Joseph Hunter TOWER

Birth:
24 Feb 1825
Greene, Trumbull, Ohio
Death:
23 Mar 1913
Pomona, Los Angeles, California
Burial:
25 Mar 1913
Pomona, Los Angeles, California
Marriage:
31 May 1849
Delaware, Ripley, Indiana
Sources:
Record of Burton Family, (FHL #1312799 Item 30)
Ancestral File, Version 4.19
Pedigree Resource File
Internet IGI, Mar 2008
Notes:
                   1860 census Pleasant, Wapello, Iowa
Greeley Fan. S. L. Gen. Lib. A5F14 pg 718

History of Jefferson County, Iowa (pub. 1912), Vol. II, page 67, shows
". . . He now makes his home in Pomona, California . . ." came to Jefferson county, Iowa on 1 Nov 1854

Slip of paper found in Bible says " Sibbyl Sophia Tower was born Monday, March 18, 1850)  Mary Ella Tower was born Wednesday Feb the 24, 1852) Julia
Josephine Tower was born Saturday May the 20 1854) Franklin Burton Tower was
born Friday Oct th 2 1857) William Everrett Tower was born January th 4
1860) Infint stelborn (?) born May 30 1863"  In different writing on reverse of
paper is written " Emma Orpah Tower born Wednesday August 3d 1864"

Bible of Joseph Hunter Tower in possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of 1995
records marriages, births, and deaths.  The bible contains, in addition to
the recorded information, a copy of the obituary from the newspaper which
provides the places and dates of death and burial.  This bible has a remarks
page which says "Orpah Huggins Mother of Joseph H. Tower by a former husband,
died November 12, 1870, Aged 69 years, one month and twenty three days."

Of interest is the following handwritten certificate found in Joseph Hunter
Tower's Family Bible in the possession (as of 1995) Ellis Clark Rail, his great
grandson: "State of Indiana, Ripley County/s.s.  I hereby certify that Mr.
Joseph H. Tower is qualified to teach Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English
Grammar and Geography And am satisfied that he sustained an unblemished moral
character.  Given under my hand and seal this 27th day of December A.D. 1848.
Jefferson Stevens I.S. (Indiana State?) Examiner of Common School Teaching."

Inscription on Joseph Tower's tombstone in Pomona Cemetery, Pomona California,
reads as follows:  "Joseph H. Tower, 1825-1913, Rock of Ages-Cleft for Me".
Joseph H. Tower is buried beside Julia Tower Carr (1854-1930), Emma Tower
Bishop (1864 - 19--) {Death year incomplete on tombstone}, and Frank B. Tower
(1857-1950).

His home was in Iowa from 1854-1905
                  
Philena Melvina BURTON
Birth:
13 Dec 1828
Maineville, Warren, Ohio
Death:
14 Dec 1867
Douds Station, Van Buren, Iowa
Burial:
Mt. Moriah Cem., Van Buren, Iowa
Notes:
                   Tombstone sighted July 4, 1994 by Ellis Charles Rail in Mount Moriah Cemetery
just outside of Douds, Van Buren County, Iowa.

History of Jefferson County, Iowa, (pub. 1912) Vol II, page 67, reports
in reference to Philena "passed away in 1869."  Handwritten margin note says
"Dec. 14,'69"

Folded handwritten notes entitled "Family Record", "Marriages", "Births" and
"Deaths", found in Joseph Hunter Tower family bible in
possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of 1995.  The note lists full name and
event dates of members of the Burton family
The notes report death date for Philena M. Tower, wife of J.H. Tower. died Dec..
14, 1867. Aged 39 yrs. and 1 Day.
This information consistent with 1828 birth date and tombstone, but inconsistent
with published information in Jefferson County History.
                  
Children
Marriage
1
Birth:
18 Mar 1850
Delaware, Ripley, Indiana
Death:
21 Jun 1921
Guymon, Texas, Oklahoma
Marr:
23 Apr 1871
Iowa 
Notes:
                   1900 census Lee, Polk, Iowa
1910 census Lee, Polk, Iowa 9 children 7 living
1920 census Guymon, Texas, Oklahoma living with Grace A. her daughter
                  
2
Birth:
24 Feb 1852
Delaware, Ripley, Indiana
Death:
29 Nov 1938
Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa
Marr:
18 Feb 1873
Van Buren, Iowa 
Notes:
                   Tombstone sighted at Mount Moriah Cemetery just outside of Douds, Van Buren
County, Iowa.

Memorial program for funeral says she was born in Vincennes,
Indiana.  However, Vincennes is in Knox County, Indiana, and contradicts the
Jefferson County History which says she was born in Ripley County, Indiana,
and bears out the reported birthplace in other records of Delaware which is
in Ripley County, Indiana. The Weston Behner funeral home in Fairfield, Iowa,
was the site of the funeral and Dr. M.A. Gable of the Methodist Church of
Fairfield, Iowa, conducted the services.  The interment at Mt. Moriah Cemetery
was also conducted by the Weston Behner funeral home.

History of Jefferson County, Iowa (pub. 1912), Vol. II, page 67, shows her name
as "Miss Ella M. Tower, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana, on the 24th of
February, 1852, and came to Jefferson county, Iowa, November 1, 1854, with her
parents, J. H. and Philena (Burton) Tower."

