After John Floyd married Veola Belle they moved to Caldwell, Idaho. There Floyd had big, curly haired white faced cows, commonly called Herefords now. He grew wheat, sugar beets, and and grew his own hay. He rode his horse to check cattle and operated flood gates on the river to water his crops.
Floyd died in 1966, leaving behind his best friend and the woman he loved so dearly. Veola must have been heart broken. All of Floyd's stuff was sold, including his saddle and riding gear, which i would have loved to have. Veola died some time later however i cant remember the year.
I would haqve loved to know Floyd, i would have greatly enjoyed helping him on his ranch tending cattle and caring for the horses. I love listening to my grandma tell me stories of floyd and my other relatives. I hope someday that someone will be that interested in me as i am in floyds life and history. That i am intriguing in my life so that my great great grandchildren enjoy learning about my life!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Cattle Drive
I do not know very many exact details about the cattle drives that the Downing family had, however I do know that they were large cattle drives and the were frequent. In 1892 John Floyd Henry Downing was born in Trinidad, Colorado, most likely a stop along the cattle trail. Floyd had an older brother who died at a very young age, I have not found any records that state his name.
These cattle drives were from Texas to either Dell or Lima, Montana. The exact amount of cattle driven is entirely unknown, however i have recovered John Henry Downings' cattle brands from Dell, Montana. I have not yet searched for cattle brands in his name in Texas, but if i find his brands there it will allow me to backtrack further showing me the region in Texas they occupied. It is believed that he lived in the pan handle of Texas.
If i do find residency's in Texas it may allow me to find more information about my fourth great grandpa Adam Downing. Adam Downing's father is the man that is likely to be "The Man in the Red Coat" who fought for Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. Records past Adam appear to be nonexistent, indicating the possibility that "The Man in the Red Coat" was deported after the war. There is also an Indian whose name was Red Coat and with how involved my family was with Indians it is possible that "The Man in the Red Coat" was not a solider at all but an Indian Comrade who fought in the Revolutionary War.
These cattle drives were from Texas to either Dell or Lima, Montana. The exact amount of cattle driven is entirely unknown, however i have recovered John Henry Downings' cattle brands from Dell, Montana. I have not yet searched for cattle brands in his name in Texas, but if i find his brands there it will allow me to backtrack further showing me the region in Texas they occupied. It is believed that he lived in the pan handle of Texas.
If i do find residency's in Texas it may allow me to find more information about my fourth great grandpa Adam Downing. Adam Downing's father is the man that is likely to be "The Man in the Red Coat" who fought for Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. Records past Adam appear to be nonexistent, indicating the possibility that "The Man in the Red Coat" was deported after the war. There is also an Indian whose name was Red Coat and with how involved my family was with Indians it is possible that "The Man in the Red Coat" was not a solider at all but an Indian Comrade who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Texas
In Texas the Downing’s and McNinch are believed to have met.
The Downing’s came from Illinois and the McNinch from New York. The exact date
and location of the meeting is unknown. However I have acquired the idea that
their meeting was directly connected to the fact that the McNinch family worked
for the King Ranch and that the Downing’s were ranchers.
I also found a record last night stating that a women by the
name of C. Adair bought some of the first Hereford cattle in Texas, my third great
grandpa Thomas Washington Griggs married an Adair. This leads me to believe
that the majority of my family was located in an isolated region of Texas
around the same time era.
Later John Henry Downing went to Dell, Montana on a cattle
drive with his white faced cows (Herefords). With him was the McNinch family
with his soon to be bride Della Rosella McNinch. The Griggs family also
followed to Montana!
Next week I will go more in depth to the ranching heritage
in my family and where they ranched, why they chose the cattle they did and
various aspects of the ranching lifestyle. Thanks for reading and God Bless!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Origins
My family tree is one of extraordinary interest. I will begin by mentioning this is the family tree on my mothers side. The four sides of the family tree are Downing, McNinch, Griggs and Adair. I have only records of my third great Grandparents who were John Henry Downing and Della Rosella McNinch. I also have records of my third great grandparents on the Griggs and Adair side, Thomas Washington Griggs and Maude May Adair.
