Townsend, Joseph Brevitt, 1821-1896

Joseph Brevitt Townsend (1821-1896), a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, to Joseph and Sarah (Hickman) Townsend. The son of a saddler, Joseph Brevitt was educated mainly at the well-respected Bolmar's Academy in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Upon completion of his schooling, he apprenticed with prominent Philadelphia lawyer Eli Kirk Price. J.B. Townsend passed the bar in 1842 at the age of twenty-one. His private legal practice focused on real estate and wills, but he was also involved in commercial and insurance law and acted as a legal consultant for several commercial, insurance, and trust companies. Townsend practiced law in Philadelphia for the duration of his career. His first office was located at 813 Arch Street, and then moved to 709 Walnut Street. After many years of legal service, the University of Pennsylvania conveyed upon him an honorary degree of Doctor of the Laws in 1895.

In addition to a successful legal career, Joseph Brevitt Townsend was involved in the management of many other institutions in the city. For four and a half years, he was a member of the Board of Guardians for the Poor. From 1869 until his death in 1896, he was the manager of The Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, and acted as director of the Hospital for a period. Beginning in 1879, he was on the Board of Trustees of the Jefferson Medical College, and he was the president of the institution at the time of his death. He was also the chancellor of the Law Association of Philadelphia and one of the managers of the Western Savings Fund Society of Philadelphia. The only social club he ever belonged to was the Union Club, which evolved into the Union League. He was a founding member of this club, and was among the first elected directors in 1864, and he was vice-president in 1892.

Joseph Brevitt Townsend was married twice. His first marriage, to Mary E. Price, lasted only nine years, ended by Mary's death in 1856. J.B. and Mary Townsend had three children: Edward Shippen Burd (b. 1849 - d. 1851); James Price (b. 1851 - d. 1900); and Eleanor Holliday (b. 1853 - d. 1894). Three years after Mary's death Townsend married Adaline (Ada) E. Barton. J.B. and Ada had three children: Joseph Brevitt, Jr. (b. 1861); John Barton (b. 1865); and Charles Cooper (b. 1867 - d. 1914). Although Joseph Brevitt Townsend worked in Philadelphia, he and his family lived in the suburb of Overbrook.

The four Townsend sons who survived into adulthood entered the law profession, and worked with their father at certain points in their careers. J.B. Townsend, Jr. graduated from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1884, and was admitted to the bar in that same year. He then went into practice with his father, and they worked together until the death of J.B. Townsend, Sr. in 1896. In addition to his legal practice, Joseph Brevitt, Jr. was the solicitor for the Western Saving Fund Society of Philadelphia, and the director of both the Provident Trust Company, and the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Philadelphia. After the death of his father, Joseph Brevitt, Jr., was joined in his legal practice by his brothers James Price and Charles Cooper . The three brothers maintained their father's practice under the name Townsend, Elliot & Townsend. A fourth son, John Barton, pursued the study of law in his father's law office after he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1884. In 1885 he became a clerk for the Provident Life and Trust Company. He remained with this company for the duration of his career, eventually becoming vice-president.

Eli Kirk Price (July 20 1797 - November 15, 1884) was a prominent lawyer and law reformer of Philadelphia and handled the most important estates in the city. He specialized in equity and real property law, and mentored J.B. Townsend in such law when he was preparing to enter the bar. In 1828 Eli Price, a Quaker, married fellow Friend Anna Embree and they had three children. He served in the State Senate from 1854 to 1856 and in these years was involved in the passage of legislation that allowed for Philadelphia's growth. He was also instrumental in city improvement projects such as the creation of Fairmount Park in 1867. As a legal reformer, Eli K. Price focused on revising conveyance laws, particularly to protect women's property rights in marriage.

T.L. Montgomery. Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, Vol. 14. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914. Chronicle of the Union League of Philadelphia, 1862-1902. Philadelphia: Union League, 1902.

From the guide to the Joseph Brevitt Townsend papers, 1810-1917, 1840-1896, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)