1850 Census: Asa, Elizabeth and 2 young children in Middlebury Township, Knox Co, OH. He gave no value for real estate on the standard census, BUT he showed ownership of 107 acres (60 improved) valued at $2,000 and livestock valued at $300 on the Agricultural Schedule for that same year (see below). Also in the home were two additional children: Charles Gibson (age 16, OH - b 1834) and Mary Gibson (age 14, OH - b 1836). I can find no GIBSON relationship with either Asa or Elizabeth, but they are likely to be the children of the (recently widowed) Mariah Gibson just a few families down from them in the census.

Livestock in 1850: 3 horses, 2 ?other? cows, 145 sheep and 2 swine
Farm produce in 1850: 110 bushel of wheat, 225 bushel of Indian corn, 125 bushel of oats, 400 pounds of wool, 20 bushel of Irish potatoes, 100 pounds of butter, and 20 ton of hay.

According to Professor Wilbur Siebert of Ohio State University, Asa and his half-brother William (along with several other members of the Owl Creek Society of Friends) were active participants in the Underground Railroad during the years before the Civil War.

Although Asa remained in Knox County nearly 20 years after his siblings left, he later joined them in Cedar Co, IA, finally settling in LeGrand, Marshall Co, IA. In 1902, he and Elizabeth relocated to Northbranch, KS, where their son Henry was teaching.

• Married:

1. Clayton TOWNSEND b: ABT 1848 in OH
2. Mary Ellen TOWNSEND b: ABT 1849 in OH
3. Henry H TOWNSEND b: ABT 1851 in Knox Co, OH
4. Lydia W TOWNSEND b: ABT 1853 in Knox Co, OH