Senator Frederick Townsend View All Years

FREDERICK TOWNSEND.

Senator Price, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

Frederick Townsend was born in Albia, Iowa, July 1, 1863, and departed this life November 13, 1918. He was the son of distinguished parents and pioneers of the state of Iowa. His father, the late John S. Townsend of Albia, Iowa, was judge of the district court of Iowa from 1853 to 1863 and was a member of the Fourth General Assembly of Iowa from Monroe and Marion Counties which convened at Iowa City on December 6, 1852. His mother Ann Elbert was the daughter of Dr. John D. Elbert of Van Buren County, Iowa, and who was elected to and served as president of the territorial council of Iowa in 1842. He received his education in the public schools of Albia and in the University of Michigan, from which he graudated in the law class in 1888. He practiced law for a time in El Paso, Texas, but in 1890 returned to Albia where he took up the practice of his profession and soon distinguished himself as a strong, able and conscientious lawyer and at the time of his death was the senior member of the firm of Townsend and Miller. In the early nineties Frederick Townsend was elected County Attorney of Monroe County and served with distinction and fairness; safeguarding the interests of the county in all cases and seeking to prosecute only the guilty and he gained the enviable reputation of never persecuting the innocent and seeing that all coming before the court received a fair and impartial trial. His ability was recognized while serving as County Attorney and his special fitness to serve the public was soon appreciated by the general public and he was elected to the Iowa Senate and sat as a member of this body in the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth General Assembly, where he soon gained distinction and is remembered for his noble character and sterling integrity. Although a Democrat in politics he was above all a legislator who sought to enact into law only such measurers as were for the best interest of the general public and at no time and under no condition could he be influenced to support measures which did not appeal to him as being for the best interest of the state. He was a legislator of exceptional ability but always unassuming, unpretentious and fearless in the performance of his duties.

He was a man who had the best interest of his community at heart and constantly on his mind and of his talents and services he gave freely. He served with extraordinary ability and devotion for a number of years as Secretary of the Chautauqua association of Albia and made it one of the best chautauquas in Iowa. He also served well and faithfully on the library board and the school board of his home city and during the late war gave freely, largely and liberally of his time and services on the Board of Equalization and Fuel Commission for Monroe County.

During his early manhood he was confirmed in the Episcopal church in his home city and for a number of years was one of its most active workers. At the time of his death he was a member of and a very active worker in the Big Brother Bible class of the Methodist church, in which his counsel and advise was always sought. He was kind to a fault and the lowly and needy never appealed to him in vain. In 1889 he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Dawson, to this union were born five children of whom three are living, Robert D. Townsend, Katharine Townsend and Arthur Townsend, who with the mother mourned the loss of this kind husband and loving father.

Frederick Townsend departed this life just in the prime of manhood. In his death the community in which he lived has lost a kind neighbor and a good citizen and the state one of its best and most valuable men.

Be It Resolved, That his family has lost a kind husband and loving father; his community a noble and self sacrificing member; and that the state has lost a valuable and patriotic citizen.

Therefore Be It Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this Senate, that the same be engrossed and a copy sent to his bereaved wife, Helen D. Townsend and family at Albia, Iowa.

J. R. PRICE,

A. L. BROXAM,

W. G. HASKELL.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.