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Below is a family biography included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published by Weakley, Harraman & Co. in 1885. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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WILLIAM S. TOWER, proprietor of the Tower House, Vevay, was born in this county in 1826, son of Gideon and Roxena (Scranton) Tower; his father, a native of Cuyahoga County, N. Y., born in 1799, his mother of Rhode Island, born in the same year. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812; came to Dearborn County in 1816; to Switzerland County in 1820, and was killed by accident in 1846 while raising a mill in the county. He was a carpenter by trade but did farming also. His wife died in 1830. William S. was raised on a farm near Moorefield where he resided up to 1881, in which year he was elected sheriff of the county and removed with his family to Vevay. In 1882 he was re-elected to the same office. He served twelve years as justice in Pleasant Township, and was many years a school director. Mr. Tower was married in 1844 to Tobitha J. Ricketts, who was born in Switzerland County in 1825, and their children are Mary A., Alma E., Maria L., Cinderilla J., Ira, Daniel R., Lorena, James W. and Rachel. Allen died in infancy. The family is associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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This family biography is one of 215 biographies included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published in 1885 by Weakley, Harraman & Co. For the complete description, click here: Switzerland County, Indiana History and Genealogy
View additional Switzerland County, Indiana family biographies here: Switzerland County, Indiana Biographies
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