Dr. and Mrs. E. W. Paul ~ Osceola, Iowa
Decatur County Journal-Iowa
Thursday, December 6, l9l7
E.W. TOWNSEND, one of Decatur County's most prominent citizens and bankers, passed away at his home in Decatur at an early hour last Saturday morning.He had been ill for some months and recently had been compelled to give up active business life on account of the condition of his health.He resigned as cashier of the Citizen's State Bank, of Decatur, just a few weeks ago and O.F. Walker was selected by the directors to take his place.MR. TOWNSEND was chosen as chairman of the board of directors, however, at that time a position in which he continued to the time of his death.
He organized the Citizen's State Savings Bank twenty-five years ago and the institution has had a most remarkable record of steady growth since that time.MR. TOWNSEND was a capable business man and banker and under his guidance the bank became one of the best known institutions in southern Iowa.He was a man of highest ideals, square with everyone, a worker for the good of the community in which he lived.He has always been active in church affairs and gave much time and substantial support to the church organization.He was loved and respected by all and his death is a matter of deep regret to the people of the entire county.
MR. TOWNSEND will be missed by the people of Decatur and by the people of the county.He was always ready to support any movement that meant a betterment of conditions in our county.He was a friend to all.
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OBITUARY
It is appointed unto all men, once, to die.The dust shall return to earth and the spirit to God who gave it.
ERNEST W. TOWNSEND was born at Mount Gilead, Ohio, December 26th, l853, and passed away at Decatur, Iowa, December lst, l9l7, his age being sixty-three years, eleven months and five days.
MR. TOWNSEND emigrated to Iowa with his parents and settled near the town of Indianola in the year l863, and resided there until l887, when he removed to Decatur, Iowa, where he has since lived, and which place, he knew only as his home.
He was united in marriage to MARTHA P. BURROWS August l9th, l877.Six children were the result of this union, viz: CLARENCE and BRUCE TOWNSEND, and MRS. O.F. WALKER, of Decatur, Iowa; MRS. V.J. ANDERSON and MRS. DR. E.W. PAUL, of Osceola, Iowa, and FREDERICK A. TOWNSEND, of Leon, Iowa, all of whom are living and were present with the good wife andmother to lament his untimely death.In addition to MR. TOWNSEND's immediate family, he left one sister and four brothers, three of whom--LEVI T., BENJAMIN F., and EDWIN L. TOWNSEND were present at the funeral.
The deceased was converted and joined the Friend's Church in early life while living in Warren County, but after coming to Decatur he transferred his affiliation to the Methodist Episcopal Church.He was an untiring church worker, living a conscientious Christian life.
(Can't read first part of sentence . . .) therefore, it is neither timely nor necessary to make mention of the kind of a life MR. TOWNSEND lived, as the records of his life and actions is the best evidence, and the same is an open book with its every page known by those who knew him.
But enough.His work is finished and he has gone--gone to render an account to his God for the things, either good or bad, done by him while here, and we cannot but believe that his reward will be the welcome words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
"We shall know it all, some day."
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CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our good friends at home and elsewhere for the kindly assistance rendered, and the flowers sent during the sickness and death of our husband and father.
MRS. E.W. TOWNSEND and FAMILY.