Sgt. Milton S. Townsend

Sgt. Milton S. Townsend

  Attended the Elgin Academy.

Elgin Union Grey's 

   Enlisted Aug. 8, 1861 as a private.

A Co. 36th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Three Years Service

Fox River Regiment

Steedman's Brigade

Sheridan's Division

Fourth Corps

   Mustered In at Camp Hammond in Montgomery, Ill's. Sept. 23, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Issued .577 1857 Enfield rifled musket.
   Wounded in Action at Stones River.
   Re-enlisted as a Veteran Jan. 1, 1864 at Blaine's Cross Roads, East Tenn. and paid a $300 Veterans Bounty, then sent home on 30 days Veterans Furlough Jan. 30.
   Wounded in Action in the side at Kennesaw Mt.
   Mustered Out Oct. 8, 1865 as a Sgt.

Known Actions;
Leetown, Ark.              March 7, '62
Pea Ridge, Ark.          March 8, '62
Perryville, Ky.            Oct. 8, 1862
Stones River, Tenn.     Dec. 31, 1862
Tullahoma, Tenn.       June 24, 1863
Chickamauga, Ga.     Sept. 20, 1863
Missionary Ridge, Ga. Nov. 25, 1863
New Hope Church, Ga. Nov. 27, 1863
Rocky Face Ridge, Ga. May 7, 1864
Resaca, Ga.                 May 13, 1864
Adairsville, Ga.            May 17, 1864
Kennesaw Mt., Ga.      June 27, 1864
Peachtree Creek, Ga.  July 20, 1864
Atlanta, Ga.               Aug. 13, 1864
Jonesboro, Ga.           Aug. 31, 1864

Post War;
   Moved to Elgin, Ill. 1866.
   Worked at the Watch Factory.
   Joined GAR Veteran's Post #49 Aug. 21, 1883.
   Grocer with Stowe & Townsend.

   Obit: Nov. 26, 1915 issue The Elgin Daily News.
   Death has claimed two of Elgin's oldest and best known watch workers--Joseph A. Mark, 117 Washburne street, and Wilton S. Townsend, 140 South Liberty street.
   Mr. Townsend died at his home at 5:33 o'clock yesterday morning.   He had been ill for the last eleven days.  He was 73 years of age.
   Both men were prominent Elgin citizens having resided here for years.  Mr. Mark had been employed at the Elgin National watch factory for forty-seven years, while Mr. Townsend was employed at the big factory for twenty years.
   Milton S. Townsend was born in Dundee, N.Y., July 11, 1842.  He came to this state in 1844, settling on a farm in Barrington Center.  When he was 19 years of age he joined Company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteers serving four and one-half years.
   At the close of the war he came to Elgin and engaged in the grocery business with the firm of Stowe and Townsend.  Later the business was sold to T.F. Swan and Mr. Townsend went to watch making, being employed in the Elgin factory, working there twenty years.  He retired from work seven years ago.
   Mr Townsend was married to Jennie C. Lessenden.  Two children were born to this union, Howard E. Townsend and Mrs. Charles A. Soper, both of Elgin.
   Mr. Townsend was an active member of Veteran Post No. 49, G.A.R.
   The funeral services will be held from the late home at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  Services at Bluff City cemetery will be in Charge of members of Veteran Post No. 49.

   Buried at Bluff City Cemetery (Lot 141, Block 12) in Elgin, Ill.

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.