Benjamin F. Townsend, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, October 11, 1818. In 1819, his father settled on a farm in Cooper county, Missouri. He attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home, and his education is only such as they afforded. The school houses at that early day were of a very rude and primitive kind, and the building in which our subject attended school was made of unhewn logs, one of which was removed from either side and the apertures covered with greased paper to admit the light. The floor was the naked ground. In 1836, Mr. Townsend was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store at Jonesboro, the then county seat of Saline, where court was held in a log cabin, one apartment of which was used as a stable. In 1847, he opened a dry goods store in Arrow Rock, and has been engaged in that business continuously nearly thirty-five years. During this long period he has dealt liberally, justly, charitably with his fellow-citizens, and merits their lasting gratitude. March, 1855, he was married to Elizabeth Ann Durrette, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are now living. May 22, 1867, his wife died.
