Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry
Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. 
Cass County.

FINIS E. DOWNING, Circuit Clerk of Cass County; is a native of
the city of Virginia, Cass Co., and was born Aug. 24, 1846.  His
father, Nathan H. Downing, was a Cumberland Presbyterian
Clergyman, a native of Kentucky, and a son of John Downing, who
was a native of Bedford County, Va., and married Susannah Hall, a
native of same place.  John Downing had a family of twelve
children, nine of whom lived to maturity.  He removed from
Virginia to Kentucky with his parents in early life, and from
thence to Marion County, Mo., in 1827, and pursued farming until
his death, in June, 1832.  His wife survived him until March 3,
1861.  Nathan H. Downing came to Cass County in 1842.  He married
Miss Eliza Head, a daughter of John Head, a farmer and surveyor.
He died in Virginia, Nov. 30, 1853.  They had five children, two
sons and three daughters, viz.:  John C., Finis E., Lucy J., now
Mrs. Green Middleton, of York County, Neb.  John C., who died in
a hospital at Memphis, Miss., April 10, 1863.  He enlisted in the
114th Ill. Vol. Infty. August 13, 1862, a historical sketch of
which appears elsewhere in this book.  Finis married Jan. 15,
1868, to Miss Sue H. Payne, daughter of William B. Payne, of
Virginia.  They have one son, Harry.  Mr. Downing was elected to
the office of Circuit Clerk of Cass County in November, 1880.  He
first entered business as clerk for William B. Payne, and
continued with him about five years, and after the first year was
his partner.  He removed to Missouri in 1869, and there remained
until 1875, and then returned to Virginia and clerked for Mr.
Payne until his election.  He is a member of the I.O.O.F.,
A.O.U.W., and A.F. and A.M., of Virginia.

Downing Hall Head Middleton Payne
=
KY Bedford-VA Marion-MO York-NE