Lapeer-Macomb County MI Archives Biographies.....Townsend, Clark 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 12:54 am Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) CLARK TOWNSEND. This native son of Michigan is of New York parentage. His parents, John and Ann (Miller) Townsend, were there born, reared and married, making it their home until they came to Michigan in 1834. In October of that year they removed to this State, making the whole distance by horse team and covered wagon, traveling all day and camping by the trail at night until they reached Detroit. From there they proceeded to Macomb County, settling upon an immense tract of ten hundred and forty acres in Bruce Township. In their new home the worthy couple passed many years and endured the hardships which fall to the lot of those making homes in a new country. In a few years, by his thorough and industrious habit, Mr. Townsend had his large farm brought under good improvement, and embellished with good buildings. A man of simplicity of character and nobility of heart, his place among his fellow-citizens was a most honored one, and he is remembered by his children as a kind and wise father, whose home was the dearest spot on earth to him. The following children were born of this union: Uriel, now a resident of Almont; William, of Lapeer; Julia T., the wife of Washington Maynard, of Dryden; George, who lives in Macomb County; Caroline and Arthur, deceased; Clark, a resident of Metamora Township, and the subject of this biographical notice, and Mrs. John Clark, of Hunter's Creek. The father improved two separate farms of two hundred and forty acres each and before his death in 1874 he had disposed of the balance of his large estate. His wife survived until November 19, 1891, when she passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Clark, at the age of eighty-nine years, having been born March 23, 1802. Her youngest son Arthur, who died September 20, 1881, had made a trip to Dakota in company with his brother William and while there was attacked with typhoid fever. He hurried home, but the disease had taken such strong hold of his vigorous system that medical assistance proved unavailing and after five days illness death ensued. His widow now owns the old homestead near Almont. The parents of our subject were stanch members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they took an important place. The early politics of the father were of the Whig persuasion but later he became a sturdy Republican. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was ever a prominent man in his county, taking an active part in the organization of both county and township. To his children he gave a good common-school education. The original of this sketch was born February 18, 1843, in Bruce Township, Macomb County. Having taken a thorough training upon the farm he began for himself at the age of nineteen, coming to Lapeer County, and settling upon this farm which was then already improved. His first farm was one hundred and twenty acres and he afterward purchased his brother's tract of equal area. He now has three hundred and thirty-three acres, two hundred and ninety of which are under the plow. In 1882 he erected his present residence at a cost of 14,000, and it is considered in every way the finest farm house in Metamora Township. General farming and stock-raising absorbs Mr. Townsend's attention and excellent Short-horn cattle, some good draft colts and a flock of two hundred fine wool sheep are to be seen upon his farm. Miss Jennie, daughter of John Blair, became the wife of our subject in 1866. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Company E, Seventh Michigan Regiment, and was taken prisoner by the enemy and died September 7, 1864, in the terrible stockade at Andersonville. Mrs. Townsend was born January 7, 1847, at Chelmsford, England, and was brought to America the following year. Her mother who is now eighty years old makes her home with this daughter and she has one other daughter Mrs. James French, of Metamora Township. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are the parents of two children, Ella L. and Mabel A., who received good common-school educations. Our subject is a prominent member of of [sic] the Congregational Church, as is also his wife and he has been a Trustee in the same. They both take part in Sunday-school work. He is a member of the Masonic order and in politics is a Republican and has been the Supervisor of Metamora Township. He is a man temperate in his habits and true in his life and he and his family are highly respected in the community. Miss Ella, who is a graduate from the Metamora High School in the class of '86, is proficient upon the piano. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/lapeer/bios/townsend410gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb