From "Rush Township", author/editor, publication, & date unlisted; found at Jo Daviess County, Illinois US GenWeb Project web site, http://www.users.rootsweb.com/~iljodavi/RushHistory.htm [Note: the following has only one paragraph about any of the Townsends, but it was written by H. S. Townsend and serves as a good example of his style of writing and gives good evidence of the kinds of things that were important to him]

"The following extracts are from a paper written by H. S. Townsend, one of the oldest settlers:

'At this time the tide of emigration had fairly set in. Mr. Asher Miner came on in the Fall of 1836, from the State of New York, his family following him in the Fall of the next year. They settled in the Township of Rush, in what is known as Miner's Grove, about one and one half miles below Millville. Mr. Miner lived in the Townships of Rush and Nora for many years, and died in Nora in 1867, very much respected.

'Ranson Miner, son of Asher Miner, moved in at the time his father's family did, and settled in the Townsend Settlement, where he lived until his death in 1855. His wife yet lives on the old homestead."

'In 1837 Jasper Rosencrans moved into the Township of Rush, and settled in Townsend's Settlement, where he lived until 1850, when he went to California. Mr. Ira L. Townsend also went to California the same year. In September, 1850, they started home together, but were never heard of afterwards.

'Mr. Ira Bowker moved into the Township of Rush in 1837, and settled in Townsend Settlement, at what was known as Brushy Grove. He also went to California in 1850, and died on his journey home, in Green County, in this state. His wife and most of his family are now living in Rush Township.

'In 1837 Seth Post came to this county from New York, and in company with Charles Imus, erected a saw mill on Apple River, about two miles above Millville. This mill did a great deal of work, until the lumber was exhausted, but it has now disappeared. Mr. Post returned to New York for his family, and was on his way back by way of the Ohio River, when at Cincinnati himself and wife were killed by the blowing up of the steamboat Mozelle, upon which they had taken passage. His two sons came on and resided here a number of years, when they sold their mill and removed to the State of Wisconsin. Joseph, the younger son, entered the army during the great Rebellion, and was elected Captain. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, from the effect of which he died. Lorenzo, the elder brother, is still living at Wayouaga, Wisconsin.

'Mr. Adam Arnold moved into the township in 1839, and settled near the old Kirker place, then occupied by the Imus family, where he died in 1850. He had a large family, most of whom yet reside in the Township of Rush.

'In 1839 Mr. George Renwick came on from the State of New York, and settled in Townsend Settlement, Brushy Grove. He died in 1871, leaving quite a large estate. The widow yet resides at the old homestead. He was highly esteemed and raised thirteen children, most of whom yet reside in this town.

'Such were the early settlers of Rush, and we might, even now, profit from the contemplation of their humble virtues, hospitable homes, and spirits noble, proud and free.

'Settlers were now coming in quite numerous, too much so to attempt to make special mention of them.

'Various as may have been the object of our people in emigrating, no sooner had they come together, than there existed in each settlement a unison of feeling. In their intercourse with each other and with strangers, they were kind, beneficent and disinterested, extending to all the most generous hospitality which their circumstances could afford -- their latch-string was always out. They were kind for kindess' sake, and sought no other recompense than the neverfailing reward of an approving conscience.

'At the time of the first settlement of this township, the Indians were here, and for a time shared the country with us. They were of the Winnebago tribe, were generally friendly and dis us but little harm.

'Game was plentiful, such as deer, turkeys, and a few bear. The game was all that brought the Indians here, and soon both disappeared.

'Mills were scarce and of rude construction, but we had no use for them until we had something to grind. If you had visited one of these settlers, you would have been made heartily welcome, and would ahve been received in the most friendly manner. In their log cabins a bountiful meal would have been set before you, of venison and corn bread, or mush, the meal for which was ground on a tin grater. This was the best that could be had short of Galena. To purchase luxuries, we needed money, and that was an article we did not possess.

'At this day fancy fashions and foolish pride had not reached us. Then we had no regular mail in this part of the country. We received our mail from Galena, Shullsburg, or where we went to trade. We received a newspaper about once in two weeks, and such was the interest produced by its advent that no on would think of sleep until every word of the paper had been read alou.

'Galena was the largest place in northern Illinoins, and Jo Daviess County the greatest county. The county was divided into election precincts soon after -- the precinct embracing the whole of the northeastern part of the county, including what is now the Towns of Thompson, Apple River, Warren, Nora, Stockton, Ward's Grove and Rush. Elections were held at the house of Hiram Imus, at the old Kirker place. At that time the elections were held on the first Monday in August, but for many years they were lightly attended. Other matters occupied too much time and attention.

