Charles James "Charlie" Downing was born on December 15, 1859 in Canandaigua, Seneca Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. He was the son of Nancy (Getty) and Charles Henry Downing.

Early in his life, Charlie spent time in Elmira, New York which was the childhood home of his father. At the age of ten, he returned to live in Lenawee County and farmed in Ridgeway Township for the rest of his life.

He married Martha Estelle Carman and they had eleven children including:

1. Irving Henry Downing

2. Anna Matilda (Downing) Anspach

3. Nora Belle (Downing) Squires

4. Charles Clayton Downing

5. Joseph Emery Downing

6. Martha Ellen "Nellie" (Downing) Wegner

7. Louis Ezra Downing

8. Walter Harry Downing

9. Leland George Downing

10. Leon James Downing

11. Marion Estelle (Downing) Barrett

Charles died on April 11, 1932 at the age of 72 at his home. Estelle who was born on December 7, 1861, passed away on July 21, 1950 at the age of 88. They are both buried in Ridgeway Cemetery in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.
 

"Charlie and Estella set up housekeeping on the Ireland farm north of Deerfield. They were tenant fanners for Irving Osburn. They then lived for a time on their farm on the County Line, which was to become Harry Downing's place later. On November 2), 1896, they bought the old George K. Getty homestead from Thomas VanDuzer, where Albert Wielfaert now lives, and lived there for a few years...They gradually expanded both family and farm until they owned 400 acres and had raised eleven children.

Through perseverance, ambition and excellent planning, Charles and Estella acquired a great deal of material wealth, especially land, of which they owned at one time close to a full section. In later years the road running past the homestead was named Downing Highway, at the suggestion of Leland's wife, Fannie. The road had been named Putnam, for a school teacher in Britton. But this man had long since moved back to Ohio."