- Handwritten entries found in Family Bible in possession of Ellis Clark
Rail as of June 1995, reporting marriage of Mont to Martha Cronick, as well as
birth and death information. Original bible appears to have belonged to Thomas
Jefferson Carr and Julia Josephine Tower Carr as it reports only information
about them and their children

Slip of paper found in Bible says " Sibbyl Sophia Tower was born Monday, March
th 18, 1850)  Mary Ella Tower was born Wednesday Feb the 24, 1852) Julia
Josephine Tower was born Saturday May the 20 1854) Franklin Burton Tower was
born Friday Oct th 2 1857) William Everrett Tower was born January th 4
1860) Infint stelborn (?) born May 30 1863"  In different writing on reverse of
paper is written " Emma Orpah Tower born Wednesday August 3d 1864"

Slip of paper found in Family Bible of Joseph Hunter Tower has the following
notation: "D A R  194247 - Ella Tower Clark
                    252897 - Inez Clark Rail"
                  
3
Birth:
20 May 1854
Delaware, Ripley, Indiana
Death:
27 Jun 1930
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Marr:
18 Oct 1882
Van Buren, Iowa 
Notes:
                   1900 census Lick Creek, Van Buren, Iowa
1910 census Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA mother of 3, 1 alive
1930 census Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California living with sister Emma Bishop
                  
4
Franklin Burton TOWER
Birth:
2 Oct 1857
nr. Ottumwa, Iowa
Death:
9 Jan 1950
Los Angeles, California
 
Marr:
 
Notes:
                   Never married.

Slip of paper found in Bible says " Sibbyl Sophia Tower was born Monday, March
th 18, 1850)  Mary Ella Tower was born Wednesday Feb the 24, 1852) Julia
Josephine Tower was born Saturday May the 20 1854) Franklin Burton Tower was
born Friday Oct th 2 1857) William Everrett Tower was born January th 4
1860) Infint stelborn (?) born May 30 1863"  In different writing on reverse of
paper is written " Emma Orpah Tower born Wednesday August 3d 1864"

Bible of Joseph Hunter Tower in possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of 1995
records marriages, births, and deaths.  This bible reports death date as Jan
9th, 1950.  There is also an obituary from a newspaper in the records
section of the Bible which indicates that he was born near Ottumwa,
Iowa, places interment in Pomona, California, and that he spent later years in
Highland Park (between Los Angeles and Pasadena). Still need to find out where
the "local hospital" referred to in the obituary was.

Robert Dudley Rail, a grand nephew of Franklin Burton Tower, says oral
family history holds that Franklin Tower never married.
cremated
                  
5
Birth:
4 Jan 1860
nr. Batavia, Iowa
Death:
19 Aug 1911
Pittsburg, Kansas
Marr:
26 Jul 1882
Van Buren, Iowa 
Notes:
                   Handwirtten entries found in family bible in possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of June 1995 reporting marriage of  Mont to Martha Cronick as well as birth and death info 
original bible appears to have belonged to Thomas Jefferson Carr and Julia Josephine Tower Carr as it reports only info about them and their children
1860 census Pleasant , Wapello, Iowa
1880 living in Kiesauqua, Iowa  signed autograph book Julia Carr
1883 living in Keosquaua,Iowa
Dec 7, 1886 living in Centerville, Iowa  Orpha's autograph book.
                  
6
TOWER
Birth:
30 May 1863
Van Buren, Iowa
Death:
30 May 1863
Van Buren, Iowa
 
Marr:
 
Notes:
                   Slip of paper found in Bible says " Sibbyl Sophia Tower was born Monday, March
th 18, 1850)  Mary Ella Tower was born Wednesday Feb the 24, 1852) Julia
Josephine Tower was born Saturday May the 20 1854) Franklin Burton Tower was
born Friday Oct th 2 1857) William Everrett Tower was born January th 4
1860) Infint stelborn (?) born May 30 1863"  In different writing on reverse of
paper is written " Emma Orpah Tower born Wednesday August 3d 1864"

Bible of Joseph Hunter Tower in possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of 1995
records marriages, births, and deaths.  This record shows an unnamed son in
births 30 May 1863 and deaths an unnamed son died 30 May 1863
                  
7
Birth:
3 Aug 1864
Van Buren, Iowa
Death:
18 Sep 1956
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Marr:
30 Jun 1926
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Cali 
Notes:
                   California death record
1930 census Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca
Mortuary record lists Sep 18, 1956
24 Sep 1956  interment
                  
8
TOWER
Birth:
13 Dec 1867
Van Buren, Iowa
Death:
15 Dec 1867
Van Buren, Iowa
 
Marr:
 
Notes:
                   Bible of Joseph Hunter Tower in possession of Ellis Clark Rail as of 1995
records marriages, births, and deaths.  This record shows an unnamed daughter in
births 12 Dec 1867 and deaths an unnamed daughter died 12 Dec 1867lived a few hours
In  Emma Orpha Tower's funeral service book it says baby son born Dec 13, 1867 buried with mother Dec 15, 1867
                  
FamilyCentral Network
Joseph Hunter Tower - Philena Melvina Burton

Joseph Hunter Tower was born at Greene, Trumbull, Ohio 24 Feb 1825. His parents were Alpheus P. Tower and Orpha Hunter.

He married Philena Melvina Burton 31 May 1849 at Delaware, Ripley, Indiana . Philena Melvina Burton was born at Maineville, Warren, Ohio 13 Dec 1828 daughter of Hiram Burton and Sybil Eliza Dudley .

They were the parents of 8 children:
Sybil Sophia Tower born 18 Mar 1850.
Mary Ella Tower born 24 Feb 1852.
Julia Josephine Tower born 20 May 1854.
Franklin Burton Tower born 2 Oct 1857.
William Everrett Tower born 4 Jan 1860.
Tower born 30 May 1863.
Emma Orpah Tower born 3 Aug 1864.
Tower born 13 Dec 1867.

Joseph Hunter Tower died 23 Mar 1913 at Pomona, Los Angeles, California .

Philena Melvina Burton died 14 Dec 1867 at Douds Station, Van Buren, Iowa .