'The business of the county was done by three men call county commissioners. Those three men appointed three others in each election precinct, who managed the elections. But in 1838 there were two justices elected in the precinct. One lived in the Town of Rush. His name was Jedediah P. Miner. (He was a brother of Asher Miner, heretofore mentioned.) He came into the country about 1837, and on the first Monday in August, 1838, he was elected a Justice of the Peace in what was afterward the Township of Rush. He was the first justice ever elected in the town, and we all felt that we were rising in the world -- and truly we were, for we then had a court of justice in our own town. However, we had but little use for our newly-elected justice. Any difficulty was generally settled by arbitration; there were no deeds to be made out, for our land was not yet in the market. As for marrying, there was very little of that to be done, for marriageable parties were about as scarce as money in old Jo Daviess County.

'What we needed most just now was a post-office, as we had become tired of receiving our mail but once in two or three weeks; so we got up a petition, directed to the Postmaster General, asking him to appoint John R. Smith Postmaster, and give us mail once a week. Our worthy Postmaster General granted our petition, but required us to furnish a name for our post-office -- a thing we had not before thought of. But that was easily supplied, and as there was but one mill in the town, with a strong probability that more would soon be built there, we name our post-office Millville; a name that the place yet bears. The post-office was of great value to us; we all began to take the weekly papers, and began to look a little into the affairs of our county, state and national government. With the increase in knowledge, came an increase in population and wealth. We had opened up our farms; our land produced bountifully; we raised cattle and hogs in abundance.' "

From Massacre At Bad Axe: An Eye Witness Account of the Black Hawk War of 1832, by Crawford Beecher Thayer, published by Banta Co., 1984. [Notes: There are a number of references to H. S. Townsend of the Michigan militia in this book, though it never actually mentions the name, Halstead. All of the references to "Private Townsend" are indexed as H. S. Townsend in the back. A check of the Muster Roll of Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War does not show a Halstead or H. S. Townsend serving in any Illinois company, including listings for Jo Daviess County. The muster roll can be found in the book, The Sauks and The Black Hawk War, by Hon. Perry A. Armstrong, printed by H. W. Rokker, Springfield, Illinois, 1887. Three other sources, the Warren Sentinel-Leader, The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois and Halstead Townsend's obituary all note that he served in the Black Hawk War under Colonel Dodge, as did his brother, Absalom, who was present at the battle of Bad Axe, according to Wisconsin Historical Collections, vol. iii (1857; reprinted 1904). Finally, this book includes a picture of H. S. Townsend of the Michigan militia (see scrapbook to view it), which looks like a mirror image of the picture of H. S. Townsend at the top of The Townsend Genealogy, by Col. E. C. Townsend (which also pictures E. C. and George N.). It should be remembered that Wisconsin was still part of the Michigan Territory in 1832. Other sources note that settlers in the area of southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois weren't sure what territory they were actually in at the time. All of these facts point to this H. S. Townsend being one and the same as Halstead S. Townsend. Notes in brackets are for clarification or elaboration and were not in the original text. All of the quotes are noted in the back of the book as being from a speech that H. S. Townsend gave in 1898, as reported in the Vernon County (Viroqua, WI) Censor on August 10, 1898.]

p. 64: "We crossed the [Wisconsin] river [near Helena], followed it up, and struck Indian trail."

p. 132: "Followed them four days, found many dead [near Soldier's Grove]. All we found dead had been wounded [presumably at the battle near the Wisconsin River on July 21]. We had no baggage; no cannon. Had rifles."

p. 133: "When we got out of the timber we were at Soldiers Grove. Nice stream; pine trees. Stayed there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Filled our horses, saddled and started."

p. 135: " . . . we struck bluffs and stopped. It is reported there was an Indian found there. Yes, an old man that could not rise; could talk English. {Captain Joseph] Dickson talked with him. He was friendly; told where was water. The query was what was best to do; leave him to starve or kill him. We decided it better to kill him. Shot him. [This was near the pond one mile northeast of Retreat and nine miles from Battle Island.]

p. 165: "Followed line of march made at Wisconsin river. [Henry] Dodge, regulars, Henry, [Alexander H.] Posey and Alexander in the rear."

p. 166: "Started at sunrise Aug. 2, 1832."

p. 166: "We started at sunrise with 20 spies ahead. First 3 or 4 miles on trail, spies struck rear guard of the enemy, which bore northward."

p. 173: "We left our horses. Spies and Indian outposts were on horses. We hurried to protect spies, who had orders to fight Indians till we came up. Dodge knew Dickson would do it. The fight was between 20 spies and 90 Indians, estimated from 60 to 90."

p. 184: "Our spies [Dickson's men] got to the river and fired. Only Rittenhouse was left standing. Indians had shot down the rest."

p. 185: "Then 14 Indians rode off up the river. Dickson sent 8 spies to watch them. With 10 men Dickson continued the chase, depending on the army for support.

"He [Dickson] was wounded in the ankle.

"It was said that he shot a squaw who fell on her knees before him begging for her life."

p. 191: "We rushed past them [Captain Dickson's men] and did not stop to see their injuries for we were after Indians. They went 3/4 of a mile below here [Battle Island]."

p. 192: "Abadiah Rittenhouse, a spy, had a ball through his whiskers and one through the rim of his hat. He was dazed and wild after that. A squaw with a child on her back was near him. He said, 'See me kill that d--n squaw.' He killed the squaw and the bullet broke the child's arm.

