Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-15

News of the death of the beloved
pastor quickly spread and the be-
1eaved widow and children were the
recipients of many expressions of sym
pathy. With characteristic thought
fulness, DIR. Townsend, when he real
lied his end was approaching, pre-
pared a brief biography of his life
for the newspaper men OF the city,
for whom he always had a warm
friendship. Srt M
DIR. Townsend was born in Buffalo,
". Y, July Is, 1857, coming of a family
prominent in the social and civic life
of that city. His grandfather,
Charles Townsend. was one of the
pioneer settlers, and subsequently, be-
came one of the first judges Of
Niagara County, and also filled many
other positions Of honor in western
New York. 10
DIR. Townsend, after leaving the
buffalo High School, engaged in jour-
nalism Later he went to Europe
with his parents and supplemented
study in Belgium, Switzerland and
Germany After the death of his
dather In Germany DR.. Townsend re-
turned to this country and studied
tiseology He was graduated from
Auburn Theological Seminary in the
class of 1883. He had previously been
licensed to preach by the Presbytery
of Buffalo in 1882.
Following his graduation DIR. Town
send assumed charge of the First
Presbyterian Church of Lansingburg,
NY. He was ordained to the min
1stry by the Presbytery of Troy, in
June 1883. Dr. Townsend rounded out
len successful and prosperous years,
having found the parish at a low ebb
and leaving it in the highest condition
of efficiency. In June 1893 he ac-
cepted a call to the Woodland Avenue
Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, O.,
one of the largest and most influential
Of that denomination in the country
by reason of the continued i'll health
of a daughter, who was unable to
stand the rigors of winter in Cleve-
land, DR.. Townsend accepted a call to
Orange soon after the death of his
predecessor, Rev. DR.. Henry NJ
Storrs, and was installed as pastor
OF. the Orange church In May, 1895. He
continued as pastor until the end.
DR.. Townsend's last appearance be-
fore his congregation was the first
sunday in October. He had enjoyed
q trip to Bermuda early in the year
and continued from March until the
summer vacation to minister to his
people On his return to his duties
heart trouble was added to his other
ailments and all hope of his resuming
his religion tasks was given up. For
he past six weeks he was confined
10 his room and the last three weeks
a nurse assisted DR.. James Minor
Maghee, the family physician.
!, DIR. Townsend married Miss Mary
Louise Markham, of New York city,
June 10, 1884. Their surviving children
are: Mrs. Marion Louise Hutchinson,
wife of, Mahlon Hutchinson. of Borden
town Mrs. Gladys Constance Cleve-.
land, wife of Guy Cleveland, of Or
ange, who were married three weeks
ago by DIR. Townsend at his bedside;
Roger Corning Townsend and Charles
Howard Townsend. He also leaves
brother, E. Corning Townsend, of
Buffalo, and two sisters, Mrs. George
-. Wellington, of Troy, n. Y, and
Miss Cora Townsend, of Buffalo.
!, DIR. Townsend received the degree
of doctor Of divinity from Washing.
ton and, Jefferson College in June.
1905 He frequently represented the
presbyteries as commissioner to the
general assembly and served each of
hese presbyteries as moderator.
During the years of his pastoral life
he received many calls from churches
in Washington. Newark Albany and
other large cities. But DR.. Townsend
was believer in lengthy pastorates
and did not desire to make changes.
DIR. Townsend was frequent
contributor to discussions of the
day both in secular and church
literature. Though he gave little