Drusilla Downs, P. O. Neola, was born in Kentucky February 3, 1827, daughter of William and Rebecca Ann (McGuire) Johnston. Her father was born in Virginia; emigrated to Kentucky, where he was married; from Kentucky he went to Ohio, thence to Illinois, where he died. Mrs. Downs' mother was born in Kentucky, and died while the former was quite young.

Mr. Asa Downs was born March 3, 1816, in Indiana, son of Ezekiel and Charlotte (Rowlands) Downs, natives of Indiana.

Mr. Asa Downs began life as a farmer in Illinois, where he remained twelve years; then, in 1851, he came to Iowa and bought a claim near Weston, of Absalom Smith, a Morman. This farm is still owned by Mrs. Downs. When the farm was first purchased, there was a saw mill upon it, which was among the first mills of the county, and it was known as the Downs Mill, and was situated on Mosquito Creek, then miles from Council Bluffs. The mill was destroyed by high water in 1852.

Mr. and Mrs. Downs were married, in Illinois, December 7, 1845. They had thirteen children, one of whom is dead. They are Mary E., born January 1, 1844; William, October 7, 1848; Emily, April 7, 1849; Anthony W., June 16, 1850; Willis E., June 5, 1852; Marion J., June 5, 1854; Alice J., April 28, 1856; Caroline, March 6, 1858; Thomas, November 11, 1860; George, September 17, 1862; Charles, April 28, 1868; and Amy E., December 22, 1869.

November 3, 1879, Mr. Downs died, in Downsville, a village in Norwalk Township named in honor of him, and where he had lived many years. Mr. Downs was much esteemed by all who knew him, and in his death the county lost one of its best and most useful citizens.

Mrs. Downs is a Quakeress.

She is buried in Downsville Cemetery.