The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-02-11
Ephraim Towner ofUrown Point, N. Y

As one alter one, pas, from Us and are
laid away in the silent tomb, our aged
citizens. those carly settlers. The pioneers.
those VINO have from boyhood, assisted in
clearing busbandry, aud improving our
soil, and watched the continued change,
almost from primoval forest to a popu.
.ous and prosperous town, busy with in.
dustry, and resembling with the hum Of
machinery. Those whom the rising gen.
Grafton have come TO look upon with VEN
GRAFTON and respect, as,
Landmarks on the field Of time
Stclllast and permanent"
Their taking off, impresscs the thought.
full anew with the unstable, ever chang.
ing nature of our brief sojourn among the
living. Such thoughts will be occasioned
by the recent death Of our esteemed and
aged townsman, who is The subject ofthis
sketch.
Ephraim Towner was bora at Newport
(near Claremont, N. H. April 9Th, 1776
and died at the old homestead, in Grown
Point, N. Y, Sept. 10th 1872.
Mr.. Towner migrated to this town
about the year 1900, bringing with him
his wife, Rhoda (Taft, of Sutton, Mass.)
and two daughters, Ruth and Sally. For
about two years he lived in house Qong
since dcmolished) just above the bridge,
at Buck Hollow, and opposite Sam. War
ner; after which, he settled under the
pre- emption custom then in vogue here,
on the farm which he has occupied unin-
teruptedly, fer over seventy years.
Self-reliant, persevering, industrious
and frugal, with hardy constitution, and
will of iron, he prospcred, notwithstand-
ing the many obstacles incident to a long
and busy life, and the care and expense
attendant upon rearing numerous fami-
ly.
He devoted himself chiefly to clearing
up, improving and tilling his farm, until
about 1921, when he became associated
with Samuel Buck in the numbering bus
mess, to which he continued to devote
portion Of his attention till as late as
1854.
AS business man, he was cautious, but
firm, exacting, but prompt with a strong
mind, well balanced head to rely upon
success, which slowly and steadily crown.
ed his pcrsevcring efforts.
As citizen and neighbor, he vas kind,
honorable, quiet, unobstrusive and uni
formly respected by his fellow men,.
In 1924, he was attacked with a ma.
lignant swelling on his foot which came
near resulting in his DEATH but which
was finally cured by the continued appli-
cation Of poulticcs, prescribed by Jesse
Moore.
In 1913 he was afflicted with some
thing resembling crysipclas, or acute
rheumatism, which confined him to his
room for many months, and resulted in
the permanent, though partial loss Of the
use Of one hand In 1856, a severe fall
seriously injured his back, and severe
and unprotected illness commenced about
1850, from which he never fully recover.
cd, resulting in an impaired action or
paralysis Of the hips and lower limbs
though his mcuta faculties remained I'M
impaired and vigorous, and for many
years he got about on crutches and su.
pcrintended his farm personally
Mrs. Towner for more than sixty years
his willing and able helpmate and beloved
wife, died in 1858, aged about seventy
seven years. Fifteen children resulted
from their union, eleven of whom arrived
at the aye Of maturity, and seven are
still living as follows; Ephraim, aged
sixty .scven, Of Crown Point Ira, living
in Iowa; Alseno, widow Whitlock), liy-
ing in Vermont Daniel,o Crown Point
Loren, Of Vermont Benjamin. of Srhroon
n. L., and John of Kansas.
Sally, widow Kellogg died, aged
scvcnty-two; Mary widow Thrashcr,)
aged thirty-throe Ruth, Mrs. Town, aged
sixty-six, and Warren, aged sixty>ope.
or grandchildren, there have been
sixty-seven sevcnty-six great grandchild-
ren, and three great great grandchildren,
being 1Gl, up to the time of his death,
An unusual numerous posterity at this
day and age Of the world.
Deceased was firm and consistent
member Of the Masonic Fraternity for
over fifty years, living up to, and loving
its. principles served in the Cavalry
arm Of the State Militia, and was for
some time, town Assessor.
During his last illness, he gave minute
instructions regarding his burial in the
coffin, which had been made by his drec-
tons several years before.
The Rev. Mr.. Stephens, had long be-
fore promised to preach his funeral ser.
mon, but was too old and infrm, and
Priest Taylor of1iciated,
His death was FASTENED by the fracture
Of his leg by fall on the 2Sth of Au-
gust. The shock prostrating MIN both
physically and mentally. Deceased left
a large estate to his children.
Thus has been severed another link of
the fragile chain, which bends us to the
past Thus passed away another of our
number, ripe in years, rich in this worlds
goods, and leaving only pleasant memo
ries and conviction. 1t is well that he
has lived. MEMO.
APPALLING MARINE DISASTERS. The
total number of English steamers lost
with all on board during the last three
months is no less than eleven, according
to tho Baltimore Sun These steam ships
were new, but built of inferior iron, with
n LENGTH ten times thnir width and n