Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-04-20
A inst, Tribute.

no one living could SO accurately set
forth the traits of the doctors admi-
rable charater certainly none in the
county who could so happily compile
such summary and polish it with the
graces of ripe scholarship:
DR.. Morris Miller Townsend was born in
| Clarenceville, Province of Quebec. Canada
March "a, 1925. He was the son of the Rev'd
Canon Townsend, for fifty years Rector of
the Parishes of St. George and St. Thomas,
and for many years honorary Canon of
Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal whose
venerable form must be still fresh in the
memory of some who are yet living in Frost
burg and Eckhart mines. His mother, Anne
Elizabeth Davldson) Townsend, who died
when he was years old, was a sister of the
late NJ. o. Davidson, and also of Margaret
and Lucretia Davidson, poetesses of Platts-
burg, New York.
He went to school first to his aunt Miss
Harriet Townsend at Phillipsburg, Canada,
but at an early age was removed to Bishop
Hopkins school at Burlington, Vermont.
From there he entered the University of Yer
mont, where he graduated at the age of nine
teen. Choosing the medical profession as the
work of his life, he took one course Of lectures
at McGill college, Montreal, and two courses at
the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
New York, where he received his degree.
He practced medicine for a few years in
Ogdensburg, N. Y, where he married, July
6, 1854, Mary Esther COLLINS, and soon after
III.
county, Maryland, IN which place he was
known and beloved before he took up his
final residence, having practiced there a short
time before completing his studies.
Here for nearly 80 years he followed his
profession successfully and acceptably.
During the civil war he was the means of
establishing the Convalescent Hospital at
Clarysville, Md, which was under his charge
for some time, and he did great deal of
valuable work in organizing and conducting
it until the close of the war.
In all his work his warm and kindly dis
position made him dear to all classes of people.
His eye and heart were wide open to the
good traits, the useful qualities and the noble
characteristics of those he met, but at the
and oddities, and his vivid sense of humor
compelled him to see the amusing side of
everything and every person that came under
his observation. But his humor was always
benevolent. 1t was never alloyed with one
trace of bitterness. And neither this, nor his
own CONSCIOUSNESS of superior breeding,
education and associations, set up barrier
between him and others. He was always a
man and always, in every suitable way,
gladly acknowledged the kinshp of man
kind, and was ready to see the obligation
that being a man imposes on every one of
the race. And SO nothing prevented him
from honoring goodness and appreciating all
good qualities in whomsoever they might be
found. Nothing ever checked or chilled his
sympathy with sorrow and suffering. In
deed there seemed to be in him, as in so
many gifted in like manner, very close
alliance between vivid sense of humor
and the largest kindliness ofdisposition. His
humor was sunshine and his wit never
wounded. Over and over again since his
death, as have met those that were under
his care as physician, have [ heard him
mentioned, not only as physician i'll whom
they had confidence, but as a kindly human
and humane friend
In 1888, having retired from practice he
removed to Cumberland, where he spent
several years honored and beloved the light
and cheer of every circle in which he moved.
The last eight years of his life were spent
in Frostburg, where, although he did not
resume the practice of medicine, he continued
to take lively interest III all that pertained
to it, and formed some of his warmest friends
amongst members of the profession. His
last illness, which extended over period of
three months, was borne with the most I'M
failing patience and sunny cheerfulness.
The death of DR.. Townsend was a sad
bereavement to his family, and in him Allie
gany county lost one of its best and most
progressive citizens. A great many still live
who have known him, not only with that
intimacy with which necessarily any ply
sicIan is known when he is skilful and faith
full, but with that tenderest intimacy that
grows up between physician and patient
when every tone and gesture shows true SYM
pathy, and where the cheerful voice and
pleasant saying, that cannot be taught or in
spired in a school of medicine, make the
patient feel that he is not only an interesting
case, but a man or woman or child to be
cheered and comforted and sometimes built
up by being recognized in a human way.
But besides the many who were acquaint-
ed with him in this way, there were many
who knew him through loving tradition, for
he was a man to be remembered, and there
were many knew him by daily meeting and
speaking with him but even those who only
saw his pleasant countenance as he went up
and down through the town would miss the
face that carried the light of its inward peace
so evidently with it. But only those who
visited him at his own house and knew him
intimately in that way, knew best the worth
of his character and enjoyed most the charm
of his manner and conversation. To those
his death brought indeed, bereavement.
But to him death had no terrors. All
through his lfe-all through his studies-all
through his daily contact with the world, and
his daily meeting with hard and unbelieving
men, he kept the simple, truthful faith Of "a
little child. To him Christ was not only the
Saviour Of the world, but his own personal
Redeemer and near friend, with whom he
walked hand in hand, seeing IN the distance
the palaces and towers of the Heavenly City.
In his piety there was not the slightest trace
of moroseness nor any lack of appreciation of