LABANNA S. TOWNSEND, farmer of Kiskiminetas township, now practically retired from active labor, was born in Armstrong County, Oct. 9, 1839, son of William and Lizzie (Shoemaker) Townsend. Isaac Townsend, his grandfather, was born in England in 1760, and came to America in 1775, locating in what is now Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong Co., Pa. There, in about 1780, he married Rachel King, by whom he had sewn sons and three daughters. One of these sons was William Townsend.
William Townsend was born in Kiskiminetas township in 1800. When he was fifteen years old, he began learning blacksmithing with his father, and worked at his trade with his brother until his marriage. He then bought the homestead, afterwards purchased by George Townsend, brother of Labanna S. Townsend, and removed to it in the spring of 1829.
For the remainder of his life he was engaged in farming, dying April 6, 1884, his widow surviving until Sept. 1, 1889. She was born in Pennsylvania. Politically, he was a Democrat. For many years, he was a member of the Lutheran Church at Maysville, and served as deacon and elder. Of the children born to him and his wife but two are living, George and Labanna S.
Labanna S. Townsend attended the common schools until his twentieth year, and resided with his parents until his marriage, when he rented a farm for a short time. In 1865, he moved to Maysville and worked at his trade of carpenter for ten years, when, in 1871, he bought his present farm in Maysville, on which he has a good bearing orchard, the yield from which is very large. There are apples and other fruits, the grapes being especially good.
Mr. Townsend has about retired from active pursuits. He is recognized as an honorable, upright citizen, and has the respect of all his townsmen. His vote is cast for the candidates of the Democratic party.
On Jan. 8,1861, Mr. Townsend was married, in Kiskiminetas township, to Julia Armstrong, daughter of Clayton Armstrong, who located in Westmoreland county in 1845. Mr. Armstrong was a well known man in his day. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Townsend, of which nine are now living: L. F., Flora, Emerson, Alva B., Lillie, Margaret, Flossy, Theodore and Roller.