Richard Towner

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BLUNT, HICKS, SINER, TAYLOR, TOWNER

RICHARD TOWNER. Emerson says all history is only biography. So we find this strikingly exemplified in the community with which the gentleman of whom we now write is identified. Its history is only the biography of the lives of a few men, chiefly among whom is himself. He is a farmer and stock-grower living on section 23, Sidney Township. He was born in Vigo County, Ind., Oct. 31, 1822 and is the son of Elijah and Phoebe (HICKS) TOWNER. His father was a native of New York, and his moth of Pennsylvania. In about the year 1819 the parents removed from New York to Indiana, where he engaged in farming. They passed the remainder of their lives in that State. The father's death occurred about the year 1830, and the mother's about 1835.

Richard Towner began to earn his own living at nine years of age, and during his life has passed through many vicissitudes. He started out by doing general farm work while a boy, which he continued until about eighteen years of age. In 1837 he was employed in Danville, Ill., and in 1838 in Champaign County, which has been his home with the exception of four years spent in McLean County. At the age of eighteen he obtained a situation as driver on a stage line between Danville and Peoria, belonging to J. E. McClun, since Judge McClun, of Bloomington, Ill. During the last year of his experience in stage-driving, he was married, March 27, 1845, to Miss Joanna BLUNT, the daughter of Henry and Sarah BLUNT, of this State. She became the mother of nine children-Helen A., Sarah F., Madora F., Earnest M., Izoria P., Claudius M., Fannie, Dolly and Dulcena J.

In April, 1866, Mr. Towner had the misfortune to lose his wife by death. In November, 1867, he contracted another marriage, with Mrs. Sarah TAYLOR, widow of Isaac TAYLOR. She was born in Vigo County, Ind., in the year 1841, and was the daughter of James and Matilda SINER. By her first husband, Mr. Taylor, she had two children-Matilda E. and James F. Of her union with our subject she became the mother of four children-Lilliace A., Ida A. and Ada O., twins, and Mary B.

During the four years that Mr. Towner spent in McLean County, Ill., he acquired enough capital, by industry and economy, to purchase eighty acres of prairie on section 23, adjoining the place where he now resides, and ten acres of timbered land on section 21, Sidney Township. He also owned a phaeton and farm wagon worth about $150. In 1852 he packed his wagon with such household goods as he could conveniently carry, and with $250 in ready money, invested in an old log cabin belonging to John Patterson, of Hickory Grove, St. Joseph Township. His neighbors kindly volunteered their assistance in hauling it out and setting it up. As soon as he became settled in this primitive abode, he commenced to break and improve his land.

Mr. Towner was the first settler south of Salt Fork, on the prairie in Vermilion County, and spent five years in cultivating his land in that place, then, in partnership with his brother, B. H. Towner, he bought out the stock of goods belonging to D. J. and A. Rankin, and engaged in the business of general merchandising in Old Homer, now Homer Township. By trading in iowa lands they cleared over $1,960. They continued in business until the year 1863, when our subject enlisted, December 29, in Co. B, 10th Ill. Vol. Cav. He served valliantly until Aug. 9, 1865, when on account of disability contracted while in the service, he was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. At that time the credit system flourished, and through the depression caused by the war, he was unable to meet his liabilities, and lost $20,000, which left him in an embarrassed condition financially, but he has since been able to recuperate and make up his losses.

Mr. Towner owns eighty acres of excellent land in a fine state of cultivation, which he obtained of the Government when it was bare, unimproved prairie, in the year 1862. He is now in comfortable circumstances, and the enjoyment of a pleasant home in which to pass his declining years. Himself and wife are both members of the United Brethren Church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Republican.

The portrait of Mr. Towner, on an accompanying page, forms a fitting adjunct to this sketch of his worthy and useful life.