* The death dates and place are tentative.
From the Wayne County Ohio Biographical sketch of Joseph Townsend, son of Levi, 1880.
"Levi and Mary (Watson) Townsend, natives of Pennsylvania, as were also the grandparents. They removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1813, and located in Harrison Co., where the grandparents died.
Levi and wife, after their marriage, remained a few years in Harrison Co., then removed to Belmont Co., residing there till 1834, when he went to Logan Co., when, after a residence of fifteen years, he returned to Harrison Co. and resided about twenty-two years; then went to Iowa, where he is still living at the advanced age of 81 years. His wife died in the spring of 1848. They had five children. Three now survive-Elizabeth, Joseph and Abner. The two deceased are Eli and William."
The Underground Railroad in Northwest Ohio
The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 17, No. 4, Oct. 1932, pp. 409-436
"In Logan county were stations at the homes of Mahlon Pickrell, Asa Williams, Levi Townsend, Silas Williams, Benjamin Staton and others, all Friends."
The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom" By Prof. Wilbur H. Siebert 1898. Page 425 under Logan County.
Ohio Archaeological And Historical Quarterly, Volume 56 , Page 80
"Besides the Stantons and Mahlon Pickrell, other friends of the slave at Pickrelltown were Asa and Silas Williams, Levi Townsend, and some who were less active."
Marie W (Damon) Hartley, who was Olive Branch (Wood) Hartley's daughter-in-law, wrote: "Olive Branch Wood born near West Liberty, Cedar Co., Iowa- Oct. 1, 1861 - Her parents were living near New Sharon, Iowa, when at the age of 16 years, she married Walter Hartley in 1878.
Olive Hartley's grandfather, Levi Townsend, had an underground railway for slaves before the Civil War. Her mother, Elizabeth Townsend Wood used to drive with him in a carriage with curtains drawn to next station.
Her father, Joseph Wood, moved to Virginia when she was about five years old as soon as the Civil War was over. Sent there by Quakers from Philadelphia to start a school for colored people. They were there for about five years and then drove back to Iowa in a carriage, settling first near Shelby and then at New Sharon. John Brown visited at the home of Joseph Wood near West Liberty, Iowa."
Information provided by Fred D, Hartley: "Olive Branch Wood, Clarence's mother, had been raised in Iowa. She was born October 8, 1861 and died in Duluth, MN, December 11, 1951. Her father, Joseph M. Wood, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, July 15, 1824, and died in Iowa in 1886. His wife was Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of Levi Townsend of southern Pennsylvania. Levi Townsend had participated in the "Underground Railway," helping to spirit slaves from the south to Canada. A family story is that Levi had several slaves hidden in his cellar at a time when Confederate armies were heading towards Gettysburg. Confederate troops searched the house and confronted young Elizabeth, the only person home at the time asking where the slaves were hidden. She professed complete ignorance on the topic even though she knew well that several slaves were hiding in the cellar at the moment. The Confederates left without the slaves and when her father, Levi, subsequently returned, he presented her with her own white china teacup and saucer in gratitude for her bravery. These are still in the family."
From the Wayne County Ohio Biographical sketch of Joseph Townsend, son of Levi, 1880.
"Levi and Mary (Watson) Townsend, natives of Pennsylvania, as were also the grandparents. They removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1813, and located in Harrison Co., where the grandparents died.
Levi and wife, after their marriage, remained a few years in Harrison Co., then removed to Belmont Co., residing there till 1834, when he went to Logan Co., when, after a residence of fifteen years, he returned to Harrison Co. and resided about twenty-two years; then went to Iowa, where he is still living at the advanced age of 81 years. His wife died in the spring of 1848. They had five children. Three now survive-Elizabeth, Joseph and Abner. The two deceased are Eli and William."
The Underground Railroad in Northwest Ohio
The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 17, No. 4, Oct. 1932, pp. 409-436
"In Logan county were stations at the homes of Mahlon Pickrell, Asa Williams, Levi Townsend, Silas Williams, Benjamin Staton and others, all Friends."
The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom" By Prof. Wilbur H. Siebert 1898. Page 425 under Logan County.
