"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 769.
 
WASHINGTON R. TOWNSEND

     The success of W. R. Townsend, one of the most enterprising farmers in
Marion county, should serve as an example to all who are willing to travel the
path of industry, business integrity, and progress. Mr. Townsend is a
representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of the state, and on his
maternal side traces his descent from a Revolutionary forefather named Sampson.
W. R. Townsend was born in Fulton county, Ill., November 27, 1846, and is a son
of G. G. Townsend, who was born in New York state August 12, 1803.
     G. G. Townsend was one of the men who builded solely upon his own energies,
and with practically no assistance from outside sources. His father died when he
was a small boy, and afterward he was put out to work, his earnings going
towards the support of his mother. While still a boy he removed with his mother
to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and married Mariam Sampson, a native of Ohio,
whose father served six years and six months in the Revolutionary war. Mr.
Townsend eventually removed with his wife and children to Illinois, and in 1850
started across the plains with ox teams, six months being required for the
journey. The family came direct to Marion county and took tip a donation claim
of six hundred and forty acres two and a half miles southeast of Woodburn, which
consisted entirely of wild land. In this wilderness a little log house was built
for the accommodation of the family, and the desolation of their situation may
best be understood when it is known that their nearest neighbor was four miles
distant. In time golden harvests rewarded the industry of the father and
children, a new house took the place of the rough hewed log structure, and many
blessings came the way of the industrious and thrifty family. On this same farm
sixteen children received their start in life, and here the father lived to be
eighty-one and the mother eighty-two years of age. Of the three children living
of this large family Ebenezer Leonard is living with his brother W. R., and
Jonathan Rockwell lives on a farm near Troutdale.
     It is interesting to note the religious enthusiasm accredited to the
father, who was devoted to the welfare of the Christian Church, going regularly
to a meeting-house ten miles distant from his home. In politics he was a
Republican.
     In spite of the disadvantages attending his acquirement of an education, W.
R. Townsend managed to qualify as a teacher, and was thus engaged for a couple
of years. At the same time he continued to make the old donation claim his
headquarters, but after his marriage with Nancy Emeline Stephens, who was born
December 21, 1857, and whose parents crossed the plains in 1852, settling near
Needy, Clackamas county, he went to live on the farm which has since been his
home, and which consists of ninety acres. The most modern of improvements,
practical management, and up-to-date methods have contributed to make the
Townsend farm one of the most desirable in Marion county. The owner has just
completed a modern two-story frame dwelling, and his barns and out-buildings are
substantially constructed. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising,
twenty-eight acres being devoted to hops. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Townsend, of whom Delbert H. is deceased; May, deceased, was married to Nathan
Jones; they had one daughter, Cecil, who lives with her grandparents; Clyde S.
is living at home; Winona G. is the wife of Grover Todd, of Woodburn; Ammi
Rockwell and Ada are living with their parents.
     A Republican in politics, Mr. Townsend has taken an active interest in
local affairs, and has served as road supervisor, member of the school board and
as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Woodburn Grange No. 79, and in
religion is connected with the Christian Church.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.