My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, farmer; P. O. Jaysville; was born in Neave Township in 1830; his father, James Townsend, was born in South Carolina, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day, and located in Greene County, where he remained a few years, then moved to Darke Co., Neave Township, where he lived until his death; his settlement in the county was in the days of the pioneers, there being but few settlements in the neighborhood; he was the father of six children, four of whom are now living. William Townsend, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the family; he lived with his father till his death, which occurred when he was about 17 years of age; then he remained with his mother till after her death. He was united in marriage in 1854, with Elizabeth, daughter of Jonas Hartzell; she was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this county with her father when she was about 2 years of age; since their marriage, they have been blessed with six children, all of whom are now living; Mr. Townsend has followed the honest and honorable occupation of farming during his life, with the exception of about three years, in which he was engaged in the milling business; he has, by his own labor and industry, with a small inheritance from his father, obtained a competency, having a fine quarter-section of land, mostly under cultivation. He is a prominent and active member of the United Brethren Church, with which he has been connected for five years, and has had the pleasure of seeing the three oldest of his children become worthy members of the church. Thus, while working and accumulating this world’s goods, he is also in the higher and nobler work of trying to lay up treasures in heaven, and training up those under his charge in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.”