Person:James Downey (7)

James was a farmer. From Peattie's "History of Gibson County," "James M. Downey was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads of that day, and at the age of 25 removed from his native county to Vanderburgh County. In 1848, he came to Gibson County, where he was actively engaged in farming until 1894, when he disposed of the old home and took up residence in Francisco, where in a beautiful dwelling, he is now living retired in the enjoyment of a well merited rest...Mr. Downey is a Methodist."

At the age of 41 on August 18, 1862, James enrolled in the 65th Regiment, Co. B of the Indiana Infantry. He mustered in August 6, 1862 at Princeton, Indiana for three years. He was paid a bounty of $25 and a premium of $200

In the Company Descriptive Book, James was listed as age 41, height 6 feet 1 inch, complexion dark, eyes black, hair black. He was born in Posey County, Indiana, and was a farmer.

He was discharged for disability on March 17, 1864, by order of Maj. Gen. Scofield at Madisonville, Tennessee. When discharged, he was called an excellent soldier, who took honorable part in the following fights: Bountville, Tennessee, September 1863; Reahtown, Tennessee, October 11, 1863; Bountville, Tennessee, October 14, 1863; Dandridge, Tennessee, January 18, 1864; and Bean's Station, Tennessee, December 14, 1863. His Certificate of Disability for Discharge stated that during the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty 60 days. Sergeant James M. Downey has been constantly afflicted with swelling in the feet and legs for the last four months so as to render him unfit for duty. Knoxville, Tennessee, January 30, 1864, William T. Stillwell, Capt.

On January 20, 1888, in his Declaration for Invalid Army Pension, James M. Downey, aged 66 years said, "he became disabled in the following manner, By constant and excessive riding on horseback for about 71 days and nights. He was disabled in his legs. So that he was discharged for said disability, and from which he has been disabled every year since and from which he has never recovered. Also he contracted Chronic Diarrhea while Riding through the State of Kentucky During the months of August and September 1862 from which he has never recovered. He was not treated for these disabilities in any hospital, Bu was under the care of A.R. Byers and John A. Scuddler, Surgeons of the Regt.

On February 29, 1888, in a General Affidavit of Henry F. Broadwll, aged 49 years, resident of Francisco, "I have lived a near neighbor to Said Soldier for 29 years. I was in the army and was discharged about 5 months after Said Soldier was discharged. And When I came home I found him suffering from chronic Diarrhea and Some disability in back and legs I suppose it to be Rheumatism, and he has suffered a great deal every year since that time with these disabilities and has not been able to do any hard manual labor since the war. He has been totally disabled from manual labor for the last four or five years. For the whole time since the war on an average, he has not been able to do more than half the work of a stout man. I know these facts from living near him and being very intimate with him during all the years since the war."

On April 24, 1888, James A. Harper, aged 44 years, resident of Belmont, Wabash Co., Illinois, stated, "he lived a near neighbor (1/4 of mile) to Said Downey before the war and went into the army with him in same company and regiment. During the fall of 1862, the whole regiment had a scourge of Chronic Diarrhea and claimant had chronic Diarrhea at that time, but he managed to keep with the company until about February 1864, when he gave out and count not march. I think his trouble then was Rheumatism in his legs. I know it was disability of feet and legs. And claimant did not do any more Service to amount of anything and was discharged from the Service in March 1864. I was mustered out of Service in June 1865 and came home and I lived 1/4 of mile of claimant from that time until 1881 when I moved to Belmont, Illinois. During all the time I lived by him I often heard him complaining but do not remember any dates, but he seemed to be laboring under some disability but said so little about it that I could not say positively what it was as I did not examine him and was not a Physician. I think on an average ever since the war, he has been disabled at least one half from the performance of manual labor. And at the present time, I would think from his appearance he is almost totally disabled."

On May 20, 1888, in a General Affidavit of Andrew Cudgel, aged 62 years, resident of Oakland City, Indiana, "I have know claimant for 30 years and have been intimate with him ever since the war. And have known him to have been afflicted with Rheumatism and Chronic Diarrhea more or less ever since the war. And at times he was very bad with these disabilities at one time about 16 or 17 years ago claimant was visiting at my house and took such a severe attack of Said Chronic Diarrhea which frustrated him to such an extent that I thought he would die and he has been afflicted ever since with Said Chronic Diarrhea. Claimant has not been able to perform more than half labor since his discharge and is now almost totally disabled."

On June 12, 1888, General Affidavit of William T. Stillwell, aged 61 years, resident of Fort Branch, Indiana, "That James M. Downey was a member of Company B, 65th Reg. Ind. Vols. of which company I was Captain and in the month of August 1863, while on the march from Henderson, Kentucky, to Knoxville, Tennessee, the same James M. Downey was taken with swelling in the knees, legs, and feet. This swelling grew worse until in January 1864, he became entirely unfit for duty, and this disability continued up to the time of his discharge from the service, which was in February or March 1864. During this time of his disability, the said James M. Downey was afflicted severely with Chronic Diarrhea. I was in command of the company at the time of this disability. The said James J. Downey was a good and faithful soldier."

On August 10, 1888, in a General Affidavit of William R. McCleary, aged 64 years, resident of Somerville, Gibson County, Indiana, "I was 1st Sergeant of Co. B, 65th Ind. Vol. and J.M. Downey was a member of the company and was a good soldier as long as he was able for duty. And Said nothing about his disabilities as long as he was able to go. I remember he had Chronic Diarrhea while in Kentucky in the fall of 1862. But he managed to keep with the company. And during the summer and fall of 1863, he become disabled from Rheumatism or Something of that kind. In his legs which disabled him so that he could not march and he was finally discharged on account of that disability in the spring of 1864. I have lived near claimant ever since the war and have heard him frequently complaining of Rheumatism in his legs that disabled him from work."

On September 1888, in the Declaration for Increase and Re-rating, "he is entitled to an Increase from Date of allowance of his claim for the reason that he is at this time and has been for some months totally Incapacitated from the Performance of any manual labor whatever. And he was not allowed a rate commensurate with the extent of his diability and his rating has been a Manifest error of the Medical Board and he would ask to be sent to Huntingburg, Indiana, for examination - he also believes himself entitled to some allowance for Rheumatism as was proved in his original claim reference is made testimony on file. Also testimor of 1st Sergeant herewith."

On September 15, 1902, Pensioner Dropped - Certificate No. 415.349 - Pensioner who was last paid at $12.00 to May 4, 1902, has been dropped because of Death, July 22, 1902.

He was 81 years, 2 months, 8 days old when he died in 1902.

1.   Death Certificate
   18 May 1988.