BIO: Charles C. TOWNSEND, Beaver County, PA
    
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    BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
    of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
    Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 11-13
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    CAPT. CHARLES C. TOWNSEND, whose portrait we take pleasure in presenting on
  the opposite page, is senior member of the well-known firm of C. C. & E. P.
  Townsend, manufacturers of wire, rivets, and wire-nails. This is one of the
  oldest enterprises in Beaver county, and was established by the grandfather
  of Charles C., in 1828. The plant is located on the west side of the Beaver
  River in the village of Fallston, and it has been gradually enlarged from
  time to time until it is recognized as one of the largest enterprises of its
  kind west of the Alleghanies. Capt. Townsend is a son of William P., a
  grandson of Robert, and a great-grandson of Benjamin Townsend, and was born
  in Allegheny, Pa., although he has been a resident of New Brighton since he
  was ten years of age.
    
    Robert Townsend was born on a farm near Brownsville, Washington county,
  Pa., April 9, 1790. He was engaged in the wire business at Baltimore, Md.,
  until 1816, and then established a similar business on Market street, between
  First and Second avenues, Pittsburg. In 1828, he started the first wire plant
  west of the Alleghanies, at Fallston, Pa., - it also being the first iron
  business in Beaver county. The machinery of this plant was run by water,
  though a large part of the work was done by hand. In his latter years, he
  retired from active business, and erected a handsome residence on Third
  avenue, New Brighton; this property is now owned by his grandson, Edward P.
  Townsend. Mr. Townsend was of Quaker stock, - a very liberal and charitable
  man, - and enjoyed the friendship of a host of acquaintances. He passed from
  this life at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife was Deborah Colman, who
  was born in England, and came to the United States when a girl of sixteen
  years; she died aged eighty-five years. They were the parents of eight
  children: William P.; Mary; Sabina; Eliza-
    
    12	BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
    
  beth; John M.; Caroline; Lydia, and George.
    
    William Penn Townsend, the father of the subject hereof, received his
  education in the schools at Pittsburg, and at an early age entered the employ
  of his father,-beginning as a clerk. In 1840, he and his cousin were taken in
  as partners, the firm name becoming R. Townsend & Company; in 1864, he became
  sole proprietor. He enlarged the plant, gave employment to many more hands,
  and put in new and improved machinery. Mr. Townsend delighted in traveling
  and spent many years in journeying throughout the United States and Europe.
  He entered the haven of rest at the age of seventy-eight years. He was joined
  in marriage with Sarah A. Champlin, a daughter of Matthew F. Champlin, of New
  York State; she still resides in New Brighton, has passed the eightieth year
  of her life, and is surrounded by many old friends and neighbors, who hold
  her in tender esteem. She is the mother of five children: Charles C.; Edward
  P.; Amelia; Elizabeth, and Helen. Although Mr. Townsend was reared a Quaker,
  he and his wife became members of the Presbyterian church.
    
    Charles C. Townsend attended Pittsburg University, and at the age of
  fifteen years became a clerk in his father's office. When the War of the
  Rebellion broke out, he enlisted as a private in the Ninth Regiment,
  Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was shortly afterward transferred to the First
  Pennsylvania Cavalry; with the rank of adjutant. After serving two years in
  the Army of the Potomac, he was discharged on account of poor health.
  Returning home, he and his brother, Edward P., were taken in as partners with
  their father, and in 1894 the sons became sole proprietors of the
  establishment, the firm name being changed to C. C. & E. P. Townsend. They
  have enlarged the plant, have added the manufacture of wire nails of all
  sizes, and give employment to about one hundred hands. This is one of the
  largest enterprises in Beaver county, as well as one of the first. Captain
  Charles C. Townsend's sons, who now assist in running the plant, are the
  fourth generation of Townsends who have been interested in this factory. Mr.
  Townsend is very enterprising, gives his hearty support to those measures
  which tend to promote the general welfare and bring prosperity to the
  community, and is recognized by his many friends and acquaintances as a good
  neighbor and loyal citizen. He resides in the old Bradford residence in New
  Brighton. He has served as vice-president of the National Bank of New
  Brighton since 1896, and has also represented this district in the
  Fifty-first Congress, from 1889 to 1891.
    
    Capt. C. C. Townsend was married to Miss Juliet Bradford, a daughter of
  Benjamin Rush Bradford, and they are the parents of the following children:
  Juliette; Gertrude, who died aged twenty-two years; William P., Jr.,
  superintendent of the company warehouse; Vincent Bradford, clerk for the
  company; Charles C., Jr., of the mechanical department; Benjamin Rush, and
  John M., an assistant clerk in the company's office. Religiously, Mr.
  Townsend is a member of the Presbyterian
    
    BEAVER COUNTY	13
    
  church, in which he is ruling elder. Socially, he belongs to Edwin M. Stanton
  Post, No. 208, G. A. R., of which he is past commander. In his political
  affiliations, he is a stanch Republican.