Charles Townsend (Ohio politician)

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Charles Townsend (December 22, 1834 – January 12, 1900) was an American Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives for Athens County from 1878 to 1881, as Ohio Secretary of State from 1881 to 1883, and in the Ohio Senate for the 9th district from 1888 to 1890.

Townsend was born in Harrisville, Belmont County, Ohio, and moved to Athens County as a child. He attended local schools and taught to help pay for college, graduating from Ohio University in 1861. He founded the Decamp Institute in Meigs County and led it when the Civil War began. He joined the Union Army in July 1861, became a captain in the 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in August, and was promoted to major in January 1864, serving until September 1864.

After the war, Townsend graduated from Cincinnati Law School in 1866 and practiced law. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Athens County three times. He married Margaret Jane Allen in October 1859, and they had three children: Helen, Charles, and Mary. He was a Mason and served as State Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Townsend resigned from the Ohio House to become Secretary of State in 1881. He later ran for reelection in 1882 but was defeated. He passed away in 1900 at the age of 65.