Alfred Townsend, farmer; P.O. Jaysville; was born in Van Buren Township in 1834, on the place now owned by William Townsend; his parents were Jonathan and Susanna Townsend. He was married in 1856, to Mary A., daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Shields; she was born in 1833 in Preble Co., Ohio, and moved with her parents to this county in 1836, being then about 3 years of age; she is the third in a family of ten children. Mr. Townsend was of a family of four children, having two sisters and a half-brother, he being the youngest of the three first born. After Mr. Townsend was married he followed farming on rented farms till 1868, when he bought 80 acres, on which he now lives; he added 40 acres to it in 1875, making him now owner of 120 acres. They are the parents of ten children, four boys and six girls, all of whom are living and ranging from 3 to 23 years of age, viz., Sarah E., Andrew J., William H., Ida May, Mary Bell, Isaac Edward, Josephine, Effaretta, George Alfred and Martha Ford. Mr. Townsend is one of those who has had his “ups and downs;” he was early thrown upon his own resources, but had been favored with a good education; has followed teaching school nearly ever winter; he first taught school before he was 16 years of age; he has now a good farm of 85 acres in cultivation, with good buildings, very comfortable and convenient; he has held several township offices such as Assessor, Clerk and Trustee, thus showing that not only has he been successful in life, but has the confidence of the community in which he lives by the trusts confided in him. Mr. Townsend is one of those who, during the late war—the rebellion—took up arms in the defense of his country’s rights and its flag, having enlisted in the 152nd O.V.I., Co. I., entering as Orderly Sergeant, in which capacity he served four months; he was then promoted to First Lieutenant in the O.N.G., in which he served till honorably discharged, thus proving himself a true soldier and a patriot in time of his country’s danger.