George M. Townsend Biography This biography appears on page 1157 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm GEORGE M. TOWNSEND. George M. Townsend, assistant cashier of the Murdo State Bank, is well known as one of the successful and representative citizens of Murdo and Lyman county. He was born in Ashton, Iowa, February 24, 1884, a son of James E and Emma C. (Jones) Townsend, both of whom are natives of Michigan. They took up their abode among the pioneer residents of Iowa in 1872 and still make their home at Ashton, that state. George M. Townsend, one of twin brothers, was the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children. He obtained his education in the public schools of Ashton and Sibley, Iowa, and also took a commercial course at Des Moines. Leaving the Hawkeye state, he made his way to North Dakota and for one year held the position of assistant cashier in the Security State Bank at Wolford. In 1907 he came to Murdo, South Dakota, took up a homestead claim and joined his brother Elethan in the real-estate business. In 1909 he took over the Murdo State Bank in association with his father and brother and has since acted as assistant cashier of the institution. He is also a part owner of the Murdo Auto Company and the Murdo Elevator Company and his various business interests are bringing to him a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity. On the 22d of December, 1906, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Freda G. Gilkinson, a daughter of Alexander and Helen (Thornton) Gilkinson, of Osceola county, Iowa. They have one child, Margaret Mae. Politically Mr. Townsend is a republican and served as mayor of Murdo during the term of 1913-1914, giving to the town a highly beneficial administration characterized by many measures of reform and improvement. He has also been school treasurer and at the present time holds the office of United States commissioner. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity and finds rest and recreation in hunting and motoring. His irreproachable public and private character has gained him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Success has come to him in business, as well as in public life, and both have been won through intelligently directed effort, supplemented by a high conception of and faithful performance of duty.