Townsley's father also served as postmaster and town supervisor, and was elected to the New York State Assembly.

[1] He spent a year in Sioux City, Iowa, working as a civil engineer on the Covington, Columbus and Black Hills Railroad.

[1] He was still serving as West Point's superintendent at the outbreak of World War I, and continued in this post until July 1916, when he was promoted to brigadier general and returned to Coast Artillery duty.

[1] Townsley later returned to the United States because of illness, and was on medical leave at Walter Reed Hospital until just before the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war.

[8] Clarence P. Townsley Jr. (1896-1975) was a career officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of brigadier general.