R. W. Townsend, one of the energetic business men in Newbern, engaged in the ivery (sic) business, was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in 1836. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Townsend, had ten children, seven still living. The father was born in 1802; was married in Virginia, and in 1849 came to Middle Tennessee, locating in Marshall County, where he died in 1855. His mother was a native of Charlotte County, Va.; was born in 1806, and now lives with her son, D. C. Townsend. R. W. Townsend was educated at Chapel Hill. In 1859 he married Miss Martha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Reynolds. She was born in Maury County, in 1840, and they have six children living: Robbie, Beauregard, Ida M., George A., Blantsy and Bessie. April 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry, but in a short time he changed to the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, under Capt. Alexander, and was at Murfreesboro, Perryville, Ky., and other places; was captured near Carthage, and confined in the Federal prison eight months, and returned home in January, 1864; moved to Dyer County in 1866, and farmed until 1886, when he moved to Newbern, and engaged in the livery business. He has raised quite a family, and is giving his children the benefit of the best schools. He is a Democrat and a Mason, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.