EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Townsend and family came here from England about fifty years ago. He lived for a time on the John Allen farm. This farm is now owned by J. W. McNaught, of Onarga, and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. George Eppelsheimer and family.
George Eppelsheimer is the son of George Eppelsheimer who formerly lived at Roberts, now deceased. His wife is Ruby (McNaught) daughter of J. W. McNaught.
Later Mr. Townsend bought a farm just at the east edge of Thawville. He set out a lot of fruit trees and shrubbery and had a nursery, small at first but gradually extending it. He made a success as the soil was ideal for fruit, especially strawberries. He made more off his fruit than off his grain farming. Being a lover of flowers he desired to be among them and almost any time his smiling face could be seen among the beautiful blossoms.
There was a tile factory pond at the north edge of Thawville where many of us older people had worked during our younger days. The factory had been abandoned and the pit was used only as a dumping place for the trash of the town. This became an "eye sore" and a dangerous place for boys and even men to use for sports.
Mr. Townsend thought something like this "If I had that place I could make it a beauty spot instead of a menace of the town." He did not over estimate his art. He purchased the lot and began his transformation. It soon became a spot much visited by local people. Its magnetic influence has reached out until it includes statewide attraction. The rays of attraction reach hundreds of miles. In a few cases even thousands of miles. Those readers of this paper who have visited Mr. Townsend's park will agree with us that God through Mr. Townsend has brought a little of Heaven to earth to turn people's thoughts to the beauty of an ideal character which like that little park in Thawville is made only with the help of God.
Mr. Townsend is past eight-two years old and by the fruits of his labor we know him to be a master workman. He has been a member of the Congregational Church for fifty years. During many of these years he has been in the choir. Were I to give a list of the regular attendants of the church his name would appear in the list near the first. When we have attended that church during the flowering season we could always look for the beautiful bouquets placed there by our friend of early times, Fred Townsend.
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend had three children, two daughters and one son. I well remember that little curly headed boy. How he has changed!
Phoebe Townsend married Chauncey Thrasher, son of W. J. And Luella (Skeels) Thrasher, a nephew of Miss Kate Thrasher, a teacher of mine in 1873. He also was a student at the Marston school house. He is now a banker in Thawville.
Nellie Townsend married L. Ikens of Onarga.
George Townsend married Alice Hathorn, the daughter of the former business man of Roberts. Later he was a business man in Thawville where he ran a general store of many years. In an early day he farmed the west eighty acres of what is now George Sturm's farm.
Mrs. Townsend died a few years ago. She was a very quiet and highly respected woman.
Returning to Mr. Townsend's garden. In this garden spot are many varieties of plants. Some are rare and very costly. I can not attempt to name them. Some day when you visit the park try counting the different varieties. Do not try to count the fish. Just feed them a few crackers and see how many appear. Then look over the records and see from whence the people came.
I wish that every town could have a beauty spot like Thawville has and could have a man like Mr. Townsend to attend to it. Many towns have the unsightly place but is minus the man to convert it into a beauty spot for the town. We hope Mr. Townsend many live many years yet to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Not every man, a person sees,
Can make spots beautiful with trees.
It takes much knack, or call it skill,
A place like Townsend's place to fill.
You must persist, day after day,
Pulling and tugging on the way.
When days are fair the flowers bloom,
Some in the morn, some afternoon.
Some face the sun for colors bright.
Some seek the stars at dead at night.
For joyful hues they looks above
Where e'er abideth Faith and Love.
Not in the silt where their roots grow
Do lily petals get their snow.
The clouds appear and dark days come,
Most every season will have some,
But Townsend's plan works every day,
In driving of the blues away.
It points to Him who stayed the storm
and changes darkness into morn.
His face beams joy to others please,
An outstretched hand, he'll gladly seize,
And by his grasp, we all can tell,
His wish for us, "I wish you well."
Let's thank him for the good he's done
Not just a few but everyone one.
We'll wave the flag and a good cheer,
We'll give Fred Townsend while he's here.
