Esther Smith Towner (1810-1901)

SMITH, TOWNER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/26/2011 at 09:35:14

Maquoketa Excelsior, July 19, 1901

OBITUARY

TOWNER- Esther Smith Towner was born at Springfield, Vermont, May 11, 1810. During that same year her parents moved to the beautiful old town of Crown Point, Essex county, New York, at which place she grew to womanhood, well taught in the arts of spinning, weaving and knitting, and all those things most essential in the life of a pioneer woman. On October 23, 1831, she married Ira T. Towner, a man of the hardiest New England stock and a progressive landholder. Their union was blessed by four children, Henry, Elizabeth, Lydia S. and Hubbard E. Of these, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Henry Smith, and Lydia, now Mrs. J. H. Waugh alone survive. In 1854 they left their comfortable home and pushed out into the wilds of the then frontier state, Iowa, locating at Maquoketa, then a comparatively small town. Here they lived happily and unostentatiously until the death of Mr. Towner a few years ago. And now in the ninety-second year of her age, she passed quietly into the world beyond, the 12th of the present month. Mrs. Towner was a sincere, Christian woman, for over sixty-three years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Generously and kindly, her life has left a remembrance of sweet benediction to all those with whom she came into contact. The community will sadly miss her quiet personality. The funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. R. D. Parsons, her pastor, on Sunday July 14. Interment in Mt. Hope cemetery.

Esther Towner grave
 

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