Smyrna times., 1931-06-03
FROM A RAILROAD CLERK To
j. S. SENATOR HIS PROGRESS
THAT TELLS LIFE STORY OF
JOHN G. TOWNSEND, JR.
Celebrated His Goth Birthday on
Sunday and Received Greetings
From Friends All Over State

United States Senator John G.
Townsend, Jr., whose home is at
Selbyville, celebrated his sixtieth
birthday anniversary on Sunday
of last week. Senator Townsend
was born on May 81, 1871, at
Bishops, Worcester county, Nd,
son of the late John G. and Mere
dith (Dukes) Townsend. He was
educated in the district schools of
that section, two miles from where
he was born. His first position was
with the railroad company as re-
lief agent at Millsboro, Sussex
county. Several years later he
went into the lumber and timber
business. He bought the raw tim
ber and converted it into piling
and railroad ties. At that time, in
December, 1896, and the spring of
1897, he was living at Selbyville
where he has since resided. He
found the timber business a profit
able one and began to launch out.
He purchased sawmill and from
that his large lumber interests be-
gan to develop. He began to ex-
pand in business, and in banking.
1 The Baltimore Trust Company was
formed with banks in Selbyville
and Camden, this State He be-
came a director in the institution
and now heads the Selbyville
branch. He also is a director in
the Georgetown branch of the
Farmers Brank. His next step
was the canning business packing
all kinds of fruits and vegetables.
A few years ago he operated
twenty-three strawberry plants ex-
tending from Tennessee to Dover,
Del. The berries were preserved
for convention into juices, jams and
preserves for a widely known
syrup manufacturing concern of
Rochester, N. Y. Several of these
plants are still operated each year.
For several years he has operated
preserving plants in Norfolk, Va;
Salisbury and Berlin, Md; Seaford,
Bridgeville, Georgetown, Selbyville
and Millsboro, this State. He is
considered one of the largest pre-
server of strawberries in the coun-
try. He is president of the ]. G.
Townsend, Jr., Company, Inc, Of
Selbyville and Georgetown, can
ners and preservers; president of
the Selbyville Manufacturing Com
pany, a lumber firm; president of
the Townsend Lumber Company Of
Laurel, Del, and at one time was
head of the bank at Chincoteague,
Va, and ice plants on that island
and at Selbyville, Del.
Some years ago he became in
I terested in the orchard business,
and today he heads several com
panies whose combined acreages in
apple and peach trees surpass all
others on the Delmarva Peninsula.
The Delaware Apple Orchard Com
pany which he heads in the Bridge
vile section, is considered one of
the largest in the United States,
containing until recently $4,000
trees covering several hundred
acres. Some of the trees have
been removed within the past few
months. He is also president Of
the Swan Creek Orchards Com
pany, containing about $4,000 ap-
pie and peach trees, located on the
highway from Millsboro to Oak
Orchard, as well as the Townsend
Orchards, near Delmar. He was
Delaware's war governor, having
been elected in November, 1916,
and serving until January, 1921.
During his term the State High
way Commission was created
which has become model for
many States. After his term as
governor expired, Senator Town
send became interested in highway
construction and headed the High
way Engineering and Construction
Company of Selbyville, engaged in
road building. He served on the
staffs of three governors: Presten
Lea, SIS. Pennewill and Charles R.
Miller. He served in the lower
house of the Delaware Legislature
from 1901-1903, and was elected u.
S. Senator in November, 1928,
which office he still holds.