Townley, William

TOWNLEY

Posted By: Bobbi Hillebert (email)
Date: 2/28/2009 at 01:09:10

There was a short biography of William Townley on pages 468-469 in a book titled Monona County History published in 1890:

“William Townly Jr., an old resident of Monona County, settled in Sioux Township, on section 12, in 1870. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, February 14, 1828, and is the son of William Sr. and Esther (Dancy) Townly. His father was born in the same shire about 1789, and there in 1814, was married. He came to the United States in 1834, and engaged in farming in New York State, where he died in 1859, his wife having died in England in 1847. They had a family of seven children: Mary Ann, deceased; John, Richard, Phoebe, Samuel, William, and Michael, deceased.

“William Jr. grew to manhood in Barrington, England, and came to the United States in 1865, landing at New York City. From there he went to Utah Territory, near Echo City, where he was engaged in work on the Union Pacific Railroad. For four years he remained there after which he came back East, and for the succeeding four years was engaged in farming in Belvidere Township, this county. Being seized with the "western fever," in the spring of 1875, he returned to Utah and spent the summer in the mines about forty miles west of Salt Lake City, and then came back to Monona County, and located on the farm where he now lives and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. His place is all improved and under fence and the buildings upon it of an excellent character.

“Mr. Townly was married in England, June 3, 1850, to Miss Harriet Folks, a native of that country, who died September 19, 1865, having had no children but adopting one, Amelia Folks, born April 15, 1858, when she was but a year old. Mrs. Townly died in this country while crossing the plains to Utah. Again January 15, 1868, Mr. Townly entered into a matrimonial alliance, wedding Miss A.M. Festerson at Echo City, Utah. She is a native of Denmark, born October 18, 1835, and is the daughter of S. and Margaret Hanson Festerson. By this union has been born a family of six children; William, born November 4, 1868, died December 4, 1868; Harry, born November 29, 1869, died January 18, 1871; Joseph, born December 7, 1870; Harriet, November 8, 1872; Esther, July 10, 1874; and John W., December 27, 1876.”