My Genealogy Hound

Harvey Townsend, who owns a fine farm of 120 acres in Oxford township, Oakland County, was born in Wayne County, New York, May 7, 1836, and is a son of Nathan and Nancy Townsend, both of whom were natives of New York.

When Harvey Townsend was 10 years old, his parents came to Michigan, locating 57 years ago in Lapeer County, where the father took up land. Nathan Townsend died in Marathon township, Lapeer County, in 1863, aged 64 years, and the mother died in Hadley township, Lapeer County, a few years later, aged 60 years. The survivors of their children are our subject and his younger brother, Octavius, who is a farmer in Lapeer County.

Harvey Townsend was reared and educated in Lapeer County, although he had but few educational advantages. He learned the trade of stone mason and followed that in connection with well digging for some years. He became the owner of a farm in Lapeer County which he sold prior to coming to Oakland County. He has lived on his present farm in Oxford township for the past 26 years. The farm is owned by Mrs. Townsend, and is the one that was first settled by her parents, Isaac and Artimisia Brown, and on this farm her father and mother died, the former in 1888 and the latter in 1868. Mr. Townsend devotes his attention to general farming and has been very successful in all its branches.

Mr. Townsend was married in 1858 in Oxford township to Lois H. Brown, a daughter of Isaac and Artimisia Brown. She was born in the State of New York, April 27, 1836, and was brought in the fall of that year to Oakland township, Oakland County. Mrs. Townsend’ s parents had nine children, of whom one died of smallpox in Oakland township, in 1839. The remaining six sons and two daughters lived to maturity, but at present there is only one survivor, — Mrs. Townsend.

Our subject and wife have had four children, namely: Nathan, a seaman on the lakes; Olin, who is working in the mines at Bay City; Elnora (Mrs. John Pillon), who resides on a farm near Columbiavillle, Michigan, and has four children, — Harvey, Vane, Lois and Elsie; and Seraphine (Mrs. Martin Spencer), who resides near Millington, Michigan, and has four children, — Howard, Willis, Lynn and Daisy.

In politics Mr. Townsend is an active Republican and a man who takes a great interest in local improvements. He has served most acceptably as roadmaster of the township. In religious connections, the family incline to the Baptist faith, Mr. Townsend being a liberal supporter of all moral movements in his locality.