~*~

Downer Confederate Soldier

This picture was in the Downer
pictures my dad got from my grandmother.  I know that William Alexander
Downer
, b. May 1845; d. 1921 (the father of my ggrandmother, Johnie
Magnolia Downer) and his brother Benjamin Franklin Downer, b. 1842; d.
1887, both served in Company B 49th Alabama Infantry Regiment.  William
was captured and defected from the Confederate Army.  Benjamin served
his time out.  I have the service cards on William and he is described
as having dark hair and dark eyes, so I'm betting this is a picture of
Benjamin.  What do you think?  Have you seen this picture before?  

I've sent off for the service cards on Benjamin.  He served his time out
honorably and his wife received a pension after he died.  I'm in the
process of using his service to join the United Daughters of the
Confederacy.

Also, I have a copy of the genealogy that Pat Downer had made by a
genealogist named James Petty.  Have you seen it?  My copy is missing
page 8, so I've emailed Mr. Petty to see about buying a copy of the
papers.

Caren

 

~*~

James Evans Berry

This picture is of James Evans Berry, first husband of Johnie Magnolia
Downer.  James died of typhoid fever.  The children of James Berry and
Johnie M. Downer are:
Hardy Warren Berry
Jesse Mae Berry
Ruby Ethyl Berry, b. 1898; d. 1994
Eugene Brown Berry, b. 1904; d. 1972
Maxie Berry, d. 1930
Bobbie Lou Berry, (actually born Grady Lou Berry and changed her name)
b. 1908; d. 1992
James Douglas Berry, b. 1912; d. 1993
Johnnie Allene Berry, b. 1915; d. 2004 (my grandmother)

After James Berry died, Johnie married J.B. Reed, a Primitive Baptist
preacher...very strict man who my grandmother said was mean to them when
they were young.  My dad said that he was nice in his old age.  They had one daughter together, Katie Daffin Reed.

 

~*~

Johnie Magnolia & Grandpa Reed  




~*~

Johnie Allene Berry

Cotton Picker family, bonnet lady is Johnie Allene Berry. 
I'm told that my grandmother is the lady in the bonnet and the rest are
siblings...the man in front might be an uncle instead of a brother.  The
picture was taken about 1929 or 1930.




~*~

Johnie Magnolia Downer Berry Reed

 This is a picture of Johnie Magnolia Downer Berry Reed not long before
she passed away.  Around her left to right are:
Grandpa Reed, Eugene (Gene) Brown Berry, Katie Daffin Reed Neuhaus,
James (Jim) Douglas Berry, Ruby Ethyl Berry Davis, Johnie Allene Berry
Cox (my grandmother), Bobbie Lou Berry Dobbs.  

 

Four of Johnie M & James Berry's Kids
Johnie A. ~ Bobbie ~ Ruby ~ Jim

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