Isaiah Townsend (1777-1838)
of I. & J. Townsend, Iron Merchants, of Albany, New York
He moved to Albany from Orange County in 1799 as a partner in the firm of Stewart & Townsend, iron merchants. His brother John joined him a few years later and the firm of I. & J. Townsend was formed. Their business involved the buying and selling of both foreign and domestic iron and the production at their foundry of mill gearings, machinery castings, chilled and dry sand rolls and railroad car wheels. In addition to their interests in the iron business, the brothers built up other businesses comprised of steamboats, salt production, railroads, real estate, banking and insurance. During the War of 1812 the brothers became heavily involved supplying the army with provisions, supplies and rations, contracting with Elbert Anderson and others.
