Comments: William, my grandfather, was born in Gartness, in a terrace row, situated to the right coming from Chapelhall and just before the Clarkston, Moffat Mills road junction.
He was born on the 9th of March 1882. Gartness was then in the parish of Kirk O' Shotts. William became a colliery overseer or 'fireman', responsible for pit safety, after having passed the examinations. William married Elizabeth Neil, who lived in the colliery hamlet of Dunsyston, also known as 'Fin Me Oot' because of its remoteness. Elizabeth and William's first home was at 96 Forest Street, Clarkston, Airdrie.
William was employed as a miner by the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company in Dunsyston and the reason for his transferring to Larkhall around 1907 was the occasion of a family dispute.
A cousin, Alec Black, had ordered him to man the pumps on a certain day which conflicted with the wedding of William's sister to which both had been invited. When William refused to turn out he was dismissed. He immediately took a job at nearby Larkhall.
They had fourteen children and raised a grandchild. Their homes were in Swinhill, the Waterworks Cottages Strutherhill, Barefield Street, Percy Street and principally at 2, Sunnyside Street, Hamilton Road, Larkhall.
William worked in Summerlee Colliery, Larkhall until it closed in July 1939. He then worked in Ferniegair Colliery until he retired in 1947. Grandfather was a well-liked man in Larkhall. He had a sense of humour. He was chairman of the 'Larkhall Old Age Pensioners' Association and a keen Larkhall Thistle supporter. Larkhall Thistle was the first registered junior football team in Scotland. William died on September 6th 1968. Elizabeth and William Downie are buried in the second oldest section of Larkhall Cemetery.
William was wed to Elizabeth Neil, daughter of Henry Neil, miner, and Maria Kirk Black, daughter of James Black and Elizabeth (Agnes) Murray Hunter, on March 31, 1905, at Dunsyston, Airdrie, by the Rev Alexander Mann, Congregational minister. They celebrated their diamond wedding 60 years later.
Spouse: Elizabeth Hunter Neil married 31-Mar-1905
Children: Samuel Downie, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Neil Downie, Mary Miller Downie, Hannah (Nan) Downie, Henry Downie, James Downie, John Downie, Thomas Downie, Charles Downie, William Downie, Jessie Downie, Joseph Downie, Jean Downie, Maria Downie
William's Heritage
Parents: Samuel Downie, Mary Miller
Siblings: Margaret Morrison Downie, Jessie Downie, Hannah Downie, Joseph Miller Downie, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Downie, Samuel Downie, John Miller Downie, Henry Downie, Charles Miller Downie