Person:Edna Townsend (1)

Memories of Edna from Jon Maxedon, her grandson:

Townsend is an "English topographic name for someone who lived at the extremity of a village, from Middle English toun ‘village’, ‘settlement’ + ende ‘end’."

Edna's first husband, Arthur James, was killed by lightning while working on his farm, and she moved (with daughter Mary) to Chicago where her parents had purchased a boarding house on Wells Street.   Her father died shortly after, and as her mother was an invalid, most of the work fell to Edna, which apparently left her pretty bitter towards the rest of her family.  After moving back to Cass County with Bev, she taught for awhile at the old Beeson Street school across from the farm on Wilbur Hill Road. 

My dad told stories about Edna being a tomboy nicknamed "Jimmie" who rode calves as a child.  She also refused to let her boys join the Boy Scouts because she "didn't raise them to be a soldier."  I remember her more as an avid seamstress and knitter, for the bowl of lemon drops that were always in the living room, and for her love of reading.  She also had a huge collection of salt and pepper shakers in a beautiful old oak cabinet.  I still have a book she gave me when I was a little boy.

Shortly after the death of Arthur

Edna with daughter Mary Irene

Edna & Bev Maxedon with g-gchildren Sheila and Bobby Henrizi

1.   Genealogy, Family Trees and Family History Records
   Ancestry Family Trees.

   http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=43278829&pid=85