Coopersville Observer, April 12, 1907
John W. Downs
John W. Downs was born in Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., New York, February 11, 1835, and died at his home near Coopersville, Mich., March 22, 1907, aged 72 years, 1 month and 11 days.
In 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 60th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and served with the Army of the Potomac until after the Battle of Gettysburg, where his oldest brother was killed. He was then transferred to Chattanooga, taking part in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, and then went with General Sherman on the famous "March to the Sea."
On July 17, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having served three years and ten months.
On the 11th day of January 1866, he was united in marriage to Hortense A. Carr, at Edwards, New York. To this union were born three children, two daughters and one son. On May 12, 1867, they came to Michigan and located on the farm near Coopersville, where he died.
He was converted in 1877, and was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Bible as set forth by the Wesleyan Methodist Church, of which he was an earnest member at the time of his death. He bore his sickness with Christian grace and fortitude and left a testimony that all was well.
He leaves besides his wife, a son, Edward G. Downs, two daughters, Mrs. Amy Blackmer and Mrs. Eda Barrett, fourteen grandchildren, one brother in New York, and one sister in Missouri; two sisters and one brother, with his parents having passed on before.
The funeral was held in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. G. D. Kellogg, who, to a large gathering of friends, preached from the words, "Let me died the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Numbers 23:10.
(Mr. Downs was buried in Coopersville Cemetery.)