San Luis Obispo County Biographies

JEFFERSON B. TOWNSEND

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


JEFFERSON B. TOWNSEND, a rancher in the upper Arroyo Grande, was born August 11,
1843, in Missouri, of Southern parents who are not now living, and was brought up on 
a farm. In 1856, when he was thirteen years of age, the entire family crossed the plains 
to California with ox teams, being live months on the road. It was the plan of Mr. 
Townsend's father to take a herd of cattle from the plains, where he could get them 
cheap, and bring them on and dispose of them as the best occasions offered, beef being 
very high at that time in this State. The party did bring 2,000 head of cattle. Sonoma 
County was reached, a place of 200 acres purchased, and the family settled there; and it 
was here that Jefferson continued his studies, attending for a time the Sonoma College, 
conducted by the Cumberland Presbyterians. From 1856 to 1867 he was at his parental 
home, and then he came to San Luis Obispo County, taking up 160 acres of land two and 
a half miles south of San Luis Obispo city, where he was engaged for eight years in fanning. 
He then spent a year in San Francisco. Returning to this county lie bought a place on the 
Corra de Piedra and worked that for eight years. He came upon his present property in 
December, 1882, which occasion was celebrated by a Christmas dinner. This ranch lies in 
the upper Arroyo Grande, between ranches Santa Manuelo and Arroyo Grande, and 
comprises 640 acres. Here Mr. Townsend is engaged in dairying and stock raising, and also 
to some extent in fruit culture, the soil being well adapted to grapes. He has 6,000 vines in 
bearing, producing both raisin and wine grapes of excellent quality. His dwelling is situated 
on the Arroyo Grande Creek, which runs through his property. The view through and around 
the splendid trees near by is especially line. 

Mr. Townsend has been married twice � first in San Francisco, April 29, 1868, and 
the second time August 9, 1888. He has four sons and two daughters. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.