Joseph Hunter TOWER
Ancestral File, Version 4.19
Pedigree Resource File
Internet IGI, Mar 2008
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
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.
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
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"
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
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
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.
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
California death record 1930 census Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca Mortuary record lists Sep 18, 1956 24 Sep 1956 interment
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
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 .