I have found references to these Quaker ancestors of mine as participants in the Underground Railroad in Ohio. I would like to learn more about them and their activities, and also whether they continued those activities after moving to Iowa. Levi was born in 1799 in Bucks Co. PA; his son Eli b. 1823 in Belmont Co. Ohio and Elizabeth Townsend Wood was his daughter. Eli married Elizabeth Mosher Wood, and his sister Elizabeth married Joseph Wood, Elizabeth Mosher Wood's brother. The Moshers and Woods were also said to be involved in the Underground Railroad and with John Brown.

Look up The Friends Of Freedom Od Ohio Underground Rail Road Society. They are the experts in Ohio. If you have trouble finding them, pls contact me

I would like to correct a mistake in my original posting: The name of Eli Townsend's wife was Abigail Mosher Wood b. 1821, Mount Gilead, Morrow Co OH. Her middle name, Mosher, is the maiden name of her mother. Her parents were Esther Mosher b. 1798, Washington Co NY, and David Wood b. 1792, Danbury, Rutland Co VT.

Was Eli Townsend the son of (or related to) John Townsend Jr. and Elivira Cain Townsend, of Bucks County, Penn? My ancesters came from this lineage, and they were also Quakers. I have heard that there was some sort of connection between the Townsends and the Undergraound Railroad. Please email me directly and I will send you the entire lineage. I would like to know if these Townsends are all the same family.
Kim Townsend Spangrude

A short mention is made of the anti-slavery movement in a history of David and Esther Mosher Wood, written by their daughter Ruth Wood Pierce. It says, "The great anti-slavery movement began to make itself felt. Father, being a Whig fell into line. Our house on the hill became a station on the underground railroad. One hundred and sixty colored people, fleeing from slavery were in less than nine months fed at it's table." Of the Townsend's the history states "... for Abagail had met her fate when she met Eli Townsend; Joseph had thought Elizabeth, Eli's sister, was the pearl among women."