William H. Townsend

Background

Townsend, William H. was born on May 31, 1890 in Glensboro, Anderson County, Kentucky, United States. Son of Oliver L. and Susan Mary (Brown) Townsend.

Education

Bachelor of Laws, University of Kentucky, 1912, Doctor of Laws, 1930. Doctor of Letters, Lincoln Memorial University, 1945.

Career

Admitted Kentucky bar, 1912, since practiced at Lexington. Corporate Counsel, Lexington, 1920-1932.

Chairman board of trustees public Library.

Works

• Other Work

  • Author. Abraham Lincoln, Defendant, 1923. Lincoln the Litigant. 1925

  • Lincoln and his Wife’s Home Town, 1929.Lincoln and Liquor, 1934. The Boarding School of Mary Todd Lincoln, 1941. Lincoln’s Rebel Niece, 1945.Lincoln and the Bluegrass: Slavery and Civil War in Kentucky, 1955. Hundred Proof, collection of short stories, 1964. Tribute to Nancy Hanks on bronze tablet Lincoln marriage cabin, at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and Introduction to Famous Speeches (Abraham Lincoln), 1935.Completed and revised the late Doctor William E. Barton’s “President Lincoln.” 1932. Contributor numerous articles on Lincoln, including newspaper column “Three Minutes with Lincoln.” Owner of one of largest, collections of Lincolniana in the United States.

Membership

Member American, Kentucky and Lexington bar associations, Illinois State History Society, Kentucky State History Society, Southern History Society, Filson. Member National Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission, chairman Kentucky Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission. Member Lincoln Foundation Advisory Group.

Member board directors Abraham Lincoln Association. Member of the board of trustees, Lincoln Memorial University. Member of Executive Committee Henry Clay Memorial Foundation.

President of the Kentucky Civil War Bound Table. Past president U. Kentucky Alumni Association.

Connections

Married Genevieve Johnson, June 16, 1915.

Father:

Oliver L. Townsend

Mother:

Susan Mary (Brown) Townsend

Spouse:

Genevieve Johnson