Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Monroe County. HON. DANIEL E. DOWNING was born in Allen County, Ky., and is the fourth of four sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be grown, born to Benjamin and Isabella (Campbell) Downing. Benjamin Downing was born April 17, 1789, in Maryland; when a lad of five years he immigrated with his parents to Kentucky, settling first near Covington; thence to Green County, and when yet a single man to Allen County, where he married. He added to his possessions from time to time until he owned about 600 acres of fine land; was the owner of about twenty-five slaves when the war broke out, and was postmaster in the community where he resided. He died in 1868; was a son of Benjamin Downing, Sr., and Sarah (Gray) Downing. The former was a native of Wales, but of English parents; immigrated to the United States before the Revolution, and settled in Maryland; about 1794 immigrated to Kentucky and settled near Covington. Later settled in Green County, Ky., where he was killed in the manufacture of powder. He owned a large number of slaves. His widow moved to Allen County, then Barren, and purchased fifty acres on the banks of Barren River, fifteen miles east of Scottsville, Ky., where Benjamin Downing now resides. Mrs. Isabella Downing was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., and was a daughter of James Campbell, who married Jane Sample, and who was born in Ireland, immigrated to the United States before the Revolution, and was a soldier in that struggle; was a farmer, and one of the first settlers of east Tennesseee, an also one of the early pioneers of Monroe County; settled near Fountain Run, and endured all the privations of pioneer life. From the Downings and Campbells many of the leading and prominent families of southern Kentucky are descended. Hon. D. E. Downing was raised on a farm, and received a fair English education. His teacher being a doctor, necessarily had to be called to see his patients. At such times Mr. Downing took his place as teacher. Beging a young man of more that ordinary ability he was solicited by William V. Loving, of Bowling Green, to study and practice law, but declined the offer. He remained with his parents until his marriage, April 6, 1843, with Matilda Howard, of Monroe County, a daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Clements) Howard; thirteen children were born to this union, ten of whom are now living: Catharine H. (Fraim), James T., Isabela J. (Taylor), William B., Margaret A. (Johnson), John M., George C., Matilda E., Bertie C. and Daniel E. Mrs. Downing died May 23, 1885, a devoted member of the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Downing is also a member. After his marriage he located at the mouth of Indian Creek, on Barren River; in December, 1846, located where he now resides, on same creek, one mile above Flippin, on 210 acres which he has improved. He since added 260 acres; has given and sold to his children until he now owns but 240 acres, 125 cleared and in a good state of cultivation; also owns 158 acres in Barren County; owned slaves when the war broke out. Mr. Downing was constable for six years and was the first sheriff of Monroe County under the new constitution for nineteen months. In 1857 he was elected to represent the county in the Legislature, re-elected in 1859; being a strong Union man was again elected in 1861 without opposition. In 1869 he made his fourth race, and was elected. Mr. Downing is a very popular citizen, and honored and respected by all who know him. In politics he is a Democrat; cast his first presidential vote for William H. Harrison in 1840; was a Whig up to the breaking out of the war. Campbell Clements Downing Fraim Gray Howard Johnson Loving Sample Taylor = Barren Bowling_Green-Warren Covington-Kenton Green Ireland MD Scottsvile-Allen TN Wales http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/monroe/downing.de.txt