Exhumation of Conspirators

[Steve]

Laurie,

Townsend was in Tennessee around the time of Johnson's U.S. House of Representatives race against Horace Maynard in 1872!

There is a mention in the "Personals" section of page 4 of the 18 Sept. 1872 Memphis Daily Appeal mentions George Alfred Townsend briefly staying at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis while on his way to go report on "the present troubles in Arkansas".

   

Townsend could have met Johnson shortly before then or could have passed through eastern Tennessee during his return trip, meeting Johnson then.

You have to love the gossip sections of old newspapers!