Ohio Archaeological And Historical Quarterly, Volume 56 , Page 80
"Besides the Stantons and Mahlon Pickrell, other friends of the slave at Pickrelltown were Asa and Silas Williams, Levi Townsend, and some who were less active."
Marie W (Damon) Hartley, who was Olive Branch (Wood) Hartley's daughter-in-law, wrote: "Olive Branch Wood born near West Liberty, Cedar Co., Iowa- Oct. 1, 1861 - Her parents were living near New Sharon, Iowa, when at the age of 16 years, she married Walter Hartley in 1878.
Olive Hartley's grandfather, Levi Townsend, had an underground railway for slaves before the Civil War. Her mother, Elizabeth Townsend Wood used to drive with him in a carriage with curtains drawn to next station.
Her father, Joseph Wood, moved to Virginia when she was about five years old as soon as the Civil War was over. Sent there by Quakers from Philadelphia to start a school for colored people. They were there for about five years and then drove back to Iowa in a carriage, settling first near Shelby and then at New Sharon. John Brown visited at the home of Joseph Wood near West Liberty, Iowa."
Information provided by Fred D, Hartley: "Olive Branch Wood, Clarence's mother, had been raised in Iowa. She was born October 8, 1861 and died in Duluth, MN, December 11, 1951. Her father, Joseph M. Wood, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, July 15, 1824, and died in Iowa in 1886. His wife was Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of Levi Townsend of southern Pennsylvania. Levi Townsend had participated in the "Underground Railway," helping to spirit slaves from the south to Canada. A family story is that Levi had several slaves hidden in his cellar at a time when Confederate armies were heading towards Gettysburg. Confederate troops searched the house and confronted young Elizabeth, the only person home at the time asking where the slaves were hidden. She professed complete ignorance on the topic even though she knew well that several slaves were hiding in the cellar at the moment. The Confederates left without the slaves and when her father, Levi, subsequently returned, he presented her with her own white china teacup and saucer in gratitude for her bravery. These are still in the family."
* The death dates and place are tentative.
From the Wayne County Ohio Biographical sketch of Joseph Townsend, son of Levi, 1880.
"Levi and Mary (Watson) Townsend, natives of Pennsylvania, as were also the grandparents. They removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1813, and located in Harrison Co., where the grandparents died.
Levi and wife, after their marriage, remained a few years in Harrison Co., then removed to Belmont Co., residing there till 1834, when he went to Logan Co., when, after a residence of fifteen years, he returned to Harrison Co. and resided about twenty-two years; then went to Iowa, where he is still living at the advanced age of 81 years. His wife died in the spring of 1848. They had five children. Three now survive-Elizabeth, Joseph and Abner. The two deceased are Eli and William."
The Underground Railroad in Northwest Ohio
The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 17, No. 4, Oct. 1932, pp. 409-436
"In Logan county were stations at the homes of Mahlon Pickrell, Asa Williams, Levi Townsend, Silas Williams, Benjamin Staton and others, all Friends."
The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom" By Prof. Wilbur H. Siebert 1898. Page 425 under Logan County.
Ohio Archaeological And Historical Quarterly, Volume 56 , Page 80
"Besides the Stantons and Mahlon Pickrell, other friends of the slave at Pickrelltown were Asa and Silas Williams, Levi Townsend, and some who were less active."
Marie W (Damon) Hartley, who was Olive Branch (Wood) Hartley's daughter-in-law, wrote: "Olive Branch Wood born near West Liberty, Cedar Co., Iowa- Oct. 1, 1861 - Her parents were living near New Sharon, Iowa, when at the age of 16 years, she married Walter Hartley in 1878.
Olive Hartley's grandfather, Levi Townsend, had an underground railway for slaves before the Civil War. Her mother, Elizabeth Townsend Wood used to drive with him in a carriage with curtains drawn to next station.
Her father, Joseph Wood, moved to Virginia when she was about five years old as soon as the Civil War was over. Sent there by Quakers from Philadelphia to start a school for colored people. They were there for about five years and then drove back to Iowa in a carriage, settling first near Shelby and then at New Sharon. John Brown visited at the home of Joseph Wood near West Liberty, Iowa."
