Home > United States of America > Iowa > Lee County > Keokuk > Oakland Cemetery > Ulysses M. Downing

Ulysses M. Downing

1 / 1

❮ ❯

Ulysses M. Downing

Birth	:	11 Nov 1850 Adams County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	11 Feb 1930 Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.4019012, -91.4064026
Plot	:	Block DD
Description	:	Ulysses Downing was the brother of my great-grandfather, Walter Eugene Downing. I have spent five months trying to find the burial place of Ulysses, and I want to thank those who made the creation of this memorial possible: Findagrave member Richard Thompson, #46900770, for finding the obituary in the "Fairfield Ledger," and checking Ulysses' death record at the Jefferson County Court House; Tonya at the Keokuk Public Library for the obituary from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City;" Donald Harnden of Keokuk, Iowa, who I visited with on the phone several times and who kindly gave me suggestions of places... Read More	Ulysses Downing was the brother of my great-grandfather, Walter Eugene Downing. I have spent five months trying to find the burial place of Ulysses, and I want to thank those who made the creation of this memorial possible: Findagrave member Richard Thompson, #46900770, for finding the obituary in the "Fairfield Ledger," and checking Ulysses' death record at the Jefferson County Court House; Tonya at the Keokuk Public Library for the obituary from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City;" Donald Harnden of Keokuk, Iowa, who I visited with on the phone several times and who kindly gave me suggestions of places I might call for information; and Richard Newton, Volunteer at the Lee County Genealogical Society, for his research in finding the burial place of Ulysses and his family. Aaron Pillar of Los Angeles, California, has provided the information that Ulysses was first married on April 25, 1872, to Elizabeth M. Hall. Ulysses and Elizabeth were the parents of one son, Ray M. Downing. Aaron is Elizabeth's 1st cousin 4 times removed. On December 5, 1877, Ulysses married his second wife, Sarah, in Lee County. They were the parents of five known children: three sons, Max, Melbourne, and Lloyd; and two daughters, Alice and Willa. The Oakland Cemetery has no record of Ulysses and his family actually being buried here. However, according to Sarah Downing's death certificate, she was buried in the Oakland Cemetery, and their daughter Alice is also buried here. There is a stone in the cemetery denoting a Downing family plot; however, there are no records as to who all is buried there. Ulysses' obituary from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City," stated that his burial was to be private, and by all indications, it was private indeed. We are assuming that since his obituary in the "Fairfield Ledger," stated that he was taken to Keokuk for burial in their family lot there that Ulysses is buried with his wife and daughter. There are two obituaries transcribed below for Ulysses. The obituary from the "Fairfield Ledger," states that he was survived by a brother Eugene Downing; the obituary from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City," states that this brother's name was Andrew. The correct name of Ulysses' surviving brother was Walter Eugene Downing, who went by his middle name of Eugene. The obituary from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City," also states that Ulysses' father was Andrew Downing. His father was Josiah Bell Downing. His mother's name is given correctly as Rachael Murphy. Also this same obituary only named two surviving sons. The obituary from the "Fairfield Ledger," named a third surviving son, R.M. Downing of Witchita, Kans. I believe this was his son Ray, who is listed with the family in the Iowa State Census for 1885. -------------------------------------------- Obituary From "Fairfield Ledger," Wednesday, February 12, 1930: HE SOLD GOODS HERE 50 YEARS U.M. Downing Dies at the Jefferson County Hospital After a Short Illness Ulysses M. Downing, 70 years old and for a half century a traveling salesman visiting Fairfield merchants, died at the Jefferson County hospital last night at 6:30 o'clock after a short illness. He had been brought back to Fairfield from Des Moines about two weeks ago when he became ill and it was decided he would have to have hospital treatment, as he asked to come to this hospital where he had received such fine treatment when he had been ill twice before. Mr. Downing was born in Ohio Nov. 11, 1850, and for many years the family home was in Keokuk where he reared his family of six children, three of whom are dead. His wife died in that city in 1905. He leaves three sons: R.M. Downing of Witchita, Kans., L.F. Downing of Des Moines, and M.M. Downing of Keokuk, also one brother Eugene Downing of Selma, Iowa. The son from Keokuk was with him yesterday and last night the son from Des Moines arrived and today accompanied the body to Keokuk for the funeral services and for burial in their family lot there. When Mr. Downing first began "making" this territory fifty years ago, it was in a horse-and-buggy age and he would come to Fairfield, see his Fairfield customers and then employ a livery team to take him out to other towns not on the railroad. For years he covered the county in this fashion, visiting towns that now have gone out of existence. He represented the Messenger Paper company of Chicago for 25 years and for the past 10 years he was with the Pratt Paper company with headquarters at Keokuk. He has seen a half-century of business history made in Fairfield and his old customers died and gave way to ones, while styles in his own products changed. He sold wrapping paper, paper bags, wrapping twine, and such articles, and did business in the days when most grocery products came in bulk and were done up by the grocer in paper, even sugar and coffee being so sold. The paper bag came along to facilitate sales, and the advent of the package gave another turn to his business, as much of the grocer's stock came ready packaged. Note: Ulysses' death record at the Jefferson County Court House only states that his body was transferred to Keokuk for burial. -------------------------------------------- Obituary From "Keokuk Daily Gate City," February 12, 1930, Page 8: FORMER KEOKUK RESIDENT DIES TUESDAY NIGHT Ulyses [sic] M. Downing, Who Formerly Lived Here, Died at Fairfield Last Night After an Illness of Six Weeks. Ulysses M. Downing of Des Moines, died in the hospital at Fairfield, Iowa, Tuesday night at 6:50 o'clock after an illness for the last six weeks with complications. He was taken to the hospital three weeks ago. Mr. Downing was born on November 11, 1850 in Ohio and was the son of Andrew Downing [sic] and Rachel Murphy. He came to Keokuk prior to his marriage on December 5, 1877, to Sarah J. Frederick. His wife preceded him in death in 1905. He was employed as a traveling salesman. He was a member of the Catholic church. Surviving are two sons, Max M. Downing of Mooar, and Lloyd Downing of Des Moines; brother Andrew Downing of Selma, Iowa, and seven grandchildren. The body will be brought to Keokuk and taken to the Cunningham funeral parlors where services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:50 o'clock. Burial will be private. "Funeral Notice," From "Keokuk Daily Gate City," February 12, 1930, Page 8: DOWNING–Funeral services for the late Ulysses M. Downing will be held from the Cunningham Funeral Parlors Thursday afternoon at 2:50. Burial private.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Ulysses M. Downing's memorial?
Ulysses M. Downing's memorial is located at: Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk, Lee County, USA.
When did Ulysses M. Downing death?
Ulysses M. Downing death on 11 Feb 1930 in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Ulysses M. Downing's memorial?
Latitude: 40.4019012
Longitude: -91.4064026