"When we came up the child was gnawing a horse bone."

p. 196: "With Henry's men we killed in three-fourths of a mile, 82 Indians. We lost three men. Indians were thick there. We pursued. They shot to [sic] high. We found bullets thirty feet high in trees. If they had fired low they would have killed many."

p. 196: "There were three willow bars out there, I [H.S. Townsend] cannot find them now [in 1898]. There Dodge stopped and waited for regulars. Thirty yards ahead was another pond of water.

"The regulars came; we were on the run. Ran half a mile. An order came to hold on, and not break ranks. Dodge said, 'Tell Atkinson I'll not obey his order.' We cheered and rushed on. We had old men wiht us. It was a tremendous hot day.

p. 196: "Three squaws were shot on that race: they were naked."

p. 196: "We heard a man talking loud and plain on the bluff. It was Black Hawk*** delivering a lecture to his people."

"***No, Black Hawk was not involved in the massacre at Bad Axe. This may have been Kinnekonesaut, now the number three warrior of Black Hawk's band. He was later identified as 'the man with the loud voice.' "

p. 197: "We fired at the smoke we saw. Dodge was behind us and mad; he cursed the regulars for being so d---d slow. We killed Indians without seeing them. We lost five or six of our men."

p. 197: "Those not killed got into the river. Henry's men were below on island and killed those who flated [sic] down."

p. 203: "Zachary Taylor at last came; made a speech and ordered us to charge."

p. 204: "Was heavy fighting there. Squaws came to us holding up their arms. We pushed them back and killed none of them. We killed everything that didn't surrender."

p. 206: "On an acre of ground on this island [Battle Island] ponies were tied all over it and goods and old Indians were placed there. We passed by and did not molest them."

p. 206: "Private Townsend said, 'We have been accused of inhumanity to those Indians. It is false as hell, we never did it."

p. 207: "Steamboat Warrior came up after battle was over."

p. 215: "In this battle the whites lost 39 men killed and wounded."

p. 217: "One woman we took on board and cared for. Another woman crawled under the bank and buried herself in the sand. The first one told where the other was, after she saw we would not kill her, and we got her from the bank."

p. 217: "Surgeons operated on them [the wounded]. Men stood it manfully. No ether used then."

p. 220: "Private Townsend's reaction was that 'Black Hawk was a mean man and a coward. He brought on the war. He would have it. It did come off. He knew his men was [sic] liable to be killed. Should have stayed with them. He pretended to go to the Winnebagoes, but they were with him and aided him all they could.' "

p. 245: "Indian horses sold for five or six dollars."

p. 246-8: "I [H.S. Townsend] was a soldier in the ranks. I had a brother in this fight, who had a fight with two Indians.

"Dodge in the morning early ordered Captain [Robert C.] Hoard and forty of us to make a report of dead and wounded. Hoard made a report.

"About then dinner was ready; ate in messes.

"After dinner my brother and another soldier went over the field. Started down lower end of this island [Battle Island], where Henry's men had been.

"They saw a full sack sitting on a log in water. My brother stepped on a log and over it saw two Indians. He fired at one and put a hole through him. The other, an old Indian, jumped up and hollered Woh. Hollinger fired at him and took off a finger.

"They kept firing and said he dodged the bullets. He ducked his head under water, threw his legs out and was wounded in the legs.

"They took the sack to camp.

"Atkinson ordered description and said the man was Black Hawk. Twenty men were sent and tracked him by his blood. The Indian raised up, waved his hand and said, 'White man, white man, have mercy on me.'

"We did not hurt him; gave him a pint of whiskey; he drank and soon was brave and told us, he and his son put the sack to white would get it and we could shoot them. After he got sober he told a different story. The old man died."

From The Battle of Wisconsin Heights: An Eye Witness Account of the Black Hawk War of 1832, by Crawford Beecher Thayer, Banta Co, 1983. [See notes above.]

p. 66: "Atkinson commanded at Whitewater, Alexander and Posey obeyed him; Dodge and Henry disobeyed."

p. 107: "Dodge fared no better than his men. He never had a tent. Our object was to save the country; men women and children."

p. 124: "Troops came across 2 Indians. One shot a man from behind tree. Spies killed him. There were 20 spies. Another Indian shot a man in hip, Isham Harding. We killed the Indians."

p. 133: We then came on prairie. Indians were on horses behind thicket. Our men, Maj. Ewing ahead, got off horses."

p. 136: "Indians charged them, expecting whites to retreat. We never drilled; never had time except to load and fire. The Indians came yelling. We turned our horses loose, and emptied saddles. Indians were tied on their horses so they would not fall into our hands."

p. 140: "Dodge got ahead of [General James D. of Illinois militia] Henry, going towards Wisconsin river."

p. 140: "Henry came up, was slow, and formed on our right and left."

p. 152: "We made a general charge. Indians lay in grass. We lost one man killed. Don't know number of Indians killed. No women and children there. Drove them to Wisconsin river bluffs. It was getting dark."

p. 195: "It is claimed Black Hawk wanted to surrender. It is true. Poquette, our interpreter, had gone. Black Hawk talked loud and shrill in Winnebago. No white flag. It was at night. Later he left and crossed Wisconsin river . . .

