The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-16
OBITUARY.
Death of Joseph B. Townsend, a Distin-

will be of interest to a number of our prominent residents:
 When death removes from the stage of his active usefulness the good man there rests upon the living the duty of recognizing and commemorating as a lesson to themselves the moral worth and Christian virtues of those who have made the world better by their example and influence.
 In the death of Joseph B. Townsend, IL. D., on the 11th inst, the bar of Philadelphia has lost one of its most distinguished ornaments and the conn munity one of it's most useful and hon. ored citizens. He came of English stock, was the second son of Joseph J. Townsend and Sarah Hickman and was born in Baltimore on the 18th or De- cember, 1921. His parents removed first to Marshalton and later to West Ches- ter, Chester county, where his youth was passed He was the fifth in de- scent from Joseph Townsend, brother of Richard Townsend, the latter of whom was an eminent minister in the Society of Friends, the intimate per- sonal friend and business partner of William Penn, with whom he was passenger in the ship Welcome on his first visit to his colony in 1882. These two brothers were the founders of the family of that name in Pennsylvania. Joseph Townsend about the year l7l6 acquired by patent from William Penn a tract of land of about 1000 acres To- cated on the east bank of the Brandy wine and extending eastward to the site of the borough of West Chester, much of which remained in the family for several generations and part Of which was owned by the subject of this sketch at the time of his death.
 His early education was acquired in the West Chester academy, first under the management of Jonathan Cause, subsequently, that of Barber and Fuller and later of Anthony Bolmar, a dlstln- guished French instructor, translator and author, with whom he renamed from 1884 to 1888, when he entered the office of the late Hon. Eli K. Price, with whom he studied law until admitted to the bar, in December, 1S42 He was ai- ways diligent student, and when ad- mitted to practice was well qualified to participate actively in the large and varied business of his distinguished preceptor, with whom he was closely associated until the death of the latter. in 1884 While well versed in all branches of the law and equity and full ly recognized as leader of the bar, it was quite natural from his training that he should become most prominent ly identified with the law of real estate titles trusts and decedent'S estates, in the elucidation and determination of which by careful study and in written opinions, he readily filled the vacancy created by the death of his distinguish ed preceptor. Upon doubtful questions of titles his opinions were sought for received and acted upon by conveyan- cers and real estate operators with the same confidence and certainty as those delivered by the higher authority of the supreme court of the state. His con- clusions when reached were the nat ural results of ample learning, founded upon thorough study and research, calm consideration and controlled al ways by clear and acute conscien- tiousness and desire to decide accord ing to the right and without injustice to any His mind and temperament < were GIlliIlCIlly JoutCldi, cllNl licto iiiS aspiration led in that direction he would have made distinguished judge of our highest court. The appreciation of his professional abilities was mani fested recently by the honors conferred upon him in his unanimous election to the high position of chancellor of the Law association and in the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania
 Modest and retiring in disposition, he had no taste for the turmoil of political life or the responsibilities of public off, flee. While diligently devoted to the exacting demands of a large, general practice, his great experience as man of affairs, his high integrity, sincerity of purpose and wise judgment caused him to be sought for in the manage ment of many institutions He was one of the original founders and for many years director of the Union league. Tn company with such honored names as Hon. E. M. Paxson, the late John M. Whitall, Samuel Field, John M. Maris and others, he served as a member of the board of guardians of the poor in the management of Blockleye hospital, also as a manager of the Preston re- treat, the Pennsylvania hospital, the Jefferson college and hospital being president of the board of trustees of the latter at the time of his decease. His nature was genial, kindly, generous, and charitable. While positive in his views, strong in his convictions and firm in his principles, he was ever tol- erant and liberal toward others in mat ters of opinion and belief; always af- fable and courteous in manner, he had t'troops os friends" and no enemies. While strong in many lines of charac- ter, acute and robust in intelligence and vigorous in executive action, his pre- dominent trait of character was his in- nate integrity, his pure conscientious ness, his absolute devotion to truth.
 Tn an article published some years ago, from the pen of the accomplished John Russell Young, giving some remi- niscence of Hamilton Fish, who died full of years and honors, chief among which was that of having been for eight years the trusted personal friend and confidential official adviser of Gen. eral Grant, while president, he was ask ed by MT. Young what he considered the dominant quality of Grants nature, to which he replied at once, and with emphasis, absolute truthfulness-com