Limit  50 100 200 300 400 500

Private Arthur Downs

Company I

51st United States Colored Infantry Regiment

 

ARTHUR DOWNS  (born January 15, 1842, Prairie Mer Rouge, Louisiana; died July 28, 1933, Mer Rouge, Louisiana) enlisted as a Private in Company "I" of the 51st Regiment of the United States Colored Troops which was formed from the 1st Mississippi Infantry (African Descent).  He served from October 21, 1864 to June 16, 1866 when he mustered out as a Private in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He is buried at the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Mer Rouge, Louisiana.  He married Emily King on January 14, 1867, in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, and was the father of ten children of which eight survived into adulthood.

NOTE:  Arthur Downs' death certificate adds "Jr.," but he did not use "Jr." when he enlisted and "Jr." does not appear in his listing in the book, "The Roster of Union  Soldiers  1861-1865, United Colored Troops," edited by Janet B. Hewitt.  This book also incorrectly lists Arthur Downs as mustering out as a "Corporal."  His pension file, which I have, shows he mustered out as a "Private" not a "Corporal" so this is an error in the book. )  His date of birth (Oct 1841) and his date of death (Apr 1933) on his Civil War headstone are incorrect.  Per his pension file, he was born on January 15, 1842, and died on July 28, 1933, according to his death certificate a copy of which I also have in my possession.

An article entitled, "Arthur Downs, Jr.," by me will appear in a genealogical journal called, "The Genie," in Volume 42, No. 1, First Quarter 2008, (March 2008) which is published by The Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association, Inc., Post Office Box 4462, Shreveport, LA 71134 in March 2008.

Isabelle Woods
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

---

Return to Resting Places of United States Colored Troops