Dr. John Townsend was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His parents, who were among the first settlers of Fayette County, arrived in America from England in the late eighteenth century. Dr. Townsend received his first medical degree from Lexington Medical College and later set up successful practices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri. In 1832, he and Elizabeth Louise Schallenberger were in married in Stark County, Ohio. John and Elizabeth Townsend are most known for their pioneering expedition from Missouri to California as members of the Murphy party in 1844, only three years after the first overland journey to California. In fact, the Murphy expedition marked the first time that a party traveling with covered wagons traversed the Sierras. Cabins built in the Sierras by the Murphy party were inhabited two years later by members of the ill-fated Donner Party. Dr. Townsend quickly established himself as a prominent California resident. In 1847, he became one of San Francisco's first alcaldes a Spanish title, analogous to a mayor, which was given to the towns chief administrator of legislative and judicial affairs. Two years later, Dr. Townsend moved his family to Santa Clara County where he established his home in an adobe house 2 miles from San Jose near Coyote Creek. He bought and improved 195 acres of land in the surrounding area, including lands on the Pueblo of San Jose. Soon after this, John and Elizabeth quickly succumbed to the cholera epidemic that was sweeping California at this time and passed away in 1850 leaving behind their two year old son, John Henry Moses Townsend. In Dr. Townsend's will, Elizabeth's brother, Moses Schallenberger, was appointed executor of Townsend's sizeable estate and guardian of his only son. J.H.M. Townsend was born in San Francisco on November 26, 1848. He is thought to be the first child born in California of American parents. After John and Elizabeth's passing, he was raised by his uncle Moses and his wife Fannie. J.H.M. attended Santa Clara College and later studied at Cambridge University in London. Like his father, J.H.M. rose to prominence in Santa Clara County. In 1877, he was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He was also a California State Assemblyman from 1883-1884. J.H.M. Townsend died in 1914 at the age of 65. His eulogy, written by the Society of California Pioneers of which he was a member, can be found in this collection.
From the description of Townsend family papers, 1826-1914 (bulk 1840-1850). (San Jose Public Library). WorldCat record id: 429677531
