Edward W. Townsend

Edward Waterman Townsend (February 10, 1855 – March 15, 1942) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913, and the 10th district from 1913 to 1915, after redistricting following the United States Census, 1910.

Edward W. Townsend
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th district
In office March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915
Preceded by	James A. Hamill
Succeeded by	Frederick R. Lehlbach
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th district
In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Richard W. Parker
Succeeded by	Robert G. Bremner
Personal details
Born	February 10, 1855 Cleveland, Ohio
Died	March 15, 1942 (aged 87) New York City, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Annie Lake ​ (m. 1884)​
Signature

Biography

Townsend was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 10, 1855, and attended private and public schools in that city. He went to San Francisco, California in 1875 and engaged in newspaper and literary work. He married Annie Lake on April 16, 1884.[1]

He moved to New York City in 1893 and continued his reportorial and literary pursuits. In 1900, he became a resident of Montclair, New Jersey.

He was an author of novels, plays, short stories, as well as a textbook on the United States Constitution. His most popular fictional writings were his "Chimmie Fadden" Bowery boy stories.[2]

United States House of Representatives

Townsend was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-second and Sixty-third Congresses, serving in office from March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1915, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress.[3]

After leaving Congress, he served as postmaster of Montclair from 1915 to 1923.[3] Townsend moved to New York City in 1924 and resumed newspaper and literary pursuits, and was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

Death

He died in New York City on March 15, 1942, and was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica, New York.[4]

References

1. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. XIV. James T. White & Company. 1910. p. 46. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Google Books.
2. (17 March 1942). E. W. TOWNSEND, 87, FAMOUS REPORTER: Author of Stories' Bringing Fame to Bowery's Mythical Chimmie Fadden Dies - BECAME A CONGRESSMAN - Postmaster in Montclair for Many Years -- Served on The Sun in Days of Dana, The New York Times
3. "Veteran Comic Artist Dies". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. New York. AP. March 17, 1942. p. 22. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Edward W. Townsend". The Spokesman-Review. New York. AP. March 17, 1942. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Works by or about Edward W. Townsend at Internet Archive
• Works by Edward W. Townsend at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
• United States Congress. "Edward W. Townsend (id: T000332)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Edward Waterman Townsend at The Political Graveyard
• Edward W. Townsend at Find a Grave