Timothy Wesley Townsend

Photographer: Townsend
West Liberty, Iowa
(on the reverse in ink: Maud Gales)

There seems to be at least three photographers named Townsend that might have done this cabinet card. The most probable is T. W. Townsend of Iowa City, IA. Iowa City is only about fifteen miles from West Liberty, IA. Photographers of the day were known to travel to nearby towns to find additional business.

24 Feb 2025 UPDATE
From a comment:
"Timothy Wesley Townsend and his brother Israel Lewis Townsend were both photographers. As were their sons. Timothy’s sons Alva and Charles and Israel’s son James. Israel and James had an Iowa City studio and the Hastings studio. Timothy and sons were in West Branch, Iowa City and Des Moines. Then Lincoln Nebraska. Later in life Israel was in Pasadena California."

Also the three were related: T. W. Townsend and his two sons Alva C Townsend and Charles F Townsend. To make it even more complicated, T. W. Townsend’s father James Townsend, who was living in Muscatine, IA, just a few miles east, was also a photographer.

According to the historical volume “Leading Events in Johnson County Iowa History, 1913 “, Timothy Wesley Townsend “was 20 years of age when he first engaged in the photographic business at West Liberty, Iowa. “ This would work out to be 1864.

The newspaper account at the far right, dated 24 Apr 1904, about C. F. Townsend, says that his father (T. W. Townsend) was located in Iowa City for 30 years. That would mean he was in Iowa City, IA, since 1874. The US Census places him there in 1870.

Timothy Wesley Townsend
(11 Apr 1844 - 01 Jul 1912)

1844 Apr 11
born in Frederick Grove, Kings County, Ohio
1864
establishes first studio in West Liberty, IA
1866
marriage to Sarah Emeline Coover in Muscatine, IA
1870 Aug 21
US census - as photo artist in Iowa City, IA

07 Jul 2026 update: Annonymous commenter: I think both of the West Liberty Iowa, Townsend cards are from Lewis M Townsend circa 1885,.... not by Timothy Wesley Townsend

1872
son Alva Cooper Townsend born in Iowa City, IA
1874
son Charles Fremont Townsend born in Iowa City, IA
1874
newspaper item - establishes studio in Iowa City, IA
1880 Jun 05
US census - as photographer, Iowa City, IA
1900 Jun 04
US census - as photographer, Iowa City, IA
1905
Iowa State census in Iowa City, IA
1910 Apr 23
US census - as photographer, Des Moines, IA
1912 Jul 01
dies at age 68 (location unknown)

T. W. Townsend is the only one of the three that can be documented as being in West Liberty, IA. His son Alva moved to Lincoln, NE, about 1894. His son Charles moved to California and returned to Muscatine, IA, and then to Des Moines, IA, in 1904.

So, in reality, any one of the other three, his father James, or either of his two sons, Alva or Charles, could have hopped the few miles over to West Liberty, IA, for a day or a week and accomplished a series of photographs.

There is a short biography of Timothy W Townsend at Pioneer Photographers (The page is mis-titled but the biography is correct.)

Also, see the Wiki page on Townsend

The cabinet card here could have been done any time from about 1840 to 1910 by any one of the Townsends. In all likelihood however, considering the scalloped edges and the clarity of the photograph, it was probably done by T. W. Townsend, around 1890.

Des Moines Register - 24 Apr 1904

Lincoln (NE) Evening Call - 02 Oct 1890

Iowa City (IA) Press - 18 Oct 1899


The Iowa City (IA) Press - 08 Jun 1900

Iowa City (IA) 31 Aug 1900


Iowa City (IA) Press - 01 Sep 1900

Des Moines (IA) Register - 23 Jun 1922

Townsend
West Liberty Iowa

Portrait purported to be of the photographers Townsend

photographer: Townsend
Wellston, Ohio
example from auction site
(It is not known if this is connected to Timothy Townsend. Wellston, OH, is over 500 miles from West liberty, IA, but probably on the same rail line.)

