William E. Townsley 1863

William E. Townsley was my Great Grandfather. Born in 1863, William E. died in Coatesville Hospital, Coatesville, Pa. on February 14, 1937, he was 74. He was buried on February 17, 1937 in Upper Octorara Presbyterian Cemetery, Sudsbury Township, Chester County, Pa. He resided in Sandy Hill, near Sadsburyville, West Caln Township, Pa. in 1937 and in Marshallton, Pa. in 1877. Occupation: Partnered with his brothers in the Traction Thrashing Outfit and then in the business of furnishing wood to Lukens Steel. Cause of death: Pneumonia, complicated by a stroke of apoplexy.


William E. Townsley, a well known resident of West Caln township, died yesterday in Coatesville hospital, where he had been a patient twenty-four days. He was in his seventy-fifth year. Death was due to pneumonia, complicated by a stroke of apoplexy. His death is the third to take place in the family within three weeks.

Mr. Townsley and his brother, James Townsley, lived together near Sandy hill, north of sadsburyville. James Townsley had been ailing for some months. Then William Townsley suffered a stroke and a few days later developed pneumonia. He was taken to Coatesville Hospital, and a few days later, on January 23, his brother, James Townsley, passed away. While he was still in the hospital his son-in-law, Benjamin F. Meredith, of Modena, also contracted pneumonia. He died on Thursday last and his funeral takes place today.

Mr. Townsley had lived in West Caln for close to sixty years, having moved to that section from the vicinity of Marshallton. When the first steam traction engines were placed on the market, he and his brothers, James and Harry, became interested, and they were the first to operate a traction threshing outfit in this part of Chester County. For years they followed the threshing business, and later they engaged in business of providing wood to the Coatesville Steel mills. They continued in that business until a few months ago, when they were forced to retire on account of ill health.

In his younger years, Mr. Townsley was very active in community affairs in Sadsburyville and vicinity. He was a member of the famous Sadsburyville Band, which was a musical institution of note a half century or more ago. At the present time only a very few members of that band survive. It traveled about the country in a very ornate bandwagon, seating thirty or forty people and carrying the elaborate array of band instruments. It was drawn by four or six horses, and its arrival in any community was considered an event. The musical instruments used by this organization are now eagerly sought by collectors.

Mr. Townsley was the last of his generation. Surviving him are two sons and four daughters: Jesse L. Townsley, of Downingtown; Mrs. Charles Johnson, of West Caln; Mrs. Benjamin F. Meredith, of Modena; William B. Townsley, of Berwyn; Mrs. James Skiles, of near Parkesburg, and Mrs. Edwin Bireley at home. Two children are deceased. His wife died ten years ago.

The funeral will take place from the Landis funeral home in this city on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. Internment will be in Upper Octorara cemetery. Coatesville Record, 2/15/1937

Ten years ago. Death touched the Townsley family for the third time in as many weeks when William E. Townsley, well known resident of West Caln, died at the age of 75. Coatesville Record. 2/14/1947.

About 1890, when William E. was 27, he married Harriet Florence Bruner, daughter of Owen M. F. Bruner and Susan Russell. Born in 1866, Harriet Florence died in 1928, she was 62. She was buried in 1928 in Upper Octorara Presbyterian Cemetery, Sudsbury Township, Chester County, Pa.1

They had the following children:
Florence Blanche (1893-1946)

William Bruner (1895-1951)

Clara Susanna (1890-?)

Jesse Leighton (1892-1976)

Ashton Talbot (G Uncle), who was born in 1900 and died on January 26, 1902, he was 2. He resided in West Caln at the time and died after four hours of spasms.

Helen Margaret (1903-1925)

Mary Ella (Great Aunt) was born on June 1, 1913. She resided in Sandy Hill, near Sadsburyville, West Caln Township, Pa. in February 1937. Before 1951, when Mary Ella was 37, she first married Ted Drapsor. Alias/AKA: Edgar Draper. Before 1946 when Mary Ella was 32, she second married Edmund M. Bireley, who resided in Sadsbury township, Pa. in January 1946.