Martin Badgley Townsend

     Martin Badgley was born on Wednesday, 6 January 1836 in West Somerset, Niagara County, New York. Martin married Emily Melissa Stocking on 8 December 1858 in Unadilla Township, Livingston County, Michigan. 4 June 1860, the U.S. Federal Census listed Martin, living in the home of his parents. Enumerated in this household were Samuel Townsend [61 New York], his wife: Asemath [61 New York], children: Lydia [28 New York], Martin B. [24 New York], Robert J. [22 Michigan], Martin's wife, Melissa [22 Michigan], granddaughter, Flora [9/12 Michigan], Maria Barber [12 Michigan], & Samuel Crafts [6 Michigan]. His property was valued at $5,000 and his personal property at $1,000.² 12 June 1880, Martin and his wife, Emily, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in White Oaks Township, Ingham County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were Martin B. Townsend [44 Michigan], Emaly [43 New York], Adell [18 Michigan], George M. [16 Michigan], Ned [12 Michigan], Asneth [10 Michigan] & Phila [8 Michigan]. Emily has a lung disease.³ Martin departed this life on Tuesday, 24 April 1883 in Stockbridge Township, Ingham County, Michigan, at age 47 years, 3 months and 18 days.

Obit - Died at his home in Stockbridge, on April 24, 1883, of neuralgia of the heart, Mr. Martin B. Townsend, who was born in Niagara County, N. Y. , January 8, 1830. In June following his parents moved to Michigan and settled in Unadilla. Deceased lived with his parents several years after his marriage, working his father's farm. Finally the old home was sold and Mr. T. moved with his family to a new farm in White Oak, where he filled the office of justice of the peace for several years, also other town offices very creditably. Finally sickness in his family and rheumatism in his shoulder compelled him to sell his new farm in White Oak and buy a smaller one in Stockbridge, the farm on which he died. Sickness of his wife compelled him to spend the most of his time in the house, so that his farm work was weeks before his death he met sad accident. He and his son were at work in the woods when in felling a tree, he attempted to get out of the way, and in so doing fell and fractured his left leg above the angle. This however, was doing well p to the night of April 24. He was then helped up to attend a call of nature, when he fell on the floor dead. Thus died a good, quiet, peaceful citizen , a good husband and kind father. He leaves an invalid wife and a large family of children, some of whom are married and a large circle of friends and neighbors to mourn his loss. The Funeral was held at Plainfield , on Friday last. [Ingahm County Democrat 5-8-1883]⁴

He was buried at Unadilla Township, Livingston County, Michigan, in the Plainfield Village Cemetery.^5,6