From That Disgraceful Affair, the Black Hawk War, by Cecil Eby, W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1973, pp. 250-251:

"The greatest trophy found at this camp, however, was an old Sauk so feeble that he could not rise from the ground. He told his interrogators that Black Hawk planned to cross the river in the morning. The 'maganimous volunteers,' as Lieutenant Cooke called them, amused themselves with the invalid for a time before killing him. Sixty-six years later one of the participants tersely recounted to a 'small but highly appreciative audience,' 'The query was what best to do; leave him to starve or kill him. We decided it better to kill him. Shot him.'(4) This act of mercy accomplished, they slaughtered some beeves and fried steak for supper.

"4. The speaker was H. S. Townsend, a former Dodge ranger; the occasion was the sixty-sixth anniversary of the Battle of Bad Axe celebrated at Victory, Wisconsin. Between two and three thousand people attended this historical fair which was housed in twenty tents beside the river. Shortly after Townsend's speech a pelting rain set hundreds of the audience dashing to their carriages and homes. Plans to establish a Bad Axe Battle Island Assembly Ground, to be given over to an annual eight-day session of 'historical, literary, and religious work' dissolved in rain."

From a reprint of an article published in the Warren Sentinel-Leader, Warren, Illinois, Wednesday, November 2, 1932 (reprinted in "The Townsend Genealogical Review" column in The Townsend Society Newsletter, spring, 1999, pp. 6-7):

"Halsted Townsend

"Halsted Samuel Townsend was born on April 11, 1814 in Stuben [sic] Co., N. Y., and died on June 4, 1901, at the home of a son in Maryville, Mo.

" 'Halt' Townsend, as he was familiarly called, was one of the five sons of Samuel and Sarah (Longwell) Townsend, all being men of remarkable physical and mental development, and possessed of sterling characters. Halsted and Absolem [sic] stood six feet two inches, and weighed over 225 pounds. The other sons were fully six feet tall. These sons had scanty schooling, but were self educated, avid readers, clear thinkers, fluent writers, and brilliant conversationalists.

"His mother died in 1821, when Halsted was seven years old, and his sister Susan, became the mother of the family. He ever spoke of her with the greatest respect and affection. When sixteen, in 1830, Halsted Townsend Journeyed west to his father and brothers, who had preceded him. When he arrived in the Fever River Mining District, he found great activity and new-comers arriving almost daily. Coming on foot and by any sort of conveyance, as well by boat to Galena [sic]. A regular line of steamers ran from Galena to St. Lous and return [sic]. The Government Agency at Galena exacted a ten per cent rental or toll upon all lead mined in the district. The mines at Dodgeville and Mineral Point were beyond the limits of the Galena District, and free from tolls. Halsted Townsend went to Mineral Point, Wis., and was employed at $15 per month, with board and lodging. Soon he was making $20 per month, a full wage for men.

"During the Black Hawk War, of 1832, Halsted S. Townsend served in a cavalry squadron under Colonel Henry Dodge, participating in a number of skirmishes, and in the spirited engagement known as 'The Battle of the Pecatonica,' on June 16, 1832, at a point about one mile above the village of Woodford, Wis. Of the 21 white men engaged, three were mortally and one was seriously wounded, while 17 Sacs, of Black Hawk's forces, were killed. A monument erected on the battle field has the inscription:- 'The annals of Indian warfare offer no parallel to this.'

"Halsted S. Townsend survived the conflict without an injury.

"After the Black Hawk War ended, Halsted S. Townsend returned to the mines at Mineral Point and later worked in Galena and Dubuque. He and his brother George N., established squatter rights on lands in Rush Township, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., as has been noted herein.

"In 1836, Halsted S. Townsend married Hannah Carver, of Fayette Co., Indiana, and they settled on his farm. In 1852 Jo Daviess Co., was divided into Townships, and the first township elections were held in April, 1853. Halsted Townsend was elected Township Supervisor, and held the office for a total of nine years, the succession being interrupted by his services as a member of the State Legislature in 1858 and 1859. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Illinois, and attended the first conventions of the party in Rockford and Dixon, in 1855. Halsted S. Townsend was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and well acquainted with General U. S. Grant of Galena. Townsend was on the committee of three from Jo Daviess County, which presented Gen. Grant with a sword on March 18, 1864 at Nashville, Tenn.

"Throughout the Civil War, Halsted S. Townsend supported the Union in every possible way. In 1869, he turned his farm over to his son John M. and located on Water Street, Warren, nearly opposite the school, and in the cottage Luther B. Mathews had constructed, which house is now the property of Mrs. Myra Perry. Here he remained until after Mrs. Townsend's death on Nov. 28, 1893. Her birth was on July 5, 1813.

