BIO: Hon. Charles Townsend (Judge); Buffalo, Erie co., NY.

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen

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MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY NEW YORK
VOLUME I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL, ILLUSTRATED, PUB. 1906-8

HON. CHARLES TOWNSEND, son ot Nathaniel Townsend, was born in Norwich, Conu.,
January 22, 1786, and came to Buffalo in 1811. In 1814, with his partner,
George Coit, he engaged in ship-building and lake transportation, the firm of
Townsend & Coit being until 1821 the only Buffalo house following these lines
of business. In 1813 Mr. Townsend was appointed Judge of Niagara County, an
office which he held till 1826. As a jurist he showed an impartiality and good
sense which went far to supply the place of a technical training in the law,
and were amply sufficient for the needs of the community. Judge Townsend took
a leading part in securing a harbor for Buffalo. In 1821 he with his partner,
Mr. Coit, and other citizens mortgaged their private property to the State and
obtained a loan of $12,000 for the purpose of building the harbor. The work
was accomplished, and on its success the project was taken up by the State and
later by the Federal Government, the outcome being the rebuilding of the
harbor in its present form. In the courageous and disinterested act of Judge
Townsend and his coadjutors in pledging their own property for the benefit of
the public, was the germ of the greatness of the port of Buffalo. The Townsend
name is also identified with the origin of that standard financial
institution, the Buffalo Savings Bank. The bank was organized May 9, 1846,
Judge Townsend being elected its first President, an office which he continued
to hold until his death.

Judge Townsend married Jane Corning at Albany, N. Y., June 5, 1819. Their
children were Anna. M. (Stone), born April 23, 1820; George C., born September
25, 1821, died January 30, 1852; Jane C. (Wilson), born November 30, 1823;
Mary W. (Rich), born Deceniber 5, 1826, died February 11, 1896; Charles, born
April 12, 1831; Frauces 11. (Rosseel), born July 25, 1835. The death of Judge
Townsend occurred in Buffalo, September 14, 1847. He survived his wife by six
years.