Information provided by Fred D, Hartley: "Olive Branch Wood, Clarence's mother, had been raised in Iowa. She was born October 8, 1861 and died in Duluth, MN, December 11, 1951. Her father, Joseph M. Wood, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, July 15, 1824, and died in Iowa in 1886. His wife was Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of Levi Townsend of southern Pennsylvania. Levi Townsend had participated in the "Underground Railway," helping to spirit slaves from the south to Canada. A family story is that Levi had several slaves hidden in his cellar at a time when Confederate armies were heading towards Gettysburg. Confederate troops searched the house and confronted young Elizabeth, the only person home at the time asking where the slaves were hidden. She professed complete ignorance on the topic even though she knew well that several slaves were hiding in the cellar at the moment. The Confederates left without the slaves and when her father, Levi, subsequently returned, he presented her with her own white china teacup and saucer in gratitude for her bravery. These are still in the family."
From the Wayne County Ohio Biographical sketch of Joseph Townsend, son of Levi, 1880.
"Levi and Mary (Watson) Townsend, natives of Pennsylvania, as were also the grandparents. They removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1813, and located in Harrison Co., where the grandparents died.
Levi and wife, after their marriage, remained a few years in Harrison Co., then removed to Belmont Co., residing there till 1834, when he went to Logan Co., when, after a residence of fifteen years, he returned to Harrison Co. and resided about twenty-two years; then went to Iowa, where he is still living at the advanced age of 81 years. His wife died in the spring of 1848. They had five children. Three now survive-Elizabeth, Joseph and Abner. The two deceased are Eli and William."
The Underground Railroad in Northwest Ohio
The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 17, No. 4, Oct. 1932, pp. 409-436
"In Logan county were stations at the homes of Mahlon Pickrell, Asa Williams, Levi Townsend, Silas Williams, Benjamin Staton and others, all Friends."
The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom" By Prof. Wilbur H. Siebert 1898. Page 425 under Logan County.
Ohio Archaeological And Historical Quarterly, Volume 56 , Page 80
"Besides the Stantons and Mahlon Pickrell, other friends of the slave at Pickrelltown were Asa and Silas Williams, Levi Townsend, and some who were less active."
Marie W (Damon) Hartley, who was Olive Branch (Wood) Hartley's daughter-in-law, wrote: "Olive Branch Wood born near West Liberty, Cedar Co., Iowa- Oct. 1, 1861 - Her parents were living near New Sharon, Iowa, when at the age of 16 years, she married Walter Hartley in 1878.
Olive Hartley's grandfather, Levi Townsend, had an underground railway for slaves before the Civil War. Her mother, Elizabeth Townsend Wood used to drive with him in a carriage with curtains drawn to next station.
Her father, Joseph Wood, moved to Virginia when she was about five years old as soon as the Civil War was over. Sent there by Quakers from Philadelphia to start a school for colored people. They were there for about five years and then drove back to Iowa in a carriage, settling first near Shelby and then at New Sharon. John Brown visited at the home of Joseph Wood near West Liberty, Iowa."
Information provided by Fred D, Hartley: "Olive Branch Wood, Clarence's mother, had been raised in Iowa. She was born October 8, 1861 and died in Duluth, MN, December 11, 1951. Her father, Joseph M. Wood, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, July 15, 1824, and died in Iowa in 1886. His wife was Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of Levi Townsend of southern Pennsylvania. Levi Townsend had participated in the "Underground Railway," helping to spirit slaves from the south to Canada. A family story is that Levi had several slaves hidden in his cellar at a time when Confederate armies were heading towards Gettysburg. Confederate troops searched the house and confronted young Elizabeth, the only person home at the time asking where the slaves were hidden. She professed complete ignorance on the topic even though she knew well that several slaves were hiding in the cellar at the moment. The Confederates left without the slaves and when her father, Levi, subsequently returned, he presented her with her own white china teacup and saucer in gratitude for her bravery. These are still in the family."
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