The obituary of Hattie Downs says she is one of Tuscumbia's pioneer residents. Her maiden name is unknown.

Hattie is said to be a Gargus, with a brother named King. Based on this information, we surmised Hattie's parents might be Henry Gargis, Sr. (1816-1886) and Nancy King Gargis (1818-1901). Henry and Nancy had a son named King Gargis. They also lived in the Franklin/Colbert County areas of Alabama. However, Henry's Last Will and Testament included every child, even the deceased, and Hattie was not on the list. She would have been their first child too, and was still alive when Henry died.

Hattie is also said to be a first cousin of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. We have found no genealogical connection thus far.

Hattie was said to possibly be from Pennsylvania, yet there is no record of that either, although it is always possible that is where her family is from.

Hattie married William LeRoy "LeRoy" Downs. They were the proud parents of nine known children, but the 1900 U.S. Census says she was a mother to 10, with six alive at that time. Their only son that lived to adulthood, Bill, never married, so the Downs name did not live on to the next generation. Here are their nine known children:

James H Downs 1850–bef 1860
William L "Bill" Downs 1850–1906
Virginia Florence Downs Crosswhite Bradford 1854–1939
Margaret Roberta Downs Hart 1857–1937
Harriett Fredonia "Hattie" "Donia" Downs Wilson 1858–1884
Mary Ann "Goldie" Downs Wilson 1858–1898
Lelia Azona Downs Rousseau 1864–1912
Rozella Walton "Rosa" Downs Wilson 1865–1923
Charles H "Charlie" Downs 1868–1873

LeRoy, Husband and Father, was a bootmaker/shoemaker. LeRoy was said to be from Ireland, but there is no record of that either. He is believed to have been in the Tuscumbia, AL area before 1836-1837, when an Estate Sale on behalf of the estate of Samuel Keaghy,, deceased, listed a house Wm Downs formerly lived in, that was also where he plied his shoe making trade as a retail business. The house was later opened and used by merchant tailors Berry & Conwell for their tailoring business. The address was listed as Fifth and Main St.

LeRoy was fatally shot on 19 Apr 1983. It was believed to be a "hunting accident".

LeRoy, Husband and Father, was 65 years, 11 months, and 14 days old, when his life was taken.
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Leroy Downs Accidentally Shot & Mortally Wounded
San Francisco Bulletin
Apr 1883
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Huntsville Gazette
Southern Gleanings
Apr 1883
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Macon Telegraph
Apr 1883
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LeRoy served his country. In 1862, at age 45, he served in the Second Eastern Shore Infantry.

U.S. Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865:

Name: William Downs
b. abt 1818
Age: abt 44
Enlist Date: 1862
Military Unit: Second Eastern Shore Infantry, C-V

The only missing known child of LeRoy and Hattie not linked below, is:

James H Downs
b. abt 1850, most likely in Franklin Co, AL The 1850 U.S. Census has him at 3/12, and that is supposed to be as of 1 Jun 1850.
d. bef 1860, probably in AL. He was not on the 1860 U.S. Census with the family.

Mother and Grandmother, Hattie, died at age 74 years, 7 months and 15 days.

Note: Part of Franklin Co, AL later became part of Colbert Co, AL.