Rev. Lewis Franklin Townsend 1875-1934
Lewis Franklin Townsend, first child of Horatio G. and Annie Young Townsend, was born near David City, Butler County, Nebraska on September 22, 1875. He was born on the homestead, in a cave where the young couple was living. Later they moved into a sod house which was still later destroyed by a storm. His boyhood was spent in that county. On February 23, 1899 he married Julia Mae Howard, in Benedict, Nebraska. The marriage was short-lived as Julia died June 24, 1900. She was buried in Millerton, Nebraska
The following fall, Lewis entered the Christian Ministry and enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan Academy. In the spring of 1907 he received his degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and entered Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey for his seminary education.
On March, 28 1906, Lewis and Rose Maud Smith were married at the home of Horatio and Annie Townsend in University Place, Lincoln, Nebraska. Chancellor D.W.C. Huntington performed the ceremony. Rose Maud was born in 1882 in Rising City, Nebraska. To this union were born three sons; Howard Wesley, Warren Terry and Robert Lewis.
Lewis served pastorates in Stony Brook, Long Island, New York (while a seminary student), in Davey and Eagle, Greenwood, and Weeping Water, Nebraska. In 1913 he was called to the directorship of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
In 1918 Lewis returned to Nebraska and served McCabe Church, Omaha and Methodist churches in Seward, Wayne, Chadron, Grand Island and Fairbury, Nebraska.
Nebraska Wesleyan University bestowed upon Lewis the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Commencement in June 1931.
Lewis served on the Nebraska Conference Board of Ministerial Training and became Chairman of that body for several years.
Lewis died at the early age of fifty-nine years. His death occurred in the parsonage at Fairbury, Nebraska after a brief illness, on Saturday, November 3, 1934. Lewis was buried in Lincoln, Nebraska in Wyuka Cemetery, the same cemetery and lot as his first wife, Julia M. Howard; his mother, Annie Lois Young and his Aunt Emma Townsend.
Rose Maud followed Lewis in death on March 18, 1938 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was also buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Contributor: Nancy L. Townsend Buchan
The following fall, Lewis entered the Christian Ministry and enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan Academy. In the spring of 1907 he received his degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and entered Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey for his seminary education.
On March, 28 1906, Lewis and Rose Maud Smith were married at the home of Horatio and Annie Townsend in University Place, Lincoln, Nebraska. Chancellor D.W.C. Huntington performed the ceremony. Rose Maud was born in 1882 in Rising City, Nebraska. To this union were born three sons; Howard Wesley, Warren Terry and Robert Lewis.
Lewis served pastorates in Stony Brook, Long Island, New York (while a seminary student), in Davey and Eagle, Greenwood, and Weeping Water, Nebraska. In 1913 he was called to the directorship of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
In 1918 Lewis returned to Nebraska and served McCabe Church, Omaha and Methodist churches in Seward, Wayne, Chadron, Grand Island and Fairbury, Nebraska.
Nebraska Wesleyan University bestowed upon Lewis the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Commencement in June 1931.
Lewis served on the Nebraska Conference Board of Ministerial Training and became Chairman of that body for several years.
Lewis died at the early age of fifty-nine years. His death occurred in the parsonage at Fairbury, Nebraska after a brief illness, on Saturday, November 3, 1934. Lewis was buried in Lincoln, Nebraska in Wyuka Cemetery, the same cemetery and lot as his first wife, Julia M. Howard; his mother, Annie Lois Young and his Aunt Emma Townsend.
Rose Maud followed Lewis in death on March 18, 1938 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was also buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Contributor: Nancy L. Townsend Buchan
Date & Place:
Not specified or unknown.
