont, where Paulina gave birth to Edward Henry Downing. By 1888 they were back in New York where they had: Elizabeth L. (1888); Mary M. (1891) and Charles (1893) Then they moved to Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois where they had: Pauline (1896); John Mathew (1898) and Albert P. (1903) Edward (from NJ) died in 1909. Following are census transcripts: 1900 Illinois, La Salle, Ottawa Township 13 June 1900 929 West Jefferson Street Downing, Edward Head W M Dec 1857 42 M 18 NJ NJ NJ ___ Paulina Wife W F Jan 1860 40 M 18 8 6 Germany Germany Germany 1881 19 ___ Edward H son W M Aug 1883 16 S Vermont NJ Ger ___ Elizabeth dau W F Jun 1888 12 S NY NJ Ger ___ Mary M dau W F mar 1891 9 S NY NJ Ger ___ Charles son W M Apr 1893 6 S NY NJ Ger ___ Paulina dau W F Apr 1896 4 S Il NJ Ger ___ John M son W M Jun 1898 1 S Il NJ Ger 1910 Illinois, LaSalle, Ottawa City (part of) 21 April, 1910 West Madison St. 1316 128 132 Downing, Pauline C Head F W 50 (1860) Wd 10 7 Ger Ger Ger 1882 __ Elizabeth L Dau F W 22 (1888) S NY NJ Ger __ Mary M Dau F W 19 (1891) S NY NJ Ger __ Charles Son M W 16 (1893) S NY NJ Ger __ Pauline Dau F W 14 (1896) S IL NJ Ger __ John M Son M W 11 (1898) S IL NJ Ger __ Albert P Son M W 6 (1903) S IL NJ Ger 1910 Illinois, KANE ELGIN 6-WD T624 Roll: 297 Page: 213 Washburn 227 106 115 Downing, Edward H. Head M W 26 (1883) M 1 VT NJ Ger __ Olive Wife F W 23 (1886) M 1 0 0 IL IL IL 1920 Illinois LASALLE 7-WD OTTAWA T625 Roll: 379 Page: 133 7 January, 1920 166 Downing, Paulina Head O K F W 59 Wd 1882 Na 1883 _ Y Y Wurtenburg German Wurt Ger Y None Madison (next page) 167 Downing, Mathew son M W 21 S _ Y Y IL NJ Wurtenburgh German Y Workman Electric Rail ___ Albert son M W 16 S _ Y Y IL NJ Wurtenburgh German Y Woodworker Piano