198                     HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Haute, on the occasion of a teachers’ meeting, purposely to take a hand
in an advertised prize spelling contest. The words were orally “given
out,” but written by the contestants, their papers then passed into the
hands of the committee for inspection and credits. The committee
reported that James M. Townsend had spelled correctly every word in
the list, announcing that they had awarded him the prize—Webster’s
Unabridged Dictionary. James. M. Townsend was at that time personally
unknown to the teachers of Terre Haute and Vigo county, who, to
identify and beccme acquainted with the man who bad “turned them
down,” made calls for him. Though timid and embarrassed, he took the
stand and spoke briefly and substantially as follows: “Ladies and Gen-
tlemen: I am an unsophisticated country teacher from the wilds of Clay
county. I came here fully believing that I would win the prize in this
contest. You may feel a good deal disappointed and more than a little
surprised. Doubtless, you all want to know why it is that I spell.so well,
and I am disposed to gratify you. The secret of it is that I once slept
with Webster on a bridge (unabridged) and acquired the habit by
contagion.”
    The subject of this sketch died at Los Angeles, California, January 1,
1897, aged 76 years, 10 months and 9 days, survived by his wife and four
children—three sons and a daughter—natives of Clay county.

    James R. Townsend was born at Staunton, September 21, 1858,
where he attended the public schools in his boyhood, then read law, and
in the year 1880, at the age of twenty-two years, was admitted to the
practice at Albia, Monroe county, Iowa, and at Brazil, Indiana. In 1882
he opened an office at Los Angeles, California, and at once turned his
attention to the soliciting of patents in the United States and foreign
patent offices. For a number of years he was the only patent solicitor
in his adopted city, in the practice of which he continued and is still
engaged. The business which he has built up in this branch of the prac-
tice now requires an office force of three draftsmen, four stenographers
and two clerks, occupying a suite of four rooms, 430 Bradbury Block.
In 1883 the subject of this sketch was placed on the Prohibition ticket
for member of the City Council and several years later on the same ticket
for County Clerk, but as his party was in the minority he was not elected
to either position. He has from time to time written poetry which has
been sought by the press. Being now identified politically with the
Socialist party, several cleverly written poems from his pen along this
line have recently appeared in the Appeal to Reason.
    On the 21st day of February, 1906, he married M. Beulah Puchette,
of Los Angeles. He has repeatedly visited at Staunton since going to
California, his practice making occasional trips necessary to the patent
office, at Washington.

    Alfred I. Townsend and Francis M. Townsend, sons of James M.
and Julia (Somers) Townsend were also patent attorneys at Los Angeles.
the latter at this time a member of the firm of Townsend, Lyon &
Hackley. Both married after going to the Pacific Coast. Alfred I.
Townsend’s wife was Miss Martha E. Bressler, a native Clay Countian,
who accompanied Miss Adeline Somers to California in 1881. Alfred I.
Townsend attained considerable popularity as a writer of poetry, which