Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Nance County > Fullerton > Fullerton Cemetery > William F. Downing

William F. Downing

Birth	:	18 Dec 1877
Death	:	13 Jul 1972
Burial	:	Fullerton Cemetery, Fullerton, Nance County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.3510017, -97.9813995
Description	:	From the book: Fullerton's First 100 Years" pg's 159/160 The late Will Downing told of his father's decision to move from Illinois to Nebraska: "My father and his two brothers came out to Lincoln in 1881. The first night at the rooming house they met a trail guide who had been leading settlers through a cut-off of the Oregon Trail which passed through Nance county. He told them what fine opportunities there were up here and how good the land was. Nance county had been a Pawnee Indian Reservation. The Indians had been moved to Oklahoma about 1877, the land... Read More	From the book: Fullerton's First 100 Years" pg's 159/160 The late Will Downing told of his father's decision to move from Illinois to Nebraska: "My father and his two brothers came out to Lincoln in 1881. The first night at the rooming house they met a trail guide who had been leading settlers through a cut-off of the Oregon Trail which passed through Nance county. He told them what fine opportunities there were up here and how good the land was. Nance county had been a Pawnee Indian Reservation. The Indians had been moved to Oklahoma about 1877, the land surveyed, and settlers were coming in. So they came on up to Genoa where the railroad ended. By livery they came on to Fullerton where they got plats of the near townships and picked out several farms. Then they had to go to the land office at Grand Island to file. Several were already taken but they got three farms up the Loup Valley west of town and one north two miles which my family got (Joe Plebanek place - 1979). We lived in town about two years while getting the farm broken out and a house built." Will Downing began school in Fullerton, finished grade school at District 18, graduated from Fullerton High School in 1895 and attended the University of Nebraska several sessions. Mrs. Will Downing (Margaret) first came to Fullerton in 1917 as a teacher of third grade. Some of these students graduated in 1925, the regular class in 1926. She had grown up at Winnebago where her parents, John and Nellie Nunn, operated the trading post at the Indian Agency. She was attending Bellevue Presbyterian College when her father died of typhoid fever and she had to leave college to return home and help with the care of the younger children. She also attended summer school three years at Nebraska Wesleyan and taught at Walthill and Winnebago as well as at Fullerton. Will and Margaret Downing were married in 1920 and moved to the farm three miles north of Fullerton which was their home for the next 49 years (present owner Lawrence Gdowski). Four children were born: Lloyd who is a psychiatrist at San Angelo, Texas, Elizabeth of Fullerton who has retired from Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, Margaret (Mrs. Kenneth Pierson) of Neligh, and Elaine (Mrs. Verlin Francis) of Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Downing were always active in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Downing served as elder for many years and Mrs. Downing was one of the first women to serve as elder. Also Mrs. Downing was twice delegate to the National Presbytery at Purdue, Indiana, in 1950 and again in 1960. Mr. Downing was active also in District 37 and township affairs, was justice of the peace for twenty years, and took part in political activities (a lifelong Democrat). Mrs. Downing was a promoter of extension work and was county chairman of 4-H several years during the 1930's. Mr. Downing in telling of the 1930's said: "One drouth followed another for eight years and we went to the bottom of what we had and borrowed all we could. When on the very verge of losing our farm Mom was asked to work in the ASC office. She made good there and has been working both at home and outside ever since and saved our home." The job Mrs. Downing started with was AAA Fieldwoman for the county, which she held from January 1940 to October 1944. The job consisted of going to public schools and any organization to which she was invited to give talks on the philosophy of the farm program It also necessitated trips to neighboring counties for speeches. After that she spent a year in the county agent's office coordinating club work - getting paid for the same type work she had done in the 30's as a volunteer. Mrs. Downing entered the Welfare office as a caseworker November 1945 and had been county director of welfare 16 years when she retired in 1965 at the age of 75. After retirement she continued to help with various volunteer programs such as March of Dimes, Heart Association, Easter Seals, county museum, etc., and to hold various offices in the church. Mr. and Mrs. Downing moved to Fullerton in 1969 and celebrated their golden anniversary in 1970. Mr. Downing died in 1972 at the age of 94. Mrs. Downing, 89 in 1979, during the past year visited her sister in Arkansas, spent Christmas holiday with her son's family in Texas, and continues to present programs for the organizations to which she belongs, helps at the museum, and holds open house for her many friends and relatives. She has shared her home at 509 Fuller, Fullerton, with her daughter Elizabeth since Elizabeth's retirement in 1976.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William F. Downing's memorial?
William F. Downing's memorial is located at: Fullerton Cemetery, Fullerton, Nance County, USA.
When did William F. Downing death?
William F. Downing death on 13 Jul 1972 in
Where are the coordinates of the William F. Downing's memorial?
Latitude: 41.3510017
Longitude: -97.9813995

Family Members:

Parent

James F. Downing

(1845 - 1922)

Martha Ann Dean Downing

(1853 - 1935)

Spouse

Margaret I. Nunn Downing

(1890 - 1986)

Siblings

Howard Newton Downing

(1876 - 1955)

Lloyd Lee Downing

(1883 - 1900)

Children

Elizabeth Ann Downing

(1923 - 2019)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Fullerton Cemetery
Fullerton, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3510017, -97.9813995

2. Saint Peter Catholic Cemetery
Fullerton, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3510017, -97.9796524

3. Nance County Rural Grave Site
Fullerton, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3369000, -98.0790000

4. Morning Star Cemetery
Fullerton, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3229750, -98.0977170

5. Bureau Cemetery
Clarks, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2639008, -97.9344025

6. Sunnyside Cemetery
Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4016991, -97.8692017

7. Peace Lutheran Cemetery
Belgrade, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4306984, -98.1434021

8. Fairview Cemetery
Silver Creek, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2920000, -97.8006000

9. Redwing Cemetery
Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4446983, -98.1369019

10. Main Cemetery
Belgrade, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4947014, -98.0425034

11. Skeedee Cemetery
Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5038986, -97.8850021

12. Burke Cemetery
Central City, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1833420, -98.0398407

13. Naomi Cemetery
Saint Edward, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5245200, -97.9907000

14. Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery
Krakow, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3908157, -97.7522888

15. Calvary Cemetery
Clarks, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2196999, -97.8193970

16. Glenwood Cemetery
Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2928990, -98.2148550

17. Lingle Cemetery
Genoa, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5108000, -97.8384000

18. Valley View Cemetery
Genoa, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4317017, -97.7319031

19. Central City Cemetery
Central City, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1369019, -97.9944000

20. Saint Lawrence Cemetery
Silver Creek, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2942009, -97.7052994

21. Genoa Indian Industrial School Cemetery
Genoa, Nance County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4471700, -97.7218400

22. Silver Creek Cemetery
Silver Creek, Merrick County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3222008, -97.6830978

23. Fairview Cemetery
Swedehome, Polk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2357500, -97.7052000

24. Evergreen Cemetery
Saint Edward, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5677986, -97.8411026