On the Downing side there is talk of a great grandparent who fought in the Revolutionary War as a red coat for the British, this has not yet be proven but is acknowledged. The McNinch side of the family came from Scotland from a ship who set sail from Ireland. The lived with the Seneca Indians in upstate New York. There is a history book about the Seneca Indians that speaks about the McNinch family. Shortly thereafter a man named James McNinch was among the first to settle in Consensus, New York. The family later moved to Texas, where they worked at the King Ranch. At this point the McNinch's met the Downing family who was about to go on a cattle drive to Montana. John Henry Downing was a Texas Ranger at this time, he was a big man at either 6' 5" or 6' 6". It is suspected that the Downing's hired the McNinch's to help move cattle. In Montana John Henry Downing married Della Rosella McNinch.
Little is known about this particular issue with the Grigg's except that Thomas Washington Grigg's had Chickasaw Indian in him. He was born in Chickasaw territory in south western Missouri. He later married Maude May Adair in Marlow, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.
I do not have any significant information of the Adair family as of now. That will change however. One basic point that must be understood is that family's in America from early in the 1600's even to the early 1900's followed their families, they did not spread out. They remained a tight-nit social group. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this article about the framework of my heritage, there is more to come! Included will be facts, and short life stories. Thanks and God Bless!
On the Downing side there is talk of a great grandparent who fought in the Revolutionary War as a red coat for the British, this has not yet be proven but is acknowledged. The McNinch side of the family came from Scotland from a ship who set sail from Ireland. The lived with the Seneca Indians in upstate New York. There is a history book about the Seneca Indians that speaks about the McNinch family. Shortly thereafter a man named James McNinch was among the first to settle in Consensus, New York. The family later moved to Texas, where they worked at the King Ranch. At this point the McNinch's met the Downing family who was about to go on a cattle drive to Montana. John Henry Downing was a Texas Ranger at this time, he was a big man at either 6' 5" or 6' 6". It is suspected that the Downing's hired the McNinch's to help move cattle. In Montana John Henry Downing married Della Rosella McNinch.
Little is known about this particular issue with the Grigg's except that Thomas Washington Grigg's had Chickasaw Indian in him. He was born in Chickasaw territory in south western Missouri. He later married Maude May Adair in Marlow, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.
I do not have any significant information of the Adair family as of now. That will change however. One basic point that must be understood is that family's in America from early in the 1600's even to the early 1900's followed their families, they did not spread out. They remained a tight-nit social group. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this article about the framework of my heritage, there is more to come! Included will be facts, and short life stories. Thanks and God Bless!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Gathering Information
I have recently been very interested in gathering information about my family heritage. It has suddenly become very rewarding. It all began when I went to visit my grandma this summer in Missouri. One night she brought out small frames filled with rustic, age stained pictures of men and women who lived years ago. She began to explain who they were, the stories that were attached to their names and the awe inspiring stories of their lives.
The stories mesmerized me and inspired me to research further into the names of those who lived so long ago. My grandma also inspired by my research, began calling more realatives in the search for new stories, new names and the very search of who we are. This search contines today, and all the information that has been found will be written on this blog. I hope that you will enjoy the stories of my family and the very people from whom i came from!
The stories mesmerized me and inspired me to research further into the names of those who lived so long ago. My grandma also inspired by my research, began calling more realatives in the search for new stories, new names and the very search of who we are. This search contines today, and all the information that has been found will be written on this blog. I hope that you will enjoy the stories of my family and the very people from whom i came from!
Introduction
Hello my name is Andrew Crowe. My blog is about my family heritage, and the life my relatives lived, how they made there income and the land they called home. From my relatives who fought in the revolutionary war to the relatives i live with me today, this is my blog!
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