Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Towsley, George E 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:40 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

George E. Towsley

George E. Towsley, now one of the substantial agriculturists of Grundy county, 
is a self-made man, having won an honored place in society and having 
accumulated a competence unaided by friends or relatives. He has conquered 
more obstacles than commonly fall to the lot of young men, and has grown 
strong and self-reliant by the struggles he made in those conquests.

A native of New York state, George E. Towsley was born on the 9th of March, 
1863, on a farm in Hamilton county. He is a son of George and Sophia (Shipman) 
Towsley, both of whom were of Canadian birth. The father came across the 
border into the United States about 1850, and, locating on a homestead in the 
county just mentioned, continued to pursue his chosen calling, that of 
farming, until his death, in 1864. His wife did not long survive him, as she 
passed into the silent land in 1867, and thus the subject of this sketch was 
left an orphan at the tender age of four years.  He was adopted by Amos 
Dunning, who, though reasonably kind to the lad, of course did not have the 
love and consideration for him that only a parent can feel toward his own 
children. The boy attended school to some extent, but it was made plain to him 
that it should be his chief business in life to perform as much labor on the 
farm as it was possible for him to do.  He sturdily endeavored to please his 
foster father until he was twenty years of age, when he was nothing loth to 
begin an independent career.

Believing that better opportunities could be found in the west, he decided to 
try his fortunes in Illinois, and the year 1883 witnessed his arrival in 
Grundy county. Here he worked industriously upon farms for four years, 
carefully husbanding his earnings, after which he rented a farm for a period 
of three years. In 1890 he bought a tract of land in Nettle Creek township, 
his present home place, and since that time he has given his whole
time and energy toward the cultivation and beautifying of the farm, which is 
considered one of the best and most desirable in the township.

Mr. Towsley has never been an aspirant to political honors, for he much 
prefers to lead a quiet, independent life. He uses his franchise in favor of 
the Republican party and its nominees, and fraternally is identified with the 
Knights of the Globe. He is a good citizen and carries out in his daily life 
the high principles which should animate every one who enjoys the blessings 
and protection afforded by the stars and stripes.  

Nine years ago, in 1890, Mr. Towsley chose Olive M. Hoge to be the sharer of 
his joys and sorrows their marriage being celebrated in this township. She is 
a daughter of Hendley and Sarah (LaSalle) Hoge, the former of whom gave his 
life for the Union in the great Civil war. The history of the family may be 
found elsewhere in this work. Five children have been born to our subject and 
wife, namely:  Lena May, whose birth occurred May 10, 1891; George Hendley, 
April 19, 1893; Gertrude Alberta, September 11, 1896; Beulah Pearl, born 
January 15, 1898, and died September 22, following; and Ivy, born April 17, 
1899.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p575-576

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