Charles Elroy Townsend (August 15, 1856 – August 3, 1924) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.Townsend was born near Concord, Michigan and attended the common schools in Concord and Jackson and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He taught school at Concord 1881-1886 and was Jackson County Register of Deeds 1886-1897.