Don Nickell’s database identifies this son of John and Nancy as the Joseph M. Downing who married Ann E. Hazelrigg on 15 Oct 1876 in Morgan County. But since John and Nancy were in Shelby County by 1858, and in Indiana by 1862, it seems pretty solid that Ann Hazelrigg married a different Joseph.

His name appears on several censuses as James M., but he seems to have mostly gone by either J. M. or J. Morris.

His death certificate (scanned online at the Missouri State Archives web site) records J. M. Downing, residence 109 E. North St., Warrensburg, Johnson Co., Mo, age 80 years 2 days, born 28 Nov 1848 in Ky, died 30 Nov 1928, married, wife Mrs. Celia Downing, father John Downing, b. Ky, mother’s maiden name Eliza McCormack, b. Ky, cause of death chronic nephritis, informant Mrs. Celia Downing, Warrensburg, Mo., burial in Providence Cemetery, Johnson Co.

His widow seems to have confused his step-mother Eliza with his mother and attached to her the maiden name of his grandmother, Mary McCormick.