Kentucky:  A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 
1886. Allen County.

WILLIAM R. DOWNING was born May 6, 1821, near where he now resides in 
Flatwood Precinct.  He is the fifth of four sons and four daughters, all 
of whom lived to be grown, born to Benjamin and Isabella (Campbell) 
Downing, who were born and reared in Maryland and east Tennessee, 
respectively.  (See sketch of D. E. Downing.)  William R. was reared on 
a farm, and resided with his parents until his marriage, in October, 
1840, with Malinda C. Seay, of Franklin County, Va.  By this union seven 
children were born, five of whom lived to be grown:  James W., Dewitt 
C., John S., Benjamin A. and William E.  Mrs. Downing is a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; she has been a member for 
about fifty years, and has wielded a moral influence on all surrounding 
her.  After marriage, Mr. Downing located on 100 acres of land, which he 
cleared; he now owns 450 acres, 150 of which he has cleared and improved 
with good buildings, within one-half mile of where he first located.  He 
has been very successful during life, having started about even with the 
world; he lost seven negroes by the war.  He hired a substitute for the 
war, but had two sons in the Ninth Kentucky; one of whom survived to 
return with his regiment.  Mr. Downing is a member of the Baptist 
Church, and of the Masonic fraternity; since the war has been a 
Democrat, is always ready to advance the interests of his community, and 
is numbered among the most respected citizens of his county.

Campbell Downing Seay
=
Franklin-VA MD TN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/allen/downing.wr.txt