Oklahoma Cemeteries Website
butterfly
image
Click here to break out of frames
This information is available for free. If you paid money for a
subscription to get to this site, demand a refund.

OK Obits


©The Verden News
Submitted by: Sandi Carter


John D. Downing

June 20, 1860 ~ July 25, 1923

John D. Downing, born June 20, 1860. Died July 25, 1923.

The grim reaper of death has passed our way once more, this time removing from our midst one of the landmarks of our citizenry, John D. Downing, one of the pioneers of this community.

Mr. Downing was born near Talequah, Indian Territory - now a part of Oklahoma. At the age of 14 he came to the Anadarko Agency and shortly afterwards was adopted by the Wichita Indians as a member of their tribe.

He was educated at Anadarko Agency and at Hampton, Va., receiving from the latter school a certificate entitling him to teach in Government schools. He was married April 3, 1885 to Ada Mae Meeks. To this union was born four children, James Downing of Santa Rosa, N. M., Mrs. Susie Cochran of Tuttle, Mrs. Rachel Briscoe of Anadarko, and Fred Downing, deceased.

The mother and wife having departed in early life, he was again married on July 12, 1898 to Mrs. Margaret Garen, and by this marriage seven children were born; John, Earl, Pearl, Rena, Thelma, Edens and Ernst. These together with a stepson, Howard Garen of Roswell, N. M., are left to mourn his departure.

With the exception of his eldest son, James and stepson, Howard Garen, the entire membership of his family were present when he died.

Mr. Downing had resided in this community for over 49 years and was a man who attended to his own affairs and never bothering with affairs that did not concern him. For a number of years he was prominently identified with the stockraisers of the state. He was Initiated in the Masonic Lodge at Anadarko, on Jan. 11, 1896, was later re[ceived] by demit as a charter member of Verden Lodge No. 829. He received the Scottish Rite Degree at Guthrie, May 5, 6 and 7, 1908.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Saturday, July 28, under auspices of the Masonic order, Rev. Chas. Mann, officiating.


|OK Obits|  |Oklahoma Cemeteries Home|



This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma Cemeteries

The information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.