Family Members:

Parent

Josiah Bell Downing

(1823 - 1880)

Rachael Murphy Bruce

(1832 - 1906)

Spouse

Elizabeth M Hall Downing

(1853 - 1874)

Sarah J. Frederick Downing

(1851 - 1905)

Siblings

Mary Alice Downing Cramer

(1853 - 1878)

Walter Eugene “Gene” Downing

(1861 - 1938)

Andrew Murphy Downing

(1864 - 1924)

Children

Alice Downing

(1884 - 1892)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Oakland Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4019012, -91.4064026

2. Keokuk National Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3980865, -91.4056091

3. Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3965000, -91.3802000

4. Blondeau Street Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3937770, -91.3800550

5. Chief Keokuk Gravesite
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4118680, -91.3796460

6. Sunset Memorial Gardens
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4249992, -91.4139023

7. Buena Vista Mound Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3875008, -91.4441986

8. Oiler Family Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4034670, -91.4519830

9. Turner Family Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4069000, -91.4551000

10. Little Mound Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4081001, -91.4593964

11. Greenwood Cemetery
Hamilton, Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3875008, -91.3494034

12. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Warsaw, Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3558006, -91.4085999

13. Riverside Cemetery
Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4411800, -91.3706300

14. Oakwood Cemetery
Hamilton, Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4019012, -91.3343964

15. Hickory Grove Cemetery
Summitville, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4533005, -91.4441986

16. Yellow Banks Ranch Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4085999, -91.4863968

17. Alexandria Cemetery
Clark County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3561287, -91.4617386

18. Oakland Cemetery
Warsaw, Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3394012, -91.4341965

19. Lee County Poor Farm Cemetery
Keokuk, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4607910, -91.4487150

20. Lutheran Cemetery
Warsaw, Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3375015, -91.4325027

21. Sandusky Cemetery
Sandusky, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4681015, -91.3843994

22. Colvin Pioneer Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4775000, -91.3964000

23. Wythe Congregational Church Cemetery
Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3238983, -91.3728027

24. Wythe Presbyterian Cemetery
Hancock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3319016, -91.3424988