"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian
Publishing Co., 1894.  pg. 226.

HON. W. M. TOWNSEND
     The name of Hon. W. M. Townsend has been prominently identified with the
growth and development of the Willamette valley, in Oregon, for the past 30
years.  Judge Townsend was born in the state of Indiana in 1839, where he
received a common school education.  Early in life he became imbued with a
desire to go west, and in 1855 he settled in Kansas.  Ten years later the
Pacific coast proved a more inviting field for the man of push and ambition, and
Judge Townsend removed to Yamhill county, in Oregon.  During his stay in Kansas
he enlisted in the 15th Kansas regiment and served with honor during the civil
war.  In 1870 Judge Townsend was elected a member of the Oregon legislature and
in 1874 he occupied a seat in the Senate along with such men as Dolph, Hirsch,
Watson, Meyers and Cochran.  During his term as senator, Judge Townsend was made
chairman of the committee on ways and means.  In 1878 he was elected judge of
Yamhill county.  Judge Townsend has always been a partisan democrat and in
recognition of his ability as a leader and expounder of the principles of
democracy, he was chosen by the state central committee in 1880 and 1884 to
canvass the state for Hancock and Cleveland respectively.  In 1878 Judge
Townsend adopted journalism as a calling and established "The Oregon Register"
at Lafayette.  In 1885 he was appointed by Cleveland receiver of the land office
at Lakeview where he has since resided.  Judge Townsend enjoys the honor of
having been the first mayor of Lakeview, to which position he was elected in
1888.  He now holds the office of judge of Lake county, and he also finds time
to edit one of the most sprightly weekly newspapers in Oregon, "The Lake County
Examiner."  Judge Townsend is well-known throughout the state and is a man of
recognized ability.  In 1878 he declined the nomination for governor of the
state and in 1884 he received the complimentary vote of the democratic minority
in the legislature for United States senator.  Judge Townsend has unlimited
confidence in the future development of Lake county and Southeastern Oregon and
no one man is doing more than he is to aid and hasten this rapid development.
     Just as "The Handbook" is going to press word reaches "The Oregonian" that
Hon. W. M. Townsend, the subject of the above sketch, is dead.  Judge Townsend
was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the state, and
his death will be mourned by his numerous friends and admirers in all parts of
the coast.