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.

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

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.
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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.