A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 1844-1943
by Wendell H. Rone, Probably published in 1944 by Messenger Job Printing
Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky.  Used by permission.  p. 261-262.
Daviess

WILLIAM DOWNS:  The above is a brother of Thomas Downs, and was born in the 
old fort at Hartford about the year 1782.  After the death of his father 
near the old fort at Vienna (Calhoun) he was brought to Nelson County, 
Kentucky, and placed under the care of Mr. Evan Wilson, by whom he was 
reared.  He received a fair education for the time and soon began to teach 
school.  In early life he united with Rolling Fork Church in Nelson County 
He began to "exercise" in public soon after he was baptized and gave 
evidence of such extraordinary gifts that the Church too hastily ordained 
him to the ministry.  He had preached but a short time when he was summoned 
before the church on the charge of having been intoxicated, a weakness 
manifest in his later life.  To avoid the trial he sought membership in a 
Separate Baptist Church and was received.  Rolling Fork Church publicly 
excluded him, however, and asked Salem Association to advertise him.  This 
was done in the minutes of that body in 1805.  Elder Downs continued to 
preach among the Separate Baptists until he raised up a Church of that order
called Little Mount.  This Church was near Hodgenville, Ky., and contained a
number of highly respectable citizens.  As Elder Downs was fond of 
controversy, he engaged in several debates.  His exceeding familiarity with 
the Scriptures, his ready wit, keen sarcasm, and brilliant oratory attracted 
attention and won the admiration of the most intelligent and refined people 
within the limits of his acquaintance.  He held a debate with a Catholic 
priest and came off more than victorious.  The priest argued from the 
proposition that all Protestant sects received their baptism from the Roman 
Catholic Church.  Elder Downs admitted the proposition but denied being a 
Protestant.  The priest exhibited his disappointment and confusion by saying 
to Hon. Benjamin Hardin, one of the leading lawyers and statesmen of 
Kentucky, and an ardent admirer of Downs, "You have brought me an Anabaptist 
to contend with; had I known this I would not have debated with him."  
Greatly to the gratification of his honorable friend, Downs gained a 
complete victory.

About the year 1828, Elder Downs moved to Ohio County, and again united with 
the United Baptists (Missionaries as they were then known).  Here an 
opportunity was soon afforded for a display of his controversial powers. He 
held a debate with a Universalist preacher by the name of Mann at 
Hawesville, in Hancock County.  Downs played with him as a cat would play 
with a wounded mouse.  At the close of each argument, presented with 
irresistible force, he quoted from Paul, leaving out the word "every"-"Let 
God be true and MANN a liar." At the close of the debate the crestfallen 
Universalist beat a hasty retreat and was never afterwards seen in 
Hawesville.

In the split among the Baptists of the Green River Country on the subject of
Missions in the year 1835, Downs went off with the anti-missionaries.  After
this he held a debate with another Catholic priest in Owensboro and a
Campbellite preacher and again came off the victor in both contests.  While 
he displayed splendid abilities in the pulpit, his moral character was so 
defective that he exerted little influence for good.  He died in poverty and 
obscurity about the year 1860.

>From the records of the Church Elder Downs is shown to have pastored 
Bethabara from 1829 to 1835.  During this pastorate the Church experienced a 
rapid growth and a new building was erected in 1832-1833.  He also pastored 
Bell's Run Church from 1833 to 1839 and during this time made an effort to 
constitute two new Churches named Sardis and Shiloh but both became extinct 
and the members returned to the mother Church.  His anti-mission 
proclivities finally brought about his downfall.  He went into the 
constitution of Panther Creek Association of United Baptists (Anti-
missionaries) in 1843 but never reached the heights ascended before.  Downs 
was never fond of Temperance Societies by precept or practice. His life is 
indeed a contrast to that of his more illustrious brother, Elder Thomas 
Downs.  It also shows that abilities may be misused.

Downs Hardin Mann Wilson
=
Calhoun Hancock Hartford Hawsville Hodgenville Nelson Ohio

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/downs.w.txt