In the spring of 1844, they boarded a boat and traveled down the Ohio River, to the Mississippi River, which they went up river to Muscatine, IA. There they crossed over to move to Bureau County, IL, settling near Princeton. The Walter W. Kinnick family was also aboard this boat. In 1850, Townsend Fletcher, according to a local history, "made a farm" on Section 36, Manlius Township of Bureau County, by Hickory Grove. It appears he was among the first ten settlers of this township.
1850 Census
Name: Townsend Fletcher
Residence: Princeton, Bureau, Illinois
Age: 66 years
Calculated Birth Year: 1784
Birthplace: Virginia
Gender: Male
Race (original):
Race (expanded):
Death Month:
Death Year:
Film Number: 7672
Digital GS Number: 4193248
Image Number: 00124
Line Number: 10
Dwelling House Number: 229
Family Number: 262
Marital Status:
Free or Slave:
Household Gender Age
Townsend Fletcher M 66y
Susanna Fletcher F 52y
William Fletcher M 20y
Frances Fletcher F 17y
John Fletcher M 16y
Jane H Fletcher F 14y
Amanda Fletcher F 11y
Samuel Fletcher M 8y