Born in Dutchess County, New York, November 28, 1831, a son of Elijah and Rosannah Townsend, his father being of English descent. He was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving his early education in a district school, and later taking an academic course. In1859 he became a resident of Black Hawk County, Iowa, when he located at Waterloo. In 1861 he came to Cedar Falls, and soon after engaged in the banking business with J. T. Knapp. During the summer of 1862 he enlisted in the late war. He became a member of Company B, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, at the time of its formation, and on the organization of the company was commissioned Second Lieutenant and later he was promoted to First Lieutenant. He served with the Fifteenth Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, and was on duty principally in the vicinity of Vicksburg . He served until June, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge. After his discharge he returned to Cedar Falls, and was connected with the bank till 1876, when he retired from the firm. He was then engaged in the milling business with G. N. Miner, and in 1879 he formed a partnership with A. Merrill, having bought out the interest of T. B. Carpenter, and together carried on successfully their lumber business. Mr. Townsend has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah Seward, and to this union three children were born. For his second wife he married Sarah Huntington, of Oswego County, New York, by whom he had one child. In politics Mr. Townsend affiliates with the Republican party. He represented Black Hawk County in the Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies, 1888-90. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is prominently identified with James Brownell Post, G. A. R., at Cedar Falls.

Born in Dutchess County, New York, November 28, 1831, a son of Elijah and Rosannah Townsend, his father being of English descent. He was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving his early education in a district school, and later taking an academic course. In1859 he became a resident of Black Hawk County, Iowa, when he located at Waterloo. In 1861 he came to Cedar Falls, and soon after engaged in the banking business with J. T. Knapp. During the summer of 1862 he enlisted in the late war. He became a member of Company B, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, at the time of its formation, and on the organization of the company was commissioned Second Lieutenant and later he was promoted to First Lieutenant. He served with the Fifteenth Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, and was on duty principally in the vicinity of Vicksburg . He served until June, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge. After his discharge he returned to Cedar Falls, and was connected with the bank till 1876, when he retired from the firm. He was then engaged in the milling business with G. N. Miner, and in 1879 he formed a partnership with A. Merrill, having bought out the interest of T. B. Carpenter, and together carried on successfully their lumber business. Mr. Townsend has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah Seward, and to this union three children were born. For his second wife he married Sarah Huntington, of Oswego County, New York, by whom he had one child. In politics Mr. Townsend affiliates with the Republican party. He represented Black Hawk County in the Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies, 1888-90. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is prominently identified with James Brownell Post, G. A. R., at Cedar Falls.