May 1, arrived in Avon , Ohio. Stayed with Father's
brother, Isaac.
Father, Joel, purchased 150 acres in section 22,
Avon, Ohio
1834
11 April, Norton bought 25 acres adjoining the land of
his father.
1830's
The Townshends installed tile drains under all their
fields. The first farmers to do so in Avon.
The Townshends continued to buy land until they had over
300 acres.
1836
16, Nov. He became a naturalized citizen of the
U.S. with father, Joel.
1837
Began the Study of Medicine with Dr. Richard Howard
in Elyria, Ohio.
December, went to study at the Cincinnati Medical
College. He became very interested in the antislavery
movement. He developed a friendship with Salmon P. Chase.
1839
Enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons
in New York City.
1840
He received his M.D. degree. He wanted to continue
his studies in Europe. He went first to Paris to take
courses there. After completing his studies there,
he went on to Edinburgh, Scotland, to study
at the Edinburgh Medical School.
1841
He returned to Avon to begin his practice.
His training far exceeded his needs for a country doctor.
1843
He married Harriet N. Wood, his long time neighbor.
They were to have three children, Mary, James and Arthur.
Arthur died at age four.
Norton S. Townshend, M.D.
1844
He took over the practice of Dr. Howard in Elyria.
He kept his farm, but moved his family to Elyria.
1845
At age 29 he was appointed a trustee of Oberlin
College in Oberlin, Ohio. Interested in establishing a
school of Agriculture.
1848
Won a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives,
a member of the Free Soil Party.
1850
Became a U. S. Congressman in the 32nd Congress.
Fought against slavery, asked Congress to repeal
Fugitive Slave Act.
1853
Lost his seat due to "gerry mandering" of his
district.
Returned home, ran for the Ohio Senate, won.
He was a Free Soil candidate.
1854
24 January, his wife, Harriet, died from
tuberculosis. Late in that year he married Margaret Bailey.
She was a great supporter of his views. They were to have
three more children. They were Arthur, Alice, and Harriet.
In the Senate he opposed extension of slavery, opposed capital
punishment. He supported prohibitory liquor laws, proposed
amending the Ohio Constitution to give women equal rights
with men in holding property and disposing of same. He
supported granting of elective franchise to
"colored citizens."
He proposed an "asylum" devoted to training
imbecile youth. This was finally acted upon by the
General Assembly in 1857. He was appointed to the first
board of trustees. He held this post until 1878
Townshend's term in the Ohio Senate ended his
elected political life. It did not end his political activity,
or his relationship with Salmon P. Chase. He returned to his
farm in Avon. He closed his office in Elyria and sold the
property. His first love called to him, and he began to
farm again in Avon.
The theme of Townshend's speeches and writings, was for the
farmers to engage in "intellectual improvement".
He began a series of lectures and published a bulletin
announcing plans for the Ohio Agricultural College at Oberlin
College, Oberlin, Ohio. It was proposed to be open in the
winter months when farmers and or sons could attend.
Farm of Dr. Norton S. Townshend
1874 Avon property map showing the farm of Dr. Norton S. Townshend.
School transferred to Cleveland , Ohio. Noted
Dr. Jared P. Kirkland was added to the faculty. Dr. Townshend
tried to get funding for the college from the Ohio legislature,
when this failed, the school was closed.
1857
He resigned from the Board of Trustees of
Oberlin College.
1858
He was elected to the State Board of Agriculture.
1859
Elected president of the above board. He focused
on many things, especially the use of under-tiles to drain
farm lands. These tiles were laid below plow depth to drain
excess water.
1862
Morrell Act of 1862 {Land Grant -College Act}
passed the U.S. Congress. This act provided lands for the
establishment of agricultural schools.
1863
Civil War -- Although he was already 49 years old,
he accepted a commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the
Union Army. He was a medical inspector inspecting hospitals,
troops, and camps throughout the country. He served until
October, 1865.
1868
He was elected to serve again on the Ohio State
Board of Agriculture. Townshend began working with the Ohio
legislature to establish an agriculture college.
1870
Reuben Cannon introduced a bill to establish
the Ohio Agriculture and Mechanical College. It passed
both houses without opposition.
Gov. Rutherford Hayes appointed Townshend to serve from the 14th
district on the first board of trustees.
It was a six year term.
Oct. 13, 1870 The Board selected the Neil farm in Franklin Co.
to be the location of the college. Townshend became chairman
of the Executive Committee of the College.
1873
First Professor of Agriculture at the Ohio
Agriculture and Mechanical College.
1878
May -- General Assembly of Ohio voted to change the
name of the school to OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY; thus Norton S.
Townshend, M.D. is also a founder of The Ohio State University.
1884
Sent to England by the Unversity to study
veterinary and agricultural schools there.
1892
First faculty member to be elected Professor Emeritus.
1895
He wanted to retire and return to his Avon farm,
but a brief illness in July took his life on July 13, 1895.
After a funeral in Columbus, he was returned for burial in
Avon's Mound Cemetery [corner of SR-83 and SR-254].
1898
January 12, 1898 -- the new agriculture building on
Ohio State's campus, is named to Honor Dr. Townshend,
Townshend Hall. In 2000 the Hall remains Townshend
Hall but is home to the School of Psychology.
1909
A bronze plaque, purchased through contributios
of alumni and students of the college of Agriculture,
was placed in the entrance to Townshend Hall. It read "To the
memory of Norton S. Townshend 1815-1895. Beloved Physician,
Friend of the Cause of Freedom, Wise Law Maker, one of the
founders of the University and its First Professor of
Agriculture, the students of Agriculture and Veterinary
Medicine have placed this tablet 1909."
Reference: Norton S. Townshend, M.D.
by Dr. Robert W. McCormick
Worthington, Ohio
Available: Western Reserve Historical Society Library,
Cleveland, Ohio
A historical marker, honoring Dr. Norton S. Townshend,
will be dedicated on Sunday, May 6, 2001, 2 pm, at the gazebo
at the corner of Detroit Rd. (SR-254) and Stoney Ridge Rd.,
across from the Old Town Hall of 1871. You are invited.
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