He married Mary Ellen Daugherty Abt 1867 at of Minnesota . Mary Ellen Daugherty was born at Quebec, Canada 3 Jul 1848 daughter of Farrell John Daugherty and Catherine Mary Mc Dermott .
They were the parents of 9
children:
Martin Van Downs
born 1868.
John James Downs
born 1870.
Patrick Henry Downs
born 1872.
Thomas Farrell Downs
born 1875.
Mary Ellen Downs
born 1878.
Daniel Joseph Downs
born Abt 1880.
Lucy Katherine Downs
born Abt 1882.
Isabella Frances Downs
born Abt 1884.
Michael Francis Downs
born Abt 1886.