Amos Townsend

Amos Townsend (1821 – March 17, 1895) was a 19th–century American businessman and politician who served three terms as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1877 to 1883.

Biography Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Townsend attended the common schools of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and clerked in a store in Pittsburgh. He moved to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1839 and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as United States marshal during the Kansas troubles.

Early political career He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1858 and engaged in the wholesale grocery business. He served as member of the Cleveland City Council from 1866 to 1876, serving as president for seven years. He served as member of the State constitutional convention in 1873.

Congress Townsend was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883). He served as chairman of the Committee on Railways and Canals (Forty-seventh Congress).

He declined renomination. He served as member of a wholesale foodpacking firm.

Death and burial He died while on a visit to St. Augustine, Florida, March 17, 1895. He was interred in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.