At the age of six, Susannah had to work to help support the family.

Around eighteen years old while attending a Camp Meeting, Susannah embraced religion and became a member of the Methodist Church.

In the spring of 1844, they boarded a boat and traveled down the Ohio River, to the Mississippi River, which they went up river to Muscatine, IA. There they crossed over to move to Bureau County, IL, settling near Princeton. The Walter W. Kinnick family was also aboard this boat. In 1850, Townsend Fletcher, according to a local history, "made a farm" on Section 36, Manlius Township of Bureau County, by Hickory Grove. It appears he was among the first ten settlers of this township.