In a message dated 98-08-24 10:51:38 EDT, you write: << Ray, Could you please tell me who was Thomas Ellsworth Downing? Like, who was his father? >> Thomas Ellsworth Downing was the 11th of the 12 children of John B. Downing (b. 21 Jun 1817, Chester co PA, d. 11 Jul 1879, Freeport, Harper co., KS) and Mary Couch Downing (b. 7 Mar 1826, Lionville, Chester co, PA, d. 8 Nov 1905, Freeport, Harper co., KS). Mary Couch Downing's maiden name WAS Downing, John and Mary were 1st cousins. Her middle name comes from her grandmother's maiden name. John and Mary and their entire brood appear to have removed from Chester county to Freeport, Kansas, about 1877. Eleven of their children remained in Kansas to raise their families, but Thomas E. made the "Cherokee Strip" OK land run in 1893. For what it's worth, they were married on 2 Sep 1841. Their first-born, Benjamin Henry Downing (my gt grandfather) was born six weeks after their marriage. I suppose it was the scandal of Chester county about that time <g> . Ray