"Halsted S. Townsend was again sent to the State Legislature in 1870. He served on the Village Board of Warren several years. His later years were devoted to his personal business, and to the settling of many estates. He was frequently consulted on legal matters. He was fond of games, such as chess, checkers, etc.

"Halsted S. and Hannah (Carver) Townsend were parents of ten children, of whom eight survived them, and three daughters are now living in 1931. All of their children, except the two youngest, became pioneers, going further west in their early years, thus keeping up the pioneering activities of the family.

"The Townsend reunion of 1930 was held at the Halsted Townsend homestead, then owned by John M. Townsend, and occupied by his son Arthur. This branch of the Townsend family has the same keen interest in reunions as has the George N. Townsend, all being knit together in loving harmony. At the 1930 reunion a bronze tablet was unveiled to the Memory of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Townsend. The tablet is quite similar in wording and construction to the tablet erected a year previously to Mr. and Mrs. G. N. Townsend."

From Warren Sentinel-Leader, June 19, 1921, found at Jo Daviess County, Illinois USGenWeb Project at http://cgi.roots.web/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Il/JoDaviessObits?read=46 :

"Stockton, ILL., June 19, 1921 [sic]

"Hon. H. S. Townsend

"Halstead S. Townsend was born at Bath, Steuben Co., New York, April 11, 1814, and died June 4, 1901 at the home of his son, Samuel Townsend, in Maryville, Missouri, aged 87 years, one month and 23 days. The funeral occurred at the Warren Presbyterian church Friday June 7, Rev. Coo of LeRoy, Ill., a universalist officiating. Internment was made in the beautiful Elmwood Cemetery in Warren.

"The descendent's [sic] father was English his mother Scotch-Irish and he came from extrodinary [sic] sturdy stock. [sic] In fact the entire family have been among the hardiest and longest lived people in Jo Daviess county.

"On May 10, 1827 the Townsend family came west from York state [sic] to Gratiot's grove, in what was then termed the Northwest territory, but which is now the state of Wisconsin. The grandfather was a solider [sic] in the Revolutionary War. The father, Samuel Townsend, was in the war of 1812. When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1832 the father and son displayed their patriotic spirit by enlisting, becoming brave and highly prized soldiers. They took part in all the battles of that cruel war and performed special deeds of daring in the battle of Pecatonica, one of the bloodiest engagements that ever occurred in the history of the northwest. There were fourteen Indians and eighteen white men in the battle and they fired at as close range as eighteen feet. It might be said here that when the family came west six hundred Indians were camped where Gratiot now is. Halstead enlisted in a cavalry regiment under command of Colonel Henry Dodge, who afterward became a general.

"H. S. Townsend at the close of the Black Hawk war became engaged in lead mining at Dubuque and on January 10, 1836 married Miss Hannah Carver of Fayetter [sic] county, Indiana. With his young bride he settled on a large farm in Rush township and successfully followed agricultural pursuits until moving to warren [sic] in 1869. Mrs. Townsend died in this city November 24, 1893 after which time the husband made his home with his son, John M., in Rush, spending winters at Kansas City with his daughter, Mrs. Charles Campbell.

"Mr. Townsend was one of the builders of Jo Daviess county and was often in offices of trust by his appreciative fellow citizens. He served as a member of the board of supervisors for twelve yers [sic] and was twice elected to the general assembly in which body succeeded in having passed measures of great public benefit. He was a valued member of that honorable body whose silent charities are its best monument - the A. F. and A. M. - and complying with his especial request his brethern [sic] of Jo Daviess lodge No. 278 conducted the last sad rites at the tomb.

"To Mr. and Mrs. Townsend were born ten children, eight of whom survive: Robert K., El Reno, Oklahoma; Edward E., Samuel H., Matilda (Mrs. Charles Hookers) and Serilda (Mrs. James Manley) of Maryville, Missouri; John M., Stockton, Illinois; Cynthia A. (Mrs. Charles Campbell) Kansas City, Missouri; Della (Mrs. Albert Osborn) Pueblo, Colorado. There also remains twenty-six grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren."

From "Biographical Sketches", from Portrait And Biographical Album Of Jo Daviess County, Illinois; 1889:

"Hon. Halstead Townsend

"This well known citizen of Warren was born near Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., April 11, 1814, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Longwell) Townsend, the former a native of Dutchess County, that State. His paternal grandfather, Eber Townsend, was a Revolutionary soldier, wounded and captured by the British at the taking of New York City, and kept some time as a prisoner. The Townsends were from England, and the Longwells from the North of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

"The subject of this notice received a good education, largely by private study, and in 1830 came to Illinois, sojourning a few months at Springfield. The next year he emigrated to Mineral Point, Wis. While in the mining regions, in 1832, the Black Hawk War broke out, and he enlisted in a cavalry squadron, under command of Colonel, who was afterward Gen. Henry dodge, and had a little taste of backwoods military life, coming out of the war safely with his scalp on. In 1833 he went to the lead mines near Galena, and devoted his time to mining until 1837. He then settled on a tract of land a few miles southwest of the present site of Warren, where he engaged in farming somewhat extensively untli 1869. He then removed into the village, and has since given his attention to money-loaning, whlie at the same time superintending his farms and looking after his other interests.

