Thomas TOWNSLEY

Sources:

Historical Sketches of Giltner, Nebraska (1985)
1870 US Federal Census Burrell Twp., Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, p.36B
1880 US Federal Census Union Twp., Hamilton County, Nebraska
1900 US Federal Census Union, Hamilton, Nebraska
FindAGrave.com
History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, NE, Vol 2 (Google Books)

Notes:

                   NOTES:
    Civil War soldier, Co. E Knapps Infantry Battery, Pennsylvania Volunteers, enlisted 5 Jan 1864, discharged 14 Jun 1865. Biography in notes.





From Hamilton County History:
THOMAS TOWNSLEY 
The honored Nebraska pioneer to whom this review is dedicated lived up to the full tension of pioneer hardships in Hamilton county, played well and effectively his part in the development of the resources of this section of the state and stood exemplar of enlightened and progressive citizenship at a time when his leadership meant much in connection with community sentiment and action. Now venerable in years, he is living retired in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mr. Townsley was born in England, on the 19th of February, 1845, and was but four years of age when his parents made the voyage across the Atlantic to the United States, by means of an old-time sailing vessel, the voyage having been of seven weeks' duration. The family home was established in the state of Pennsylvania, where he was reared to manhood and received the advantages of the common schools of the period, and where his parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been a farmer by vocation. Mr. Townsley was too young for enlistment at the beginning of the Civil war, but in 1864 he enlisted in Knapps Independent, Battery E, Pennsylvania light Artillery, with which he saw active service in the Atlanta campaign and accompanied General Sherman's forces on the historic march from Atlanta to the sea. He took part in numerous skirmishes on this memorable march and remained with his regiment until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. 
After the war Mr. Townsley continued to be associated with farm industry in Pennsylvania until 1872, when he came with his family to Nebraska and took prominent place among the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county. In the present Union township he entered claim to a homestead and on the land he erected a small frame house, the first constructed on the open prairie between Harvard and grand Island, and the lumber was hauled overland from Harvard. Later he built a sod addition to the house and his first stable was of pole and straw type. He purchased a team of oxen, and with them initiated the breaking of his land and made it available for cultivation. His enterprise and good judgment were shown in his early planting of a grove of trees and an orchard, the latter having eventually died out, with the exception of a few trees. Mr. Townsley drove to Farmers Valley for the milling of his grists and Harvard was his principal trading point. He buffeted with droughts and grasshoppers, as did the other pioneers, but never lost faith in the future of the state of his adoption, and his courage and tenacity of purpose were in accord with this faith and confidence. The isolated family home was snowbound during three days in the historic blizzard of 1873, and as at that time he had no barn on his claim he tied his oxen near a stack of hay. Realizing that this shelter was inadequate, he went out into the storm and cut the oxen loose, with the result that they drifted on with the storm and after it abated one of the animals was found at a point fully three and one-half miles distant from the home place. In 1875 the family larder became greatly depleted and to supply it Mr. Townsley, with his first team of horses, went on a hunting trip in the western part of the state. While he was absent his wife and children subsisted mainly on bread and flour gravy and it may well be understood that there was rejoicing in the little prairie home when the -hunter returned with a goodly supply of elk and deer meat. Mr. Townsley's success in the passing years justified his abiding faith in the country and he gradually added to the area of his original homestead until he became the owner of a well improved farm property of fully one hundred and sixty acres. He remained on the farm until 1889, when he removed to Aurora, the county seat, but in 1891 he returned to the farm, which continued his place of residence until 1915, when he remarried and moved to Giltner. From this village he later went to Lincoln, in which city he has since maintained his residence. He is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the republican party, his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a charter member of Giltner Post, No. 71, Grand Army of the Republic.
As a young man Mr. Townsley was united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Rebecca Ramaley, who was born and reared in that state, and who was his devoted companion and helpmeet during the pioneer days in Nebraska, where she died on the 2d of December, 1908, at the age of sixty-six years. Of this union were born eight children: William has active management of the old home farm; George C. resides at Arvada, Colorado, and holds the office of township clerk; Alice R. is the wife of V. W. Herman; Bessie is the'deceased wife of Frank Hobbs, her death having occurred in 1914; Blanche is the wife of W. I. Worthington, a farmer in Hamilton county; and Clara, Melancthan and Emma are deceased. The wife and mother was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopaf church and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gentle influence. In 1915 Mr. Townsley was remarried to Miss Elizabeth Grey of Indiana.
William Townsley, eldest of the children, was born in Pennsylvania and was three years of age at the time of the family removal to Nebraska, where he was reared under the conditions and influences of the pioneer farm and where his early education was acquired in a sod schoolhouse. He remained at the parental home until his marriage in 18$7 to Miss Stella M. Fish, and he then began independent operations as a farmer. He bought forty acres, on which he made good improvements, and in addition to this place, in 'Union township, he has also th'e active control and supervision of his father's old home farm. He is known as a progressive agriculturist and stock raiser and in former years he won many premiums on his fine Duroc Jersey hogs, the raising of which was finally made inexpedient on account of the ravages of hog cholera. He is a stanch republican and takes lively interest in all things touching the welfare of the county that has represented his home since childhood. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Townsley became the parents of eight children: Glenn, Wayne, Mervin, Violet, Raymond, Bessie, Denver, and May. Mervin, Violet and May are deceased and all of the other children remain at the parental home, which is known for its hospitality and good cheer.