Thomas J. Townsend

    Thomas J. Townsend, son of William and Mary Townsend, natives of North Carolina, was born May 16, 1840, in this township. His parents were married in South Carolina and immigrated to Indiana, locating in Washington County, whence they shortly afterward removed to Morgan County, and settled on a farm in Washington Township, where the father farmed until 1847. He then removed to Missouri and remained until the spring of 1857, when he returned with his family to Morgan county, In the fall of 1857, the father died. The mother in November, 1865.

    Thomas Townsend was reared in his native county, and educated in Missouri. When seventeen years of age, he returned to Morgan County, with his parents, finally locating on a farm of 130 acres in Washington Township, which he inherited upon his father's death. He remained here for twenty-three years, when he removed to Martinsville, where he at present resides. In 1863-64, he served as Township Assessor. He also served several times as Supervisor of Roads in the township.

    On December 13, 1860, he was united in marriage to Melinda J. Cox, daughter of John L. Cox, and old and respected citizen of Morgan County. By this union, there have been eight children -Mary E. (deceased), William L., Thomas A., Ruth A. (deceased), Viola (deceased), Maggie, Nettie and Lillie. Mr. Townsend is a Republican.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.