Photos supplied by the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society 

Addison Townsend (b 1838 in WI d. 1926, WI) fought in the U.S. Civil War as a Corporal in Company I, 3rd Wisconsin Infantry. He enlisted on June 2, 1861 and was wounded in action on September 17, 1862 at the Battle of Antietam, near Sharpsburg, MD. This Battle was the bloodiest day in American War History with over 22,000 killed, wounded or missing and the 3rd Wisconsin incurred heavy casualties. Addison spent several months in the hospital recovering from his wounds before he was discharged for disability on April 22, 1863.

Addison returned to Shullsburg and married Marian Trewhela in 1865. They had three children; Adda, Charles C., and Irene. Addison engaged in several careers including mining, selling farm implements, and insurance sales. He also had several positions in law enforcement over a 12 year period including; Marshall for Shullsburg, Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff of LaFayette County, and a Deputy United States Marshal. He was President of the Third Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Association and was a member of the Thomas H. Oates G.A.R. Post 96. In his later years he was a resident of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Milwaukee, Danville, IL and in Kansas.

Addison died at the age of 87 in Milwaukee. A military headstone was placed for Addison next to his wife, Marianne, in Evergreen Cemetery in Shullsburg, WI at the request of his daughter Adda. This is located in the far NW corner of Evergreen Cemetery. This marker was a government issued memorial for his service with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry.

Source: Antietam.aotw.org

He was also a fiddler and son of Absolem Townsend, another famous Lafayette County citizen.