--Roberts Herald. 28 August 1935. Bela Foster.
George Eppelsheimer is the son of George Eppelsheimer who formerly lived at Roberts, now deceased. His wife is Ruby (McNaught) daughter of J. W. McNaught.
Later Mr. Townsend bought a farm just at the east edge of Thawville. He set out a lot of fruit trees and shrubbery and had a nursery, small at first but gradually extending it. He made a success as the soil was ideal for fruit, especially strawberries. He made more off his fruit than off his grain farming. Being a lover of flowers he desired to be among them and almost any time his smiling face could be seen among the beautiful blossoms.
There was a tile factory pond at the north edge of Thawville where many of us older people had worked during our younger days. The factory had been abandoned and the pit was used only as a dumping place for the trash of the town. This became an "eye sore" and a dangerous place for boys and even men to use for sports.
Mr. Townsend thought something like this "If I had that place I could make it a beauty spot instead of a menace of the town." He did not over estimate his art. He purchased the lot and began his transformation. It soon became a spot much visited by local people. Its magnetic influence has reached out until it includes statewide attraction. The rays of attraction reach hundreds of miles. In a few cases even thousands of miles. Those readers of this paper who have visited Mr. Townsend's park will agree with us that God through Mr. Townsend has brought a little of Heaven to earth to turn people's thoughts to the beauty of an ideal character which like that little park in Thawville is made only with the help of God.
Mr. Townsend is past eight-two years old and by the fruits of his labor we know him to be a master workman. He has been a member of the Congregational Church for fifty years. During many of these years he has been in the choir. Were I to give a list of the regular attendants of the church his name would appear in the list near the first. When we have attended that church during the flowering season we could always look for the beautiful bouquets placed there by our friend of early times, Fred Townsend.
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend had three children, two daughters and one son. I well remember that little curly headed boy. How he has changed!
Phoebe Townsend married Chauncey Thrasher, son of W. J. And Luella (Skeels) Thrasher, a nephew of Miss Kate Thrasher, a teacher of mine in 1873. He also was a student at the Marston school house. He is now a banker in Thawville.
Nellie Townsend married L. Ikens of Onarga.
George Townsend married Alice Hathorn, the daughter of the former business man of Roberts. Later he was a business man in Thawville where he ran a general store of many years. In an early day he farmed the west eighty acres of what is now George Sturm's farm.
Mrs. Townsend died a few years ago. She was a very quiet and highly respected woman.
Returning to Mr. Townsend's garden. In this garden spot are many varieties of plants. Some are rare and very costly. I can not attempt to name them. Some day when you visit the park try counting the different varieties. Do not try to count the fish. Just feed them a few crackers and see how many appear. Then look over the records and see from whence the people came.
I wish that every town could have a beauty spot like Thawville has and could have a man like Mr. Townsend to attend to it. Many towns have the unsightly place but is minus the man to convert it into a beauty spot for the town. We hope Mr. Townsend many live many years yet to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Not every man, a person sees,
Can make spots beautiful with trees.
It takes much knack, or call it skill,
A place like Townsend's place to fill.
You must persist, day after day,
Pulling and tugging on the way.
When days are fair the flowers bloom,
Some in the morn, some afternoon.
Some face the sun for colors bright.
Some seek the stars at dead at night.
For joyful hues they looks above
Where e'er abideth Faith and Love.
Not in the silt where their roots grow
Do lily petals get their snow.
The clouds appear and dark days come,
Most every season will have some,
But Townsend's plan works every day,
In driving of the blues away.
It points to Him who stayed the storm
and changes darkness into morn.
His face beams joy to others please,
An outstretched hand, he'll gladly seize,
And by his grasp, we all can tell,
His wish for us, "I wish you well."
Let's thank him for the good he's done
Not just a few but everyone one.
We'll wave the flag and a good cheer,
We'll give Fred Townsend while he's here.
--Roberts Herald. 28 August 1935. Bela Foster.
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