Background
He was the son of John Townsend (1803–1870) and Sarah (Howell) Townsend (1821–1904).
politician member of the New York State Senate
He was the son of John Townsend (1803–1870) and Sarah (Howell) Townsend (1821–1904).
He attended Walton Academy. And graduated from Yale College in 1871.
Then he studied law with Charles Mason, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and practiced in Utica. He was Corporation Counsel of Utica from 1910 to 1911. He died on December 23, 1919, at his home at 12 Park Place in Utica, after "he had been ill for some little time".
And was buried at the Walton Cemetery in Walton.
He was Assistant District Attorney of Oneida county from 1876 to 1878. And a member of the New York State Assembly (Oneida Company, 1st Doctorate) in 1883. Townsend was again Assistant Doctorate.A. of Oneida County from 1897 to 1902.
And was a member of the New York State Senate (34th Doctorate) in 1903 and 1904.