JOHN B. TOWNSLEY was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 1, 1817. He was reared on a farm until eighteen, when he began carpentering, at which he worked twelve years and then came to Carroll County, this State, where, in company with his brother William, he built a saw mill and ran it ten years. The firm dissolved in 1855, William continuing alone, and John B. coming to this township and investing inland adjoining Idaville or Hannah, for which town he furnished a part of the land, and to which he has besides made two additions. He was married, November 1, 1838, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of George and Martha Miller, of Greene County. Ohio. Mrs. Townsley died June 24, 1857, aged thirty-six years, the mother of eight children, five still living Margaret H., William A., John A., James M. and Ferdinand P. December 21, 1859, Mr. Townsley married Rebecca E. Russel, of White County, who bore her husband three children-Emma C . ., Cleora and Edwin L.-and died April 10, 1865. Mr. Townsley's third marriage was on December 30, 1869, to Mrs. Nancy (Cope) Paugh, daughter of David and Charlotte Cope, and born in Jefferson County, Ind., September 14, 1821. The parents of Mr. Townsley were Thomas and Margaret (Barber) Townsley, natives respectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. They moved to Ohio when both were quite young and, after rearing a family of twelve children, died in this county.

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