"While a resident of Rush Township Mr. Townsend held various local offices, such as Supervisor for twelve or thirteen years, School Trustee for a longer period, and School Director at sundry times. He was first chosen a member of the Legislature in 1858, and again in 1870, each time serving a single term. He was the father of the bill to increase the jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace from $100 to $200; a bill which was savagely assailed by the lawyers, but which passed and is still in force.

"Mr. Townsend is a Republican of Whig antecedents, a disciple forty years of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. He attended the first Republican State Convention held at Bloomington, in 1855, and had previously attended a district convention of the same kind at Rockford, one of the earliest ever held after the demise of the Whig party. He is a Blue Lodge Mason. In 1836 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Hannah Carver, of Fayette County, Ind., and they had a family of ten children.

"Mr. Townsend is a man of success both as regards mining and farming, also in rearing a respectable family of children and in obtaining the confidence of his neighbors and constituents, and in faithfully discharging the duties of every official trust confided in him."

From Vernon County Censor (newspaper), Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1898

(The following is quoted verbatim from the above source, except that which is in brackets; the brackets signify an undecipherable word or number)

ON THE OLD BATTLE GROUND

Anniversary of the Big Battle With Old

Black Hawk – The Celebration a Great

Success Saving Bad Weather—Story of

The War by a Participant

______

The celebration of the sixty sixth anniversary of the battle of the Bad Ax, was an affair long to be remembered. It would have been the greatest event in the county’s history but for unfavorable weather. Viroqua and this section contributed a large delegation. The events are so well covered by Dr. Porter’s notes that the Censor will not attempt any additional facts.

Editor Censor:--As arranged previously, our party arrived at Soldiers Grove, the evening of July 30, encamped among the historic pines, which gave the early name to that prosperous village, and there met Secretary Thwaites, of the State Historical society, who spoke in Opera hall to a good audience on pioneer life and the Black Hawk war. Sunday morning we started over the Black Hawk trail, as nearly as possible, for Rising Sun. We were accompanied by several carriages and reached Rising Sun just as the rain poured down. We drove on the knoll east of the Wilder log tavern, where I feel very confident Black Hawk encamped, because of the quantity of bones found there, and erected our tent. Mr. W. S. Manning and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Mrs. C. W. Baker, the pioneer settler at the "Pines" were with us. Mr. Manning is an expert at setting up a tent and we were quickly under shelter. We had a most enjoyable time that rainy afternoon and read rare books, strictly in line with our work, which Mr. Thwaites had brought along, such as Black Hawk’s autobiography, Wakefield’s history of the Sac war, etc. At night our friends returned home and we prepared to spend the night there. With Messrs. [H?]. [S?]. De La Mater and Wilkinson we visited the spring near the log tavern, where were found two skeletons in 1832. During the night we dreamed of the 400 starving disheartened wretches, whose trail, strewn with their dead, we were following.

Monday noon found us at the southwest quarter of section 12, a mile northwest of Retreat, where the old chief camped July 31, 1832. The pond that afforded him water is filled up. At this spot Mr. Townsend says the whites killed an old Indian from humane motives as he could not travel. We dined in Dr. Bean’s yard through which the trail runs. In section 36, in Wheatland, stands on Mr. Coleman’s farm a log house, the logs set upright. Very near that place Capt. Dickson’s spies killed [14?] of the Indian outpost. We visited the spot. Arrived at Battle Island Monday afternoon. Secretary Thwaites soon had the tent up and things in order. Our ladies found him an excellent cook and was anxious to aid in every way to make our trip pleasant. Born in Boston, educated at Yale, an accomplished linguist, author, traveler, botanist, one fins him a most agreeable companion. In the evening we rode up Battle Hollow and learned from Mr. Wallar that on the southeast quarter of section 3, he found a pile of old shoes and many bullets. There some of the severest fighting took place up three-fourths of a mile from the river. Next morning, on invitation of F. M. [last name indecipherable], who has made a road to "Battle Bluff," Col. Butt, Mr. Thwaites and myself visited the spot and were well repaid for so doing. Its elevation above sea level is 1,139 feet; latitude 43 27; longitude 91 42. Returning we found the grounds on the island covered with teams and people. At 10 o’clock, Hon. H. S. Townsend, of Stockton, Illinois, related his experience in the Black Hawk war. He was one of Dodge’s mounted volunteers. He is a large, fine-looking man, looks yonger than he is, and his address was listened to with much interest. Just as he closed the rain began to fall and hundreds of people left for their homes. The twenty or thirty tents were crowded. Eli Shisler gave a talk on olden times. The tent occupied by Messrs. Nichols, Dawson, Rogers and others was the auditorium. There was carried out an interesting program. Martin Loftus’ two grand children recited. Capt. Nichols, Gen. Rogers, Sec’y Thwaites and others made interesting short speeches, and there, later, Secretary Thwaites gave his lecture on the Black Hawk War." It was listened to by a small but highly appreciative audience. Packed into the little tent, the lecturere took all the time he wanted, and gave a graphic account of the causes of that war.

