Edward Townsend, who died at his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, January 19, 1900, was the son of Elijah and Rosannah (Downing) Townsend, and was born in the Township of La Grange, Dutchess County, New York, November 28, 1831. He secured his early education in the district school and Berkshire Academy at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In May 1859, he came to Waterloo, where he remained two years, going to Cedar Falls in 1861, where he was engaged in banking until 1874. On August 8th, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry. He was elected Second Lieutenant and soon afterward promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. I n June 1863, he was compelled to resign his commission on account of sickness. In 1878 he engaged in the lumber and coal business, in which he continued up to the time of his decease.
Mr. Townsend was a Republican in politics, representing his county in the Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies. He held numerous local and county offices, including membership in the city council, school board, and board of supervisors. He was mayor of the city of Cedar Falls in 1870-71, and served as a member of the board of commissioners for the erection of the State Soldiers and Sailors monument. He was elected trustee of the State Normal School in 1894, and continued to serve in that capacity until the time of his decease. He was married on October 17, 1867, to Sarah A. Seward, of Dutchess County, New York, who died March 20, 1872, leaving three children, two of whom are living, Katharine S., wife of Roger Leavitt, and Mary L. Mr. Townsend was married a second time, September 26, 1878, to Sarah H. Huntington, of Oswego County, New York. One son, Edward H., was born to them May 5, 1881.
From Townsend memorial book, In memory of Edward Townsend, 1831-1900.