California Biographies
Downs, Vernon

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Downs, Vernon. Farmer and stock-raiser. Born in Hancock county, Maine, May 3,
1829, where he resided until 1846, when he went to Tallahassee, Florida, where
he resided until March, 1850, when he emigrated to California, via Panama, and
after about two months travel landed in San Francisco. He immediately proceeded
to Placer county and engaged in mining, which he followed for three years when
he came to Santa Rosa, and was one of the parties who built the Santa Rosa
Flouring Mills. In 1863 he went to Idaho and followed mining for four years; the
remainder of the time, excepting one year spent in Mendocino county, he has made
this county his home. Married, in 1858, Miss Elizabeth Rawles, who died in 1859.
Married his present wife, Miss Martha Jane, daughter of Judge William Churchman,
October 29, 1867, she being born in Washington county, Iowa, December 1, 1845.
Lillian, born August 14, 1868; Vernon, born November 3, 1870; Carrie, born
December 3, 1873; George Hancock, born March 26, 1876, and an infant son, Henry
Augustine, born May 19, 1879, are the names of their children.

Source: HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, Alley, Bowen & Co. 1880