Oliver Clark Townsend

1838 - 1921

• Name	Oliver Clark Townsend  [1]
  Born	28 Jul 1838	Jefferson Co, New York   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1894	Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan
  	Veterans Census of Michigan: TOWNSEND, O. C. Village of Hubbardston, Ionia Co.
  Died	19 Sep 1921	Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan
  	Published in the Clinton Republican on 22 SEP 1921: Col. O. C. Townsend, Hubbardston Man, Civil War Veteran died Monday Morning, Boosted Home Town. Summary: He died at 5 AM Monday at his home. In 1876 started his banking business, retiring about 1915. Funeral Thursday from the home. Survived by wife and son Will Townsend of Brown City.
  Buried	22 Sep 1921	West Side Cemetery, Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan   [3]
  	Funeral expenses noted as $335.00. He was survived by the widow and a son.
  Notes	Oliver C. TOWNSEND arrived in Hubbardston in 1858. He enlisted in Company K, 21st Michigan Infantry as Corporal 9 Aug 1862 at Hubbardston for three years age 24. Mustered 4 Sep 1862. 1st Sergeant 27 Feb 1863. 1st Lieutenant, Company C 13 Jan 1863. Discharged to accept promotion 21 Sep 1863. Mustered 22 Sep 1863. Transferred to Company K 16 Nov 1863. Acting Assistant Quartermaster, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps from Feb to June 1865. Mustered out at Washington, DC 8 June 1865 At the close of the war he returned to Hubbardston and went into partnership with his brother George W. TOWNSEND in the sash and blind business. He continued in this line of work for about ten years, during which time he made many improvements in the town and built a good store. He and his brother bored the artesian well which is still flowing (1891). He also was a banker since 1876, a funeral director in Hubbardston, and a dealer in furniture. He held several offices at Hubbardston, MI 1870 - Trustee 1879 - Treasurer 1880 - Treasurer 1881 - School Board 1881 - has a bankinghouse in Hubbardston; O.C. TOWNSEND & Co. He retired in 1915. Voter Registry of North Plains (1859-1882) O. C. Townsend, 23 Mar 1860 Voter Registry of North Plains (1913) O. C. Townsend, Hubbardston, 29 Mar 1913. "We had a prestigious Civil War veteran living in Hubbardston in the late 1800's. General (listed as First Lieut. in 1881 Ionia History book) Oliver Clark Townsend of Co. D.(sic), 21st Michigan, North Plains, mustered out June 8, 1865. He lived in one of the early mansions on the hill on the north side of town. (This home was later owned by Kate and Sam Meyers and their neighbor was C. Ray Cowman, owner of the General Merchandise Store in town.) Clark kept his beautiful, pure white Civil War horse there and took great pride in it. On occasion when the Detroit Diocese bishop was due for a ceremony at the Catholic Church, Mr. Townsend would attire himself in his full dress uniform, and astride that beautiful white horse, journey to the top of the hill south of town to Cook Road. There he would anticipate the arrival of the bishop's surrey and proceed to escort the entourage, leading the procession through town to the destination of St. John the Baptist's Church rectory (priest's residence). It was a sight to behold in the words of the older residents. Mr. Townsend belonged to the Methodist-Episcopal Church, but highly respected the authority of a fellow churchman. (Jerry Burns) !Newsletter Number One, Hubbardston Area Historical Society, Box 183, Hubbardston, Michigan 48845
  Person ID	I24076	Bryant
  Last Modified	30 Jul 2004

  
  

  Father	Warren Townsend,   b. 12 Feb 1800, New York ,   d. 05 May 1882, Bloomer Twp, Montcalm Co, Michigan
  Mother	Mehetabel Thomas,   b. Abt Jul 1802, New York ,   d. 11 Jun 1854, Wilna, Jefferson Co, New York
  Married	Abt 1823	Plessis Village, Alexandria, Jefferson Co, New York
  Family ID	F332	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family 1	Abbie E. Brayton,   b. 31 May 1844, Oswego Co, New York ,   d. 13 Jan 1896, Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan
  Married	30 Nov 1865	North Plains Twp, Ionia Co, Michigan
  	Ionia County Marriages: 30 Nov 1865, O.C Townsend, age 27, of Hubbardston and Abbie Brayton, age 20, of Hubbardston. Witnesses: Ben Fargan and Ama Seaver. Marriage performed by Rev. J. B. Parmalee.
  Family ID	F1878	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family 2	Lena Whitney Brown,   b. Nov 1851, Massachusetts ,   d. 1933
  Married	11 Sep 1899	Grand Rapids, Kent Co, Michigan   [4]
  	Published 14 Sep 1899 in the Clinton Republican: "Married, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Brown in Grand Rapids, September 11, Mrs. Lena and O. C. Townsend of this place (Hubbardston). Both parties are known far and wide and are held in high esteem by their many friends. We extend congratulations."
  Family ID	F1879	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 28 Jul 1838 - Jefferson Co, New York Married - 30 Nov 1865 - North Plains Twp, Ionia Co, Michigan Census - 1894 - Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan Married - 11 Sep 1899 - Grand Rapids, Kent Co, Michigan Died - 19 Sep 1921 - Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan Buried - 22 Sep 1921 - West Side Cemetery, Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S40] Port. & Bio. Ionia & Montcalm, Chapman, Charles C., (Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1891), p.310-11. [S53] Ewers, Fran, Townsend/Helms, Ewers, Fran (Townsend), (not published). [S147] Burns, Fun. Home. [S369] Marriages of Clinton County, Compiler: Genealogists of the Clinton County Historical Society, (Clinton County Historical Society, http://www.dewittlibrary.com/CCHS/CCHSmar.htm, Revised June 2002).