Some of us propose establishing on this island a Badax Battle Island Assembly ground, where annually we can go and devote the first eight days of August to historical, literary and religious work; but if we succeed in one undertaking far beyond our expectations, we can have no exercises more appropriate or impressive than the two addresses delivered on the famous battlefield on the 66th anniversary of the slaughter of hundreds of human lives here.

C.V.P.

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THE BLACK HAWK WAR

Mr. Townsend spoke of the Hall girls, taken captive by the Indians, ransomed for $200. There were 23 forts in Lead Mines, 20 to 24 men in each. Galena, head of supplies. Peoria 160 miles away. I was under Dodge. Most men we had together was 182; were riding day and night to save lives of women and children. Many wre wounded. We avoided groves; kept prairie. With 27 men Dodge went to Dixon to get help. Atkinson was in command; had 1,600 militia and 300 regulars. We got not a man. The militia was anxious to come but Atkinson said, no!

Indians attacked Apple River Fort. It was the best planned attempt Black Hawk ever made. The men mined every day; women worked gardens. Three men left Galena for Dixon; the got a mile; Indians shot [?]. At Kellogg’s grove, Black Hawk made a trap. […….]. There was a tavern and stable there, which whites used for fort. At Blue Mounds lived Geo. Fores. He gave his money to red men. He supported Wah Kow Key [?] for years. That Indian shot Fores through the heart. You there see the kindness of the Indian. Men were killed 8 miles from Galena. Whites had all they could do to keep women and children from starving. Atkinson kept all his men with him. We went to Ft. Hamilton, 4 men were killed there the day before. Apple was killed there; his head was split open and brains piled up. Indians started for Pecatonica. Our men got to them. A pond with high bank around it served for breast works. Were 15 Indians and 12 whites. Indians had Apple’s gun. They shot 3 whites; we forty feet away rushed and killed them all in one minute. Apple’s gun killed our fourth man. Dodge fared no better than his men. He never had a tent. Our object was to save the country; men women and children. New troops were raised, Henry’s, Posey’s and Alexander’s raised in Illinois. Abe Lincoln was the captain of a company. He would not go home. Abe was in the battle of Wisconsin Heights and here at the Bad Ax. (History records the fact that Lincoln left the army at Whitewater.-C V P) Atkinson commanded at Whitewater; Alexander and Posey obeyed him; Dodge and Henry disobeyed. They struck the trail and followed to Four Lakes and camped there. Dodge got ahead of Henry, going towards Wisconsin river. Troops came across 2 Indians. One shot a man from behind tree. Spies killed him. There were 20 spies. Another Indian shot a man in hip, Isham Harding. We killed the Indian. We then came on prairie, Indians were on horses behind thicket. Our men, Maj. Ewing ahead, got off horses. Indians charged them, expecting whites to retreat. We never drilled; never had time except to load and fire. The Indians came yelling. We turned our horses loose, and emptied saddles. Indians were tied on their hoses so they would not fall in our hands. Henry came up, was slow, and formed on our right and left. We made a general charge. Indians lay in grass. We lost one man killed. Don’t know number of Indians killed. No women and children there. Drove them to Wisconsin river bluffs. It was getting dusk. We found many dead Sacs on the trail to Bad Ax. Thought we killed 40. It is claimed Black Hawk wanted to surrender. It is true. Poquette, our interpreter, had gone. Black Hawk talked loud and shrill in Winnebago. No white flag. It was at night. Later he left and crossed Wisconsin river and came here. We crossed the river, followed it up, and struck Indian trail. Followed them four days, found many dead. All we found dead had been wounded. We had no baggage; no cannon. Had rifles. When we got out of the timber we were at Soldiers Grove. Nice stream; pine trees. Stayed there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Filled our horses, saddled and started. At 12 miles from here we struck bluffs and stopped. It is reported there was an Indian found there. Yes, an old man that could not rise; could talk English. Dickson talked with him. He was friendly; told where was water. The query was what was best to do; leave him to starve or kill him. We decided it better to kill him. Shoot him. (That was no doubt done near the pond one mile northeast of Retreat, and 9 miles from Battle Island, where the Sacs encamped – C. V. P.) Encamped. Started at sunrise on Aug. 2, 1832. Followed line of march made at Wisconsin river. Dodge, regulars, Henry, Posy and Alexander in the rear. Posy’s and Alexander’s brigades never got here. We started at sunrise with 20 spies ahead. First 3 or 4 miles on triail, spies struck rear guard of the enemy, which bore northward. A flight ensued; a heavy fire kept up. We left our horses. Spies and Indian outposts were on horses. We hurried to protect spies, who had orders to fight Indians till we came up. Dodge knew Dickson would do it. The fight was between 20 spies and 90 Indians, estimated from 60 to 90. Capt. Dickson in vol: 5, history, says, "There were about 40 Indians in this outpost and 14 were killed." Le Grant Sterling saw 12 skeletons on the spot in 1846 --- C V P) The spies killed 19 Indians before we got to the river. We used flint lock muskets and ounce balls, and 3 buck shot. We lost one man, haines, shot through the back, but he lived. We followed the spies. We got ahead of the regulars. We supported our spies. Atkinson sent Dodge an order to stop. We obeyed. Dodge was roaring mad. The regulars came; we were on the run. Ran half a mile. An order came to hold on, and not break ranks. Dodge said, "Tell Atkinson I’ll not obey his order." We cheered and rushed on. We had old men with us. It was a tremendous hot day. We heard a man talking loud and plain on the bluff. It was Black Hawk delivering a lecture to his people. Then 14 Indians rode off up the river. Dickson sent 8 spies to watch them. With 10 men Dickson continued the chase, depending on the army for support. Black Hawk was a mean man and a coward. He brought on the war. He would have it. It did come off. He knew his men was liable to be killed. Should have stayed with them. He pretended to go to the Winabagoes, but they wer with him and aided him all they could. Our spies got to the river and fired. Only Rittenhouse was left standing. Indians had shot down the rest. We rushed past them and did not stop to see to their injuries for we were after Indians. They went ¾ of a mile below here. Abadiah Rittenhouse, a spy, had a ball through his whiskers and one through the rim of his hat. He was dazed and wild after that. A squaw with a child on her back was near him. He said, "See me kill that d-----n squaw." He killed the squaw and the bullet broke the child’s arm. When we came up the child was gnawing a horse bone. On an acre of ground on this island, ponies were tied all over it and goods and old Indians were placed there. We passed by and did not molest them. After the battle we took them and baggage to Rock Island. Three squaws were shot on that race; they were naked. One woman we took on the boat and cared for. Another woman crawled under the bank and buried herself in the sand. The first one told where the other was, after she saw we would not kill her, and we got her from the bank. "We have been accused of inhumanity to those Indians. It is false as hell, we never did it. With Henry’s men we killed in three-fourths of a mile, 82 Indians. We lost three men. Indians were thick there. We pursued. The shot to [sic] high. We found bullets thirty feet high in trees. If they had fired low they would have killed many. There were three willow bars out there. I cannot find them now. There Dodge stopped and waited for regulars. Thirty yards ahead was another pond of water. We fired at the smoke we saw. Dodge was behind us and mad; he cursed the regulars for being so d ---- d slow. We killed Indians without seeing them. We lost five or six of our men. Zachary Taylor at last came; made a speech and ordered us to charge. Was heavy fighting there. Squaws came to us holding up their arms. We pushed them back and killed none of them. We killed everything that didn’t surrender. Those not killed got in the river. Henry’s men were below on island and killed those who floated down. In this battle the whites lost 32 men killed and wounded. Surgeons operated on them. Men stood it manfully. No ether used then. Indian horses sold for five or six dollars. Steamboat warrior came up after battle was over. I was a soldier in the ranks. I had a brother in this fight, who had a fight with two Indians. Dodge in the morning early ordered Captain Hoard and forty of us to make report of dead and wounded. Hoard made a report. About then dinner was ready; ate in messes. After dinner my brother and another soldier went over the field. Started down lower end of this island, where Henry’s men had been. They saw a full sack sitting on a log in water. My brother stepped on a log and over it saw two Indians. He fired at one and put a hole through him. The other, an old Indian, jumped up and hollered Who. Hollinger fired at him and took off a finger. They kept firing and said he dodged the bullets. He ducked his head under water, threw his legs out and was wounded in the legs. They took the sack to camp. Atkinson ordered description and said the man was Black Hawk. Twenty men were sent and tracked him by his blood. The Indian raised up, waved his hand and said, "White man, white man, have mercy on me." We did not hurt him; gave him a pint of whiskey; he drank and soon was brave and told us, he and his son put the sack to whites would get it and we could shot them. After he got sober he told a different story. The old man died. "I come here not for applause, but hink you ought to erect a monument to the 39 brave men killed and wounded here. Three battles were fought in Wisconsin and no monument has been erected to our men who fell. Your legislature will grant you the money. Erect a monument on yonder bluff where I see the stars and stripes flying, and I will come back here, if spared, to its dedication."

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[Note: The newspaper that this is taken from was very difficult to read; some words or letters could not be made out at all; it also appears that some of the punctuation may be missing, as there is at least one spot each of a missing parenthesis and a missing quotation mark; it also appears from the early part of the report and from the way H. S. Townsend’s speech is recorded that this may be mostly notes of the speech rather than direct quotes.]