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John Selby Townsend (August 24, 1824 – April 23, 1892) was an American judge and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
John Selby Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| In office December 6, 1852 – December 3, 1854 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 24, 1824 Morganfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | April 23, 1892 (aged 67) Albia, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Judge and politician |
Townsend was born on August 24, 1824, in Morganfield, Kentucky to James Townsend a planter and large slaveowner.[1] When Townsend was age four, his father freed all his slaves and moved with his family to Indiana.[1] Townsend studied at Asbury University (now DePauw University) and, subsequently, taught himself law, passing the bar exam in Monroe County, Iowa.[1]
In 1851, Townsend was elected the county attorney of Monroe County.[1] In 1852 he was elected to the Iowa General Assembly, sitting in the House of Representatives from December 6, 1852, to December 3, 1854.[1][2][3] From 1853 to 1863 he served as a district court judge, before going into private practice with Theodore Bolivar Perry, who had previously read law under him.[2][1] He retired in 1883.[1]
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