HORACE MANN TOWNER

TOWNER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 14:22:08

HORACE MANN TOWNER, Judge of the District Court of the district comprising the major portion of the Blue Grass region of Iowa, was born in Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, in 1855. His father, John L. Towner, a native of New York, was for many years a minister of the Christian church, preaching in Illinois for a long period, and came to Iowa in 1885, with his wife, who has shared his lot for forty years, and they are spending their declining years in pastoral pursuits. The Judge was graduated during his youth at the high school in Belvidere, and then taught school for a number of years in Illinois and in Adams county, Iowa. Here he was elected county Superintendent of schools. But while he was teacher, especially at intervals from educational work, he was studying law, and he was admitted to the bar by Judge Forey in 1878. After the close of his term of office as School Superintendent, he began the practice of law, and soon gained for himself a prominent position in the legal profession. In November, 1890, he was elected on the Republican ticket to his present position, his opponent being Hon. M. A. Campbell. He has already won for himself an excellent reputation as Judge. Having exhibited great ability both as an advocate and as a Judge, he must be considered one of the rising young men of the State. he is a member of the orders of F. and A. M. and K. of P.

In 1885 he married Miss Hattie E. Cole, a lady of rare culture, the daughter of Charles T. Cole, who has been for many years cashier of the Corning National Bank, and they have two children.