DARKE COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: TOWNSEND, WILLIAM  (published 1900)
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A Biographical History of Darke County Ohio, published in
Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1900. p. 714-715

                    WILLIAM TOWNSEND

     At the time of his death this gentleman was one of the
prominent farmers of Van Buren township.  He had won my an
honorable and upright life and an untarnished name, and the
record which he left behind him is one well worthy of emulation.
He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 24, 1830, a son
of James and Lydia (Arnold) Townsend, who spent their last days
in Van Buren township, Darke county.  They were married in
September, 1818.  The father was born in South Carolina September
12, 1796, and died when our subject was quite small, and the
mother was born in the Newbury district of the same state in
January, 1791, and died when William was fifteen years of age.
He was reared near Jaysville, this county, and after the death of
his mother remained on the old homestead until his marriage.
     It was on the 8th of February, 1855 that Mr. Townsend wedded
Miss Elizabeth Hartzell, who was born in Adams county,
Pennsylvania, February 9, 1834, a daughter of Jonas Hartzell, who
is mentioned more fully in the sketch of J.W. Hartzell on another
page of this volume.  Mrs. Townsend was but three years old when
brought by her parents to Darke county, Ohio, and here she grew
to womanhood, acquiring her education in the district schools.
To our subject and his wife were born six children, namely: Maria
Belle, born December 8, 1854, married John Markwith, and died
August 31, 1885; Josephine, born September 20, 1856, is the wife
of John Bittner, of Keokuk county, Iowa; Harrison, born November
21, 1859, is a resident of Dayton, Ohio; James H., born April 13,
1865, lives in Van Buren township, this county; and Elman S. and
Elmer Sherman, twins, born June 1, 1868, are residents of
Greenville township, this county.
     After his marriage Mr. Townsend continued to live on his
father's old farm until 1865, when he purchased the mill of Adams
township, which he operated for four years.  He then bought one
hundred and sixty acres of land near the Abbottsville cemetery
and made his home there until his death, which occurred June 12,
1892.  In his political affiliations he was a Republican.  He was
a consistent and faithful member of the United Brethren church
and merited and received the confidence and high regard of all
with whom he came in contact, either in business or social life.