Mrs. Jane Downey (nee Walsch)

Putnam Record
May 18, 1899

J. L. Downey, of Hennepin received word Monday afternoon that his mother, living about six miles west of Putnam had died that morning. Mrs. Downey went up the stairs to bed the evening before to usual health, and bout 2 o'clock Monday morning, her husband and son, who slept downstairs, heard a great noise, which seemed to shake the entire house. The son lighted a lamp and opening the door found his mother lying unconscious.

Mrs. Downey had evidently fallen from the top of stairway. She was fully dressed and it is not known if she had been in bed or had simply laid won with her clothes on, as she did not regain consciousness and died shortly after being found. Hear trouble is attributed as the cause of her death. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at the M.E. church in Putnam. Deceased was probably past 70.

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Henry Republican, May 18

The family of Francis Downey mourn the sad loss of a dear wife and mother. The summons came suddenly. On last Monday about 2 a.m., she got up during a thunderstorm and descending the stairs was found later at the foot of the stairs, having expired from hart[sic] disease. It was a shock to all the friends. Jane Walsch was born near Manor Hamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland, Aug. 31, 1825. Her mother having departed this life, she and a brother and a younger sister were cared for by their grandfather and grandmother until they grew to womanhood and manhood. She was united in marriage to Francis Downey April 14, 1849, and in the following Jan., took passage for America. After arriving in America they located at Troy, New York, for several years, when they concluded they would come farther west and located at South Hampton, Illinois, afterward moving to Henry, Marshall co., where they lived until 1865, when they moved to their present home in Putnam county, 5 ½ miles southwest of Putnam village. To this union were born six boys and four girls, all of whom survive her, her death being the first to break the family circle, at the age of 73 years, 8 months, 14 days, having been married over 50 years.

At the age of 14 years she united with the Episcopal Church in the old country, and later in life, August 19, 1877 she united with the M. E. church at Putnam, Ill. There were remaining at home at the time of her death, the father, and one son. Her sister, Mrs. Thomas Crawford of Dana, Ill., survives her, bout[sic] on account of sickness was unable to attend the funeral, but the husband and two sons were present. Her brother, John Walsch, enlisted in the 11th cavalry in 1862 and died of a wound received in Tennessee.

The children had reached maturity and all married but two, and all respected and useful citizens. The sons are Henry, Norville, Durbin, J. Linn, Oliver and Marshall; the daughters, Mrs. J. M. Williams, Mrs. Lizzie Vail, Mrs. J. O. Winship and Mrs. George Wheeler.

The funeral was held at the M. E. church yesterday, Rev. Northrup officiating. His tribute of the deceased was beautifully expressed and impressive. The pallbearers were the six sons. Interment at Putnam cemetery.

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rest in peace


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