Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Townsend's of Watauga
The Townsend Family of Watauga area of North Carolina have been living in the Clark's Creek, Dutch Creek and Banner Elk areas since the late 1830's. Not much has been mentioned in local history about the family but the development of the communities, churches and schools would not have been so successful without their involvement. The first mill in the Valle Crucis area was built by Andrew Jackson Townsend. The first Seven Day Advent Church was founded by Larkin Townsend and neighbors. He donated the land for the first church to be built on Dutch Creek. Without the labor of many of the Townsend's the Mission School, Highway 194 and the Linville/Boone Railway may not have occurred. The family has branched out in the past 170 some years. Descendants of the original settlers now live all over the US and some in foreign countries. From the Civil war to todays war on terrorism the Townsend Family have served proudly and in some instances given their lives for the freedom we now hold so dear.
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I forgot to add that the Townsend Family built the Lutheran Church on Clarks Creek. Levi Townsend and family donated the first land for the church on Townsend's Mountain. as the church became old and outdated a newer church was built with rock siding. This the the present day church.
ReplyDeleteThe Seven Day Advent Church divided and a new church was built on Clarks Creek. It was also replaced around 1958 with a newer church just down the road and across the creek from the old site. This congregation is verified to be the first established Seven Day Advent Churcg south of the Mason Dixon Line.
I am trying to locate some photographs of family members. Jonas & Phoebe Townsend, Alexander Townsend his son-in-law Albert Townsend, Bynum Townsend. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI would like to ask a question about the above mentioned name, Larkin Townsend. My grandpa, Arthur Monroe Townsend was a nephew to a Larkin Townsend; Larkin's brother was my grandfather's dad, Martin Luther. Is this the same Larkin or another set of Townsends?
ReplyDeleteTo jeskps, yes this is the same Townsends. There is only one set. They intermarried so many times that some of the family is ashamed of their heritage and say that they married into a different set of Townsends, but if you trace it back, two brother settled here, their children began intermarring almost immediately afterward. They really didn't have much choice, there were only so many families here to choose from.
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