photographer: C H Townsend
Cor Main and Railroad Street
Willimantic, CN

photographer:Ned Townsend
Charles City, IA
example from pinterest

photographer: Townsend Studio
(poor scan - unable to read location)

The following row would be from Alva Townsend

photographer: Townsend
226 South Eleventh Street, Lincoln, NE
example from picclick

photographer: Townsend
Lincoln, NE
example from auction site
(this is NOT a cabinet card)

photographer: Townsend
Lincoln, NE
example from pinterest
(scan is cropped poorly)

photographer: Townsend
226 S Liberty st, Lincoln, Nebraska
example from pinterest, no source shown

photographer: Townsend
Hastings, NE
example from auction site

The card at the left was probably done by Alva Townsend also. Hastings, NE, is only about 100 miles from Lincoln, NE.

photographer: UNKNOWN Townsend
Unknown location
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

The following is by C H Townsend. No connection to T W Townsend has been made.

photographer C H Townsend
cor Main and Railroad Streets, Williantic, CN
example from auction site

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and new examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.

Lewis M Townsend

Photographer L M Townsend
West Liberty, IA

Reverse of card on the left

07 Jul 2026 update:
From annonymous commenter:
Lewis M Townsend GG- Grandpa Steven Townsend 1732-1793, Timothy Wesley Townsend G-Grandpa Steven Townsend 1732-1793

Lewis M Townsend
(1853 - 1910?)

Lewis M Townsend is probably related to photographer Timothy Westley Townsend but very remotely. They are perhaps very distant cousins. Following both photographers back through their generations revealed very large families at each generation but no connection was spotted.

1853 Jul
Ohio, L M Townsend is born to Levi Kennard Townsend and Abigail Stanton
1879
Muscatine, IA, L M Townsend marries Albia J Moore
1880
Muscatine, IA, US census, L M Townsend as painter
1883
Wilton Junction, Muscatine, IA, son Harry Leroy Townsend was born
1885
West Liberty, Muscatine, IA, Iowa state census L M Townsend as artist
1888
West Liberty, Muscatine, IA, US census and state records, daughter Lulu Bell Townsend is born

1889
Muscatine, IA, city directory, NOT listed
1891
Muscatine, IA, city directory, L M Townsend as photographer
1893
Muscatine, IA, city directory, L M Townsend as Salesman for Singer Sewing Machine
1900
Chicago, IL, US census as photographer; res 502 w 61st
1910 Apr 21
Benton Lake, IL, US census, NO documents have been found to confirm exactly when Lewis M Townsend died but this census lists his wife, Albia, as a widow.

It looks like Lewis M Townsend was a photographer, at least part time, most of his adult life. In 1883 and 1885 he was actually living in West Liberty, IA. Documents before that period say he was living it Wilton, IA and documents after that period say he was living in Muscatine, IA. Note that all three towns are less than 15 miles apart, all three in Muscatine County. Wilton and West Liberty were connected by a rail line.

Considering this, the cabinet card here could have been finished at about any time from 1885 to 1893. Most probably it was done between 1885 and 1888.

photographer: L M Townsend
Muscatine, IA
from contributor R Callahan

photographer: Townsend
Hastings, NE
example from auction site

The card at the left was probably done by Alva Townsend also. Hastings, NE, is only about 100 miles from Lincoln, NE.

photographer: UNKNOWN Townsend
Unknown location
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

Other cabinet card photographers of Muscatine, IA

photographer: Clifford and Son
Muscatine, IA
example from contributor

photographer: Clifford and Son
Muscatine, IA
example from contributor

photographer: Clifford and Son
Muscatine, IA
example from contributor

photographer: Clifford and Son
Muscatine, IA
example from contributor

photographer: Clifford and Son
Newton, IA
example from contributor

photographer: Clifford and Son
Newton, IA
example from contributor

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.