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Leading
Events in Johnson County, Iowa T TIMOTHY WESLEY TOWNSEND submitted by Dick Barton
Having as a heritage the sturdiness of his pioneer parents, Mr. T. W. Townsend not only became a leader in his chosen profession of photography but his entire life was in accordance with the influence and benediction of his early Christian home. He was one of the pioneers in the development of the photographic art. It was in the days of collodions, silver baths and "wet plates," used in the early stages of photography, accompanied with experiments and many difficulties. The process was in great contrast to the present day accomplishment of highly sensitive dry plates. If the operator could induce his subject to submit to having his head surrounded and supported by iron prongs, called a "head rest," and remain perfectly motionless for two or three minutes he might he able to produce a life like image on the glass plate. To photograph the baby was indeed a wonderful accomplishment and once in a while a photographer would acquire a special distinction or reputation by his success in making baby pictures. The operator usually supplied himself with an assortment of tin whistles, bells, jumping jacks and other devices which might help attract the baby's attention and then if by a series of bodily contortions and facial grimaces and every other gymnastic or circus performance that could be thought of, he could so hypnotize or astonish the baby that it would remain perfectly motionless for thirty or sixty seconds he might be able to accomplish the miracle. By the present advancement of the art it is possible not only to photograph the baby either with its tear or smile in the fractional part of a second, but to make a perfect record of the speeding train or flying bullet. It may be said that it was by the patient efforts and experiments of men like Mr. Townsend that the wonderful achievements in the photographic art have been made possible. T. W. Townsend was born April 11, 1844 , at Frederick Grove, King's county, Ohio . His parents, James and Susannah ( Rogers ) Townsend, were both natives of Ohio and were strong abolitionists and deeply in sympathy with the cause of the African slave. Their Ohio home was one of the stations on what was known as the " Underground Road ," over which the escaping negro was conducted on his way to freedom in Canada . After leaving Ohio and coming to Iowa their pioneer home in that state was one of the stopping places for John Brown and his men. They were kind and generous hearted people and highly esteemed by all who knew them. Our subject was twenty years of age when he first engaged in the photographic business at West Liberty , Iowa . Later he established the Townsend Studios at Iowa City and Des Moines , Iowa , which he conducted very successfully for many years. Mr. Townsend was married January 4, 1866 , at Muscatine , Iowa , to Miss Anna Coover, daughter of Isaac and Anna Wilhelmina Coover, both natives of Ohio . To them were born two sons: Alva Coover Townsend, born in Iowa City , January 25, 1872 , residence in Lincoln , Neb. Charles Fremont Townsend, born in Iowa City , July 1, 1874 , residence in Des Moines , Iowa . Both sons are engaged in the photographic art. Born of Quaker parentage who were devout members of the Friend's Church, our subject later in life became associated with the M. E. church.
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