The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-01-20
"A HEROINE is AT REST.
Ellen May Towers Remains Inferred with
Military Honors at Byron.

Ellen May Towers Remains Inferred with
Military Honors at Byron.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Byron, Mich, January IA scriptural
passage was read, short prayer was spok-
en-, military salute was fired, taps were
sounded and 5000 people from the city and
from the country side saw the last earthly
remains of Ellen May Tower lowered into
the grave at the little parish cemetery here
this afternoon. No pOtentate OF high de
gree Was ever lowered to his final resting
place with greater evidences of regret, with
more ardent ceremony than were exhibited
over the tomb of this simple country maiden
who went where duty called her and laid
down her life on liberty's altar. Hers
was one of the few names not born to die"
With military romp and grandeur,
strangely intermixed with simple rusticity
and surrounded by rural environments,
funeral procession wound its way down
narrow lane, through patch of woods on
its way from the little village opera house,
where public funeral services had been
helG, to the solemn churchyard in the. val
ley. Little fiuries of snow at times blinded
the eyes in the marching column and an oc-
casiOnal breeze would rattle noisy among
the naked branches overhead. 1t twas thus
that Ellen May Tower was escorted to the
grave, 1t was the third time in the history
of the country and the first time in the MIS-
| tory OF the state that woman was buried
with military honOrs of a marked degree.
At the tomb uniforms dazzling with
tinsel knelt by the side OF simple coun-
try garb, while their wearers joined in a
common grief over the loss of her
who had passed into the vale of everlasting
content.
The Detroit delegation, consisting of
entire Company M of the Light Guard, the
veteran corps of the Light Guard and the
Light Guard band arrived In Byron at noon.
There were already on the scene forty men,
bers of Company G of the' Thirty third of
Owosso and several G. A. r. posts as fol-
lows: Atherton Post, Gaines; Quackenbush
Post, Owosso; Wallace Post, Corunna;
Royce Post, Byron; Wardell Post,
Howell and Giluly Post, Fowlerville.
There were also several delegations of the
Women's Relief Corps from surrounding
towns.
All business in the itown hadi been sus-
pended end flags at half mast foated on
the house tops. The cortege proceeded to
the village opera house, the largest build
ing In the place, and the funeral services
were held there. The accommodations
were insufficient and but small portion Of
the people could gain entrance. The Light
Guard band played selection and then
Rev. Mr.. Joslin, thelgray-haired minister Of
the town, conducted a simple yet impressive
service. He spokes briefly, with -tears flow
ing down his cheeks, OF the early life of the
one they loved so we'll. He spoke OF her
devotion to country and her devotion to
humanity and of her.sacriice. AS he spoke
of these things Seged men and women in
the congregations bowed their heads and
wept There was q silence made dOubly
impressive by the sobs and means of the
affected listeners; then the goodly man
ended his tribute to the dead with prayer
which went to every heart within sound of
his voice.
Dr. Sterling, of Grace hospital, Detroit,
was called upon and testified elOquently to
the great virtues of the deceased, who was
for several years connected with his institu-
tion. He said that FIVE years ago tonight
he pinned badge of the hospital on her
breast. One of the incidents related by
him, showing her kind-heartedness. is as
follows: While she was nursing the SOL
diers at Montauk Point, there came letter
asking whereabouts of q private named
Jacob ART. Nobody In authority looked
the matter up and SO she spent her hours
while of duty going about the graves with
q spade, digging up the bottles from the
graves until she found the bottle containing
the name sought for. At her own expense
she telegraphed to the relatives that the
body of Private ART had been found.
Dennis s. Donahue, by whose personal
efforts the body of Miss Tower was brought
home. spoke of her many qualities as one
who knew them best. He read the follow
ing telegram from Gov. Pingree:
II regret exceedingly that l am unable
to be present today, to show my respect for
the memory of Miss Tower. Words are too
feeble to show my respect and reverence