Charles Herbert Townsend 1871-1956
Charles Herbert Townsend
by John Walter Townsend, son
Charles Herbert Townsend was born in Lawrence, Mass., Nov. 6, 1871, the second son of Horatio and Annie Young Townsend. The young family of four left Mass. to homestead in the area of White Clay Nebraska, where Annie’s brother had settled. Five born children would be born there.
When he was about 15-16 years of age, Charles left his home and headed further west where he put himself up for hire. He did various jobs, until 1890 when he went to the home of Uncle Will Young, (brother of his mother, Annie) to care for his ailing grandfather Young. Charlie was about 20 years of age at this time.
Seeking higher wages, Charlie went to California to work on the redwood pipeline. Charlie drove a four-horse team up and down through the pipeline. However much he may or may not have likes the job it did not make him a millionaire.
During the time of the big Arkansas River flood, Charlie went to Colorado to help rebuild the dam which was washed out. He worked for the Badey Cattle Co. as a pile driver.
Next Charlie worked as a ranch hand for the Williams and Black Ranch. This man was the first homesteader on the Nebraska Extension. Charles had a plot surveyed and settled onto his own homestead in 1903. He had a very good reputation and his neighbors were happy to have him homesteading in the area. Charles gathered quite a bit of property after homesteading and finally had better than 1,000 acres on which to run cattle.
This homestead was in the vicinity of the border town of White Clay which always been tied to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the north within the state boundaries of South Dakota. The majority of the Oglala Sioux Tribe lived on Pine Ridge reservation.
On June 4, 1905 Charlie married Nellie Mae Williams in White Clay, NE. There is nothing known about her parents or childhood, but it is assumed that she lived in the area and grew up in a similar fashion as Charlie had, on a family homestead.
They built a home on his land and together they continued to deal in livestock, and horses. At one point they hired several ranch hands, including Charlie's youngest brother, Walter.
During the early years with his bride, the two spent much of the winter months helping out at the neighbors or in town, where ever there was sickness, death or need. Usually these two were the first help to arrive and were well known for their generosity and caring. Charles and Nellie would leave their children on the ranch in the care of their Uncle Walter, or another hired hand, often for several weeks at a time.
Around 1910, Charles helped to organize the Extension Cemetery. Very few graves were dug without Charlie's assistance and until the time of his death, Charles Townsend was always a member of the Cemetery Board. Because through the years there was not always a sexton or official, Charlie was called on not only to dig the grave, but also to council and to sing or speak words at the time of the burial.
Charlie was also called on frequently by the local and county law enforcement officers, to give his opinion and judgment of a situation. His word was rarely disputed by anyone.
Charlie was also a school board member in the early days for the Extension School.
When one of the early telephone companies needed a place to set up a center, they were directed to Charles Townsend's home and soon 3 different companies operated from his home. Charlie continued to run the ranch until he turned it over to his daughter Nora and her husband, Walter Stout in 1952-53.
Charlie was always a very active man and even after his 72nd birthday, he still rode his saddle horse daily. As a young to middle age man, he was very slight in stature.
He stood only 5'5" and usually weighed about 120-125 pounds. Charlie had dark brown hair and carried the Indian name of, "Little Man on the Big Horse". Charlie had a preference for large horses.
Charles Herbert Townsend had no military service.
Charles and his wife, Nellie were blessed with five children, although only three lived beyond infancy. Their son John Walter was the oldest and two daughters May and Nora followed. Charlie did not give them middle/second names intending that Townsend would become their middle name after their marriages.
by John Walter Townsend, son
Charles Herbert Townsend was born in Lawrence, Mass., Nov. 6, 1871, the second son of Horatio and Annie Young Townsend. The young family of four left Mass. to homestead in the area of White Clay Nebraska, where Annie’s brother had settled. Five born children would be born there.
When he was about 15-16 years of age, Charles left his home and headed further west where he put himself up for hire. He did various jobs, until 1890 when he went to the home of Uncle Will Young, (brother of his mother, Annie) to care for his ailing grandfather Young. Charlie was about 20 years of age at this time.
Seeking higher wages, Charlie went to California to work on the redwood pipeline. Charlie drove a four-horse team up and down through the pipeline. However much he may or may not have likes the job it did not make him a millionaire.
During the time of the big Arkansas River flood, Charlie went to Colorado to help rebuild the dam which was washed out. He worked for the Badey Cattle Co. as a pile driver.
Next Charlie worked as a ranch hand for the Williams and Black Ranch. This man was the first homesteader on the Nebraska Extension. Charles had a plot surveyed and settled onto his own homestead in 1903. He had a very good reputation and his neighbors were happy to have him homesteading in the area. Charles gathered quite a bit of property after homesteading and finally had better than 1,000 acres on which to run cattle.
This homestead was in the vicinity of the border town of White Clay which always been tied to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the north within the state boundaries of South Dakota. The majority of the Oglala Sioux Tribe lived on Pine Ridge reservation.
On June 4, 1905 Charlie married Nellie Mae Williams in White Clay, NE. There is nothing known about her parents or childhood, but it is assumed that she lived in the area and grew up in a similar fashion as Charlie had, on a family homestead.
They built a home on his land and together they continued to deal in livestock, and horses. At one point they hired several ranch hands, including Charlie's youngest brother, Walter.
During the early years with his bride, the two spent much of the winter months helping out at the neighbors or in town, where ever there was sickness, death or need. Usually these two were the first help to arrive and were well known for their generosity and caring. Charles and Nellie would leave their children on the ranch in the care of their Uncle Walter, or another hired hand, often for several weeks at a time.
Around 1910, Charles helped to organize the Extension Cemetery. Very few graves were dug without Charlie's assistance and until the time of his death, Charles Townsend was always a member of the Cemetery Board. Because through the years there was not always a sexton or official, Charlie was called on not only to dig the grave, but also to council and to sing or speak words at the time of the burial.
Charlie was also called on frequently by the local and county law enforcement officers, to give his opinion and judgment of a situation. His word was rarely disputed by anyone.
Charlie was also a school board member in the early days for the Extension School.
When one of the early telephone companies needed a place to set up a center, they were directed to Charles Townsend's home and soon 3 different companies operated from his home. Charlie continued to run the ranch until he turned it over to his daughter Nora and her husband, Walter Stout in 1952-53.
Charlie was always a very active man and even after his 72nd birthday, he still rode his saddle horse daily. As a young to middle age man, he was very slight in stature.
He stood only 5'5" and usually weighed about 120-125 pounds. Charlie had dark brown hair and carried the Indian name of, "Little Man on the Big Horse". Charlie had a preference for large horses.
Charles Herbert Townsend had no military service.
Charles and his wife, Nellie were blessed with five children, although only three lived beyond infancy. Their son John Walter was the oldest and two daughters May and Nora followed. Charlie did not give them middle/second names intending that Townsend would become their middle name after their marriages.
Date & Place:
at White Clay, Nebraska in their homestead home
