Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-17
Home LIKE ARSENAL
NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN HAS
HOUSE FULL OF GUNS.
Valuable Collection Of Antique War
Relics Is Owned by A. G. Towns
send-His Annual Parade in
Uniform of 1889,

Relics Is Owned by A. G. Town
send-His Annual Parade in
Uniform of 1889.
Wilton, N. H.-Albert C. Townsend.
Wilton's Fourth of July Warrior
and neighbor during the summer Of
Rear Admiral Walker, boasts Of the
greatest and most valuable collection
OF antique arms owned by any indi-
yidual in New Hampshire His ex-
htbit includes everything from re,
vo)ver to large four-wheeled cannon.
and all but two or three are of con-
siderable age.
Gunner" Townsend. as he is fre-
quently referred to in Wilton Cen
ter village, has a hobby for anything
that is antique, and, while many
rooms in his house, which was erect
ed considerably over century ago,
are stacked with his ancient weapons
OF warfare, be has other collections,
including books, pictures, musical in.
struments and furniture, the posses.
sion OF which he can trace for many
generations. A large part Of his prop
erty was owned by his ancestors.
while some of it was purchased from
families in which they had been hand \
ed down for nearly century.
OF all his possessions, there arc
none which Townsend prides more
than his guns. Almost all OF them
are the old-fashioned flintlocks. One
old Queen Anne musket is in an ex-
cellent state Of preservation, and Is
about century and a half old The
gun is apparently as good as when
first used, and shoots with great accu,
racy.
Every gun is kept polished and
oiled, and very frequently he tests
them at range in the rear OF his
home. The target is about 200 yards
from the stand, and through almost
daily practice Townsend has become
good shot.
Townsend's house resembles an ar
senal. At each entrance there are
two muskets, fully loaded, standing
against the wall Within easy reach
of every window in the house there
is another, and one large room is
fairly stacked with guns. In addi-
ton, there are many revolvers, piss
tolls, swords, sabres knives and other
weapons lying around. Many of
these, as well as canteens, powder
horns and ammunition boxes, were
used in the revolution.
He has several uniforms used by
the Miller guards, Wilton military
company of 1889. as well as a few
colonial coats and caps.
On the Fourth of July Townsend
makes his appearance on the sereet
in the full uniform of Miller guard,
armed with musket The old man
finds no greater sport than firing ma.
tional salutes all day on his can.
non.
Townsend's house was erected by
John harrington in 1890, after return,
ing from the revolutionary war. In,
1903 he sold 1t to John Lovett, who
owned 1t but few. years, and then
it became the property Of the Town
send family. The lumber used in the
construction was all hand hewn. All
the windows are furnished with slid
ing shutters, and the olapboards,
which were hand split, shaved and
Tapped, are as good as new.
Townsend lives alone. He cooks
his own meals, and says he is con
tented.
Townsend was born In the same
house &c years ago. On both his IA.
theirs and mothers side his ances-
try fought in the revolution, the war
Of 1872 and the French and Indian
wars. When President Lincoln called
for men Townsend wanted to enlist,
but as he was the only son of a.
widowed mother, and her only sup
port, he remained at home and
worked on the farm. His military
enthusiasm was again dampened In
1893, when he wanted to enlist for
the Spanish-American war. but was
too